Deep-Dish Tomato and Sausage Bake with Italian Herbs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-05-22

A hearty Chicago-inspired deep-dish bake featuring Italian sausage, crushed tomatoes, and a blend of savory herbs baked to perfection. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs Italian sausage, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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

• 12 oz Italian sausage
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 lb store-bought or homemade pizza dough

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: Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
2. Step 2: Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet with sausage. Sauté for 4 minutes until the onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes over medium heat until slightly thickened.
4. Step 4: Roll out 1 lb pizza dough to fit a 9-inch deep-dish pan. Place dough in the pan, pushing up the edges to form a crust.
5. Step 5: Spread half of the sauce evenly over the dough. Sprinkle 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan over the sauce.
6. Step 6: Add the remaining sauce layer, then top with the remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
7. Step 7: Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbling. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.