Deep-Dish Baked Sausage and Peppers with Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-29 · Updated 2026-05-29

A Chicago-inspired deep-dish casserole featuring Italian sausage, roasted bell peppers, and melted mozzarella cheese baked to golden perfection. This american-inspired pizza ready in about 60 minutes pairs Italian sausage links, medium, diced yellow onion, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage links
• 1 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch strips red bell pepper
• 1 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch strips green bell pepper
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 lb store-bought or homemade pizza dough
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb Italian sausage links, cooking for 7-8 minutes until browned and cooked through, breaking them into bite-size pieces with a spoon.
2. Step 2: Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sauté for 3-4 minutes until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 sliced medium red bell pepper and 1 sliced medium green bell pepper; cook for 5 minutes until peppers begin to soften.
4. Step 4: Add 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.
5. Step 5: Roll out 1 lb pizza dough on a floured surface into a 10-inch circle. Press dough into a deep 9-inch round baking dish, allowing edges to rise about 1 inch.
6. Step 6: Spoon the sausage and pepper mixture evenly over the dough. Sprinkle 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated 425°F oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing and serving.