Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

sweet home chicago style deep dish pizza

(3 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Kelly Williams
Forked River, NJ

My hubby and I were homesick for a REAL pizza, so I put together this recipe so we could enjoy a little taste of Chicago! It takes a little time, just rising time, but is actually very easy to make. And sooooo worth it!! Next time you're craving a good pizza, don't order out, make your own! You can't go wrong, and WAY less expensive to boot! Enjoy!! :D (*Prep time does not include rising time.) Both photos by me.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Why travel to Chicago for authentic deep dish pizza when you can make it at home?! The pizza crust has so much flavor from the garlic and basil and the homemade sauce really shines through. All the toppings really pair well together with the Italian sausage being the star. You will feel like you stepped into a Chicago pizzeria after eating this delicious pizza pie.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
yield 1 deep dish pizza (6-8 slices)
prep time 45 Min
cook time 45 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For sweet home chicago style deep dish pizza

  • PIZZA DOUGH:
  • 1
    (1/4 oz.) packet fast-rising yeast
  • 1 c
    warm water
  • 1 Tbsp
    sugar
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1 tsp
    dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp
    garlic powder
  • 2 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • 1/4 c
    vegetable oil
  • 3 Tbsp
    ground Parmesan cheese
  • 3 c
    flour
  • PIZZA SAUCE:
  • 1 can
    (6 oz.) Contadina Italian herb tomato paste
  • 1 can
    (14.5 oz.) Del Monte stewed tomatoes, mostly drained
  • 1/4 Tbsp
    garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp
    oregano
  • 1/4 tsp
    sugar
  • PIZZA INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 lb
    ground mild Italian sausage, i always use Johnsonville, it's the best
  • 1
    (8 oz.) container fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 md
    green bell pepper, diced or julienned
  • 1 md
    shallot, halved and sliced very thin
  • 36 slice
    pepperoni
  • 1 can
    (2.25 oz.) sliced black olives, drained
  • 1 2/3 c
    homemade pizza sauce, recipe above
  • 3 tsp
    ground Parmesan cheese
  • 2 lb
    shredded mozzarella cheese

How To Make sweet home chicago style deep dish pizza

  • 1
    For pizza dough: In large mixer bowl, combine water, yeast, sugar and salt. Let sit til foamy on top. Beat in oils, basil, garlic powder and half of the flour. Beat for 10 minutes. Add remaining flour and cheese. With dough hook, pulse til incorporated. Continue kneading on medium for 10-12 minutes til smooth and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Transfer to large oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place for 1 hour or til doubled in size. Punch down, rise again. Roll out onto floured board or freeze to store. Makes 2-12" pizzas or 1 deep dish.
  • 2
    For the sauce: In blender or food processor, pulse til combined and coarse chopped.
  • 3
    To make pizza: Break up sausage into nickel-sized pieces and saute til done. Remove to paper towel-lined bowl. In small bowl, place cut up peppers and shallots, sprinkle with water, cover with paper towel and nuke about 1 minute til softened a little. In 9" wide, 3" deep oiled cast iron skillet, place thinly rolled out dough. (Across bottom, up sides and overhang an inch.) *Save aside 3/4 lb. mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup sauce for top. Cover bottom with 1" deep layer of mozzarella. Sprinkle with 1 tsp Parmesan cheese, then half of pizza topping ingredients of choice sprinkling with a little more mozzarella after each ingredient. Drizzle evenly with about 2/3 cup pizza sauce. Cover with 1" layer of mozzarella. Press gently. Sprinkle with 1 tsp Parmesan. Repeat ingredients adding in last of cheeses except top amount. Drizzle with 2/3 cup sauce. Top with 3/4 lb. mozzarella. Roll up overhang of dough to inside of skillet around edge. Brush dough with oil. Bake in 400-degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove, top center with last 1/3 cup sauce, bake 5 minutes longer. Let rest before cutting.
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