Description
Thick, cheesy, and loaded with rich tomato flavor, this Chicago-style deep dish pizza brings the Windy City’s iconic dish to your kitchen. With a buttery, golden crust and layers of gooey cheese and zesty tomato sauce, this is the ultimate easy dinner idea that’s as satisfying as it is impressive. Whether you’re craving comfort food, looking for dinner ideas, or want a homemade pizza recipe that beats takeout, this one’s a guaranteed winner. Perfect for parties, family meals, or weekend cooking projects!
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup unsalted butter (melted, plus more for greasing the pan)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Optional: ½ pound cooked Italian sausage or sautéed vegetables (mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add flour, cornmeal, salt, and melted butter. Stir to form a dough, then knead until smooth (5–7 minutes).
3. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about 1–1.5 hours).
4. While dough rises, prepare the sauce: In a saucepan, heat olive oil. Add crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and salt. Simmer for 20–30 minutes until thick.
5. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
6. Roll dough into a 14-inch circle. Press into a buttered 9- or 10-inch deep pan, making sure it goes up the sides.
7. Layer mozzarella on the dough first, then optional toppings, and finish with tomato sauce. Top with Parmesan.
8. Bake for 30–35 minutes, covering with foil halfway through if the top browns too quickly.
9. Let cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Make sure the sauce is thick—watery sauce will ruin the crust’s texture.
Don’t skip resting after baking; it helps the layers firm up before slicing.
If using vegetables, sauté them first to remove excess moisture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: chicago-style deep dish pizza, easy dinner, homemade pizza, comfort food, food ideas