Authentic Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza
My family’s secret Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza Recipe!
This recipe is near and dear to me, it is my dad- as we call him, “papa john’s” Chicago style deep dish pizza (his name is John, haha). I have tried over and over to replicate it with my own dough and own ingredients, but finally, I’ve just decided to have him come cook it with me and share his exact ingredients so that I can share them with you!
We live in the midwest and know our Chicago style deep dish pizza! They are pricey and you probably only get it for special occasions. But now I’ll share with you how to make it from the comfort of your own home on your next pizza night!
You might be wondering what to bake the pizza in and I recommend a 14 inch pan that is 1.5 inches deep. Here’s one from Chicago Metallic that I would recommend!
The How To
The Dough
First you start with the dough. You need to start this early in the afternoon if you want to be eating pizza by dinnertime. I start mine about 2:00pm so that we can eat around 5:00pm.
I use a bread maker for this dough. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the pan. Add the olive oil and warm tap water around the sides of the dry ingredients in the pan. Next, make a small well in the dry ingredients and add 1 packet of yeast (about 2 tsp). Set the bread maker to the dough setting and start. This makes 2 pounds of dough.
When the dough is finished in the break maker, turn it out into a large greased mixing bowl. Then, cover with a towel and let the dough rise for at least 1 hour (up to 2) in a warm place.
Tip: You can turn on the oven for a few minutes to 170° and then turn it off and place the dough in the oven to rise. You want the oven to get nice and warm but not totally hot.
The Sauce
For this sauce, I recommend Dei Fratelli Pizza Sauce. Its available at our Walmart, hopefully yours too! Or possibly other grocery stores in your area. It has great flavor but also a great texture. It’s a little thicker and not totally thin like marinara. Make sure you get the one that says “Pizza Sauce” on the can.
First, get a medium sized mixing bowl and pour in two cans of Dei Fratelli Pizza Sauce. Next, pour 1 1/2 tablespoons water into one of the cans and swirl it around to get all the extra sauce out, then pour the watery sauce into the bowl. You need this extra water because the sauce will dry out a little when baking.
Next, add the brown sugar, salt, italian seasoning and garlic to the bowl, and mix to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside until its time to put together the pizza. The longer it sits, the longer the flavors develope!
Putting It Together
First preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Then flour your work surface and turn your dough out onto it. Cut out one third of the dough and set it aside for later. Roll out the rest of the dough with a rolling pin. Make sure to flip it often while rolling out and dust it lightly with flour each time, you want to make sure it doesn’t stick to your work surface so that you can transfer it to the pan.
Next, transfer the dough to the deep dish pizza pan and push/pinch the sides so that they go all the way up the pan. Then add your mozzarella cheese and pizza toppings. We usually go for the pepperoni on one half and then my parents add green pepper, onion, and mushroom to the other half. You can save a couple pieces of topping to mark the top of the pizza so that you know which half is which!
Topping Ideas
- Italian sausage
- Pepperoni
- Ham
- Pineapple
- Pepper
- Onion
- Different kinds of cheeses
- Spinach
- Olives
- Bacon
- So many fun ideas listed here from Nagi at recipetineats.com
Now, flour your work surface again and roll out that last third of dough. Place the dough onto the pizza and pinch the sides into the edges of the first dough. You want to seal it so the pizza sauce doesn’t seep down.
Finally, add the pizza sauce one cup at time until you get a thick layer or desired amount. We like a very generous amount so that you can dip your crust in it! Priorities, right?
Top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, then place it in the oven for 35-40 minutes, until edges are golden brown. Once it is finished pull it out of the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!
You can store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat singe pieces in the microwave for about 1 minute. Or reheat separated pieces in the oven at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know if you made it in the comments and what toppings you used!
-Hailee
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Authentic Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza
Equipment
- Bread Maker
- Large Bowl
- Towel
- Medium Bowl
- Spatula
- Deep Dish Pizza Pan
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1½ tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
- 11 oz warm water
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 tsp)
Pizza Sauce
- 2 cans Dei Fratelli pizza sauce
- 1½ tbsp water
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic
Putting It Together
- Dough
- 30 oz Pizza Sauce
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese
- toppings of your choice
- flour for dusting
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
Pizza Dough (2 lb)
- Pour flour into bread maker pan.
- Add salt and sugar.
- Add olive oil and warm water around the dry ingredients.
- Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the yeast.
- Place the pan in the bread maker and select the dough setting and start.
- When the dough is finished, place it in a large greased mixing bowl.
- Cover with a towel and let dough rise for at least 1 hour (up to 2) in a warm place. (You can turn on the oven for a few minutes to 170° and then turn it off and place the dough in the oven to rise. You want the oven to be warm but not totally hot.)
Pizza Sauce
- Add cans of pizza sauce to a medium sized bowl.
- Rinse one can with 1½ tbsp water and add the watery pizza sauce left overs to the bowl of sauce.
- Add the brown sugar, salt, italian seasoning and garlic to the bowl, mix to combine.
- Cover and set aside.
Putting It Together
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Dust your work surface with flour.
- Spray your deep dish pizza pan with cooking spray.
- Turn out the dough onto your work surface, cut off ⅓ of the dough and set aside.
- Roll out the rest of the dough into a large circle. Turn over as you go and lightly dust with flour so that it doesn't stick to the work surface.
- Place the dough into the deep dish pan and push/pinch the sides so that they go all the way up the sides of the pan.
- Next, add your cheese and then your desired pizza toppings.
- Then flour your work surface again and roll out that last third of dough.
- Place the dough onto the pizza and pinch the sides into the edges of the first dough. You want to seal it so the pizza sauce doesn't seep down.
- Finally, add the pizza sauce one cup at time until you get a thick layer or desired amount.
- Top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
- Cook in the oven for 35-40 minutes, until edges are golden brown.
- Let it cool for 5 minutes before slicing, enjoy! Serves about 6 people.