Wood-Fired Deep Dish Sausage and Bell Pepper Pizza

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-11 · Updated 2026-05-11

A hearty Chicago-style deep dish pizza featuring house-made sausage, sweet bell peppers, and a golden tomato sauce baked in a buttery crust. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 115 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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 all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 cup (110°F) warm water
• 2 tbsp cornmeal
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 12 oz Italian sausage, casing removed
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tsp salt. Slowly add 1 cup warm water (110°F) and 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter, mixing with a wooden spoon until dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 7-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
2. Step 2: While dough rises, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage, breaking it apart, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned. Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 small chopped yellow onion, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 1 diced yellow bell pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften and fragrant. Stir in 14 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and simmer on low for 15 minutes until thickened.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 9-inch deep dish pizza pan and sprinkle 2 tbsp cornmeal evenly on the bottom. Punch down the dough and press it into the pan, pulling dough up the sides to form a 1-inch rim.
4. Step 4: Layer 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the dough, then spoon the sausage and pepper tomato sauce evenly on top. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
5. Step 5: Drizzle remaining 3 tbsp melted butter over the top edges of the dough. Bake for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.