Chicago-Style Thin Crust Pizza with Italian Sausage and Giardiniera

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-29 · Updated 2026-05-29

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A thin, crispy pizza topped with spicy Italian sausage and tangy giardiniera, reflecting Chicago’s love for bold flavors beyond deep dish. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs pizza dough, olive oil, Italian sausage for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb, store-bought or homemade pizza dough
2 tbsp olive oil
6 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup chopped (pickled vegetable mix) giardiniera
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp (optional) crushed red pepper flakes

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 500°F with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside to heat.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 6 oz Italian sausage, breaking apart, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat.
Step 3: Roll out 1 lb pizza dough on a floured surface into a 12-inch thin circle. Brush edges with 1 tbsp olive oil.
Step 4: Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
Step 5: Distribute cooked sausage evenly over cheese, then scatter 1/3 cup chopped giardiniera and 1 tsp dried oregano on top. Add 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Step 6: Transfer pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
Step 7: Let pizza cool 3 minutes before slicing and serving.