Chicago-Style Deep Dish Sausage Pizza

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-17 · Updated 2026-05-17

A hearty deep dish pizza layered with savory Italian sausage, rich tomato sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese, inspired by iconic Chicago pizzerias. This american-inspired pizza ready in about 130 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, (1 packet) active dry yeast, (110°F) warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 cup (110°F) warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 12 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt for sauce

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tbsp sugar in 1 cup warm water (110°F). Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir then knead on a floured surface for 7-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
3. Step 3: Meanwhile, brown 12 oz Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking into small pieces, cooking for 6-7 minutes until no pink remains. Remove sausage and drain excess fat.
4. Step 4: In the same skillet, sauté 2 cloves minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer sauce over low heat for 15 minutes until thickened.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 425°F. Press the risen dough into a 12-inch deep dish pizza pan, pushing dough up the sides to form a crust.
6. Step 6: Layer 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough, then spread the cooked sausage evenly on top. Pour the thickened tomato sauce over the sausage.
7. Step 7: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce. Bake pizza for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and browned in spots.
8. Step 8: Let pizza cool for 10 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set.