Description
This Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza features a buttery cornmeal crust filled with melted mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and mushrooms, all topped with a rich, herbed tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. Baked to golden perfection in a deep dish pan or cast iron skillet, it’s a hearty classic American favorite that’s perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
- 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil plus extra for the pan
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Toppings and Sauce
- 2 cups shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (optional)
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a bowl, combine the warm water, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, olive oil, and melted butter. Stir until a soft dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Sauce: While the dough rises, combine crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper in a saucepan. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes to meld flavors, then set aside to cool.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Generously oil a deep dish pizza pan or cast iron skillet to prevent sticking.
- Shape Dough: Roll the risen dough into a large circle. Press it into the prepared pan, pushing the dough up the sides to create a deep crust.
- Layer Cheese: Evenly spread the shredded mozzarella cheese over the bottom of the dough in the pan. This layer helps prevent a soggy crust.
- Add Toppings: Distribute the cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni, and mushrooms (if using) over the cheese layer.
- Top with Sauce and Parmesan: Spoon the prepared tomato sauce over the toppings and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly and cooked through.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes to set. Slice and serve warm.
Notes
- Placing cheese as the first layer against the dough prevents the crust from becoming soggy by creating a moisture barrier.
- Feel free to customize toppings with vegetables like bell peppers or spinach according to your taste.
- If a deep dish pizza pan is unavailable, a cast iron skillet works perfectly as an alternative.
