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Close-up of a slice of Chicago-style deep dish pizza with thick crust, melted cheese, and chunky tomato sauce

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Recipe

Chicago deep dish pizza is a hearty, cheesy, and sauce-loaded classic baked in a deep pan. This recipe serves 4 and features a buttery cornmeal crust, layers of mozzarella cheese, savory sausage, and chunky tomato sauce. It’s easy to make at home with simple ingredients and delivers bold, comforting flavor in every bite.
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Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 4
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American, Chicago-style
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Dough:
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup yellow cornmeal
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp melted butter optional for brushing crust
For the Sauce:
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 can 14 oz crushed or whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp sugar optional
For the Filling:
  • 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • ½ lb cooked Italian sausage or your choice of topping
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Method
 

  1. Make the Dough: Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 5 min. Add flour, cornmeal, salt, and olive oil. Knead until smooth. Cover and rise for 1 hour.
  2. Make the Sauce: Heat olive oil. Sauté garlic for 1 min. Add tomatoes, oregano, salt, and sugar. Simmer 15–20 min until thick.
  3. Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 425°F (220°C).
  4. Assemble the Pizza: Press dough into a greased 9-inch round cake pan or cast iron skillet. Let edges come up the sides.
  5. Add mozzarella, then sausage, then sauce on top. Sprinkle Parmesan last.
  6. Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes until crust is golden and sauce is bubbly.
  7. Cool & Serve: Let it rest 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!