Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

A thick, airy Detroit-style pan pizza topped with sweet caramelized onions, smoky mozzarella, and a bright tomato sauce, baked to achieve the iconic crispy, cheesy edges. This American-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs bread flour, active dry yeast, warm water (110°F) for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 370 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 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp plus 2 tbsp for pan olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 2 cups smoked mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• optional, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

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 bowl, combine 3 cups bread flour, 1 tsp active dry yeast, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F). Mix until a sticky dough forms. Cover and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
2. Step 2: While dough rises, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and 1 tsp granulated sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until onions are deeply caramelized and sweet.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 500°F and coat a 10x14-inch Detroit-style pizza pan with 2 tbsp olive oil.
4. Step 4: Transfer risen dough to the oiled pan and gently stretch to fill the corners. Spread 1 cup pizza sauce evenly over the dough.
5. Step 5: Scatter 2 cups shredded smoked mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce, ensuring some cheese touches the edges to create the crispy perimeter.
6. Step 6: Top with caramelized onions, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, and optional 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes.
7. Step 7: Bake for 15-18 minutes until crust is golden and cheese edges are crispy and brown. Remove, let cool 5 minutes, then slice and serve.