Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella
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 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Step 3: Preheat oven to 500°F and coat a 10x14-inch Detroit-style pizza pan with 2 tbsp olive oil.
- 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.
- Step 5: Scatter 2 cups shredded smoked mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce, ensuring some cheese touches the edges to create the crispy perimeter.
- Step 6: Top with caramelized onions, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, and optional 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (20 min prep + 40 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep bread flour from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Detroit-Style Pan Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Mozzarella?
American pizza like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
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