Detroit-Style Square Deep-Dish Pizza with Cheddar and Pepperoni

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-09 · Updated 2026-07-09

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A thick, square pizza with a crispy crust and a layered topping of pepperoni and sharp cheddar cheese, reflecting Detroit’s iconic pizza tradition. This American-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bread 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 400 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 20 min Serves 6 American cuisine 400 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3 cups bread flour
1 cup (110°F) warm water
2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp plus 2 tbsp for pan olive oil
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
20 slices sliced pepperoni
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp minced garlic

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and 1 tbsp sugar in 1 cup warm water (110°F). Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Step 2: Add 3 cups bread flour, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir and knead on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Step 3: Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
Step 4: Preheat oven to 475°F. Lightly oil a 9x13 inch rectangular baking pan with 2 tbsp olive oil.
Step 5: Press the risen dough evenly into the pan to cover the bottom and edges with a slightly raised rim.
Step 6: Spread 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes mixed with 1 tsp dried oregano and 1 tsp minced garlic evenly over the dough.
Step 7: Layer 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly on top of the sauce, then arrange 20 slices of pepperoni over the cheese.
Step 8: Bake for 15-18 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing into squares.