Classic Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Peppers

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

A hearty deep dish pizza with a buttery crust, rich tomato sauce, Italian sausage, and roasted peppers, capturing Chicago’s iconic style. This italian-inspired pizza ready in about 130 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, cornmeal, (1 packet) active dry yeast for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 12 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
• 1 medium, sliced green bell pepper
• 1 medium, sliced red bell pepper
• 1 small, sliced onion
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tbsp sugar in 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F). Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornmeal, and 1 tsp salt. Add yeast mixture and 1/4 cup olive oil, mixing until a sticky dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth.
3. Step 3: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 425°F. In a skillet over medium heat, cook 12 oz Italian sausage, breaking it up until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
5. Step 5: In same skillet, add 2 tbsp olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 sliced green bell pepper, 1 sliced red bell pepper, and 1 small sliced onion. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until vegetables soften.
6. Step 6: Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes and 1 tsp dried oregano; simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
7. Step 7: Press dough into a greased 12-inch deep dish pizza pan, pushing dough up the sides to form a thick crust.
8. Step 8: Layer the crust with 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, cooked sausage, sautéed vegetables, then pour tomato sauce on top. Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
9. Step 9: Bake for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.