Wood-Fired Deep Dish Pizza with Italian Sausage and Caramelized Onions

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-18 · Updated 2026-05-18

A hearty Chicago-style deep dish pizza layered with sweet caramelized onions, spicy Italian sausage, and melted mozzarella baked in a buttery crust. This italian-inspired pizza ready in about 110 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant dry yeast, sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 620 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 all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
• 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
• 12 oz casing removed Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
• 2 large, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant dry yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Stir in 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F) and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, mixing until a sticky dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 2 large thinly sliced yellow onions and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 1 minute until fragrant. Remove onions and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, cook 12 oz Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
4. Step 4: In a bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes with 1 tsp dried oregano and 1 tsp dried basil.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 450°F. Press the dough into a well-oiled 12-inch deep dish pan, pushing dough up the sides to form the crust.
6. Step 6: Layer the bottom with 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, then spread the cooked sausage evenly over the cheese. Add the caramelized onion mixture on top.
7. Step 7: Pour the seasoned crushed tomato sauce evenly over the filling, then sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese on top.
8. Step 8: Bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly and browned around the edges. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.