Deep Dish Detroit-Style Pepperoni Pizza

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-06 · Updated 2026-07-06

A thick, square-cut pizza with a crispy golden crust, topped generously with pepperoni and melted mozzarella cheese baked to perfection. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 98 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, warm water, active dry yeast for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 8, 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
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 30 pepperoni slices
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 2 tbsp butter

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup warm water (around 110°F), 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Stir and let sit for 5-7 minutes until foamy and active.
2. Step 2: Add 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Step 3: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: Preheat the oven to 475°F. Butter a 9x13-inch rectangular baking pan with 2 tbsp butter.
5. Step 5: Punch down the risen dough and press it evenly into the prepared pan, pushing the dough up the sides slightly to form a crust edge.
6. Step 6: Scatter 3 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the dough, then arrange 30 pepperoni slices on top, covering the cheese.
7. Step 7: Spoon 1 cup pizza sauce in three thick stripes over the pepperoni, spacing them evenly.
8. Step 8: Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the crust are golden and crispy.
9. Step 9: Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 squares. Serve warm.