Detroit-Style Thick Crust Pepperoni Pizza

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

A pan-baked square pizza with a thick, airy crust topped with spicy pepperoni and a sweet tomato sauce, inspired by Detroit’s iconic regional style. This American-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bread flour, instant yeast, warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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 1/4 cups (400 g) bread flour
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) warm water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 8 oz pepperoni slices
• 3 cups (12 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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 3 1/4 cups bread flour, 2 tsp instant yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Add 1 1/4 cups warm water and 2 tbsp olive oil; mix until a rough dough forms.
2. Step 2: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 500°F and generously oil a 9x13-inch Detroit-style pizza pan or rectangular baking pan with 1 tbsp olive oil.
4. Step 4: Stretch the dough into the pan, pushing it to the edges. Spread 3 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the dough, making sure cheese reaches the edges to create the characteristic crispy crust.
5. Step 5: Arrange 8 oz pepperoni slices evenly on top of the cheese.
6. Step 6: In a small bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes with 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 tsp dried oregano. Spoon the sauce in three long stripes over the pepperoni.
7. Step 7: Bake the pizza for 15-18 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly caramelized.
8. Step 8: Remove from oven and sprinkle 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing into squares.