This deep dish pizza recipe is everything I love about pizza with a thick crust. This pizza gets baked in a square baking dish, and I like to cut the pizza into small squares before serving. Layers of pizza sauce, cheese and toppings melt together for the perfect bite. This is not Chicago-style pizza it’s more similar to Detroit-style pizza or Sicilian-style pizza.
This deep dish pizza recipe is similar to Pizza Hut original pan crust but maybe a little thicker and (depending how much oil you use in the bottom of the pan) a little less greasy.
More Pizza Recipes: Pizza Cupcakes, Stuffed Crust Cast-Iron Pizza, Calzone Recipe, Chocolate Chip Pizza and Thin Crust Pizza.
This pizza features a thick, rectangular crust with crispy edges and a soft interior. The dough is stretched out and pressed into a well-oiled square or rectangular pan, creating a caramelized, cheesy crust.
I add oil to the bottom of the pan the edges, also being sure to spread the cheese to the edge of dough so it touches the pan. This creates that crispy, crunchy edge to the pizza that reminds me of childhood Pizza Hut crust pizza (it was so good!).
When it comes to sauce, try our homemade pizza sauce or choose store bought. But I do recommend having some extra sauce on the side, as this is the kind of pizza you might want to dip into more sauce. If you love ranch, try our homemade ranch dressing.
Even though the pizza may not look big, I think you can easily feed four or five people with this pizza paired with a salad or other side dish.
Deep Dish Pizza Ingredients:
- Active dry yeast
- Water
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Olive oil
- Pizza Sauce– make your own or store-bought is great too
- Mozzarella cheese
- Toppings – pepperoni, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, Italian sausage, mushrooms, spinach- you choose!
If you want to add a few teaspoons of oregano to the dough OR sauce feel free! Another optional idea is to add a couple tablespoons cornmeal to the pan after you oil it. This just gives a little more texture to the crust.
How to make Deep Dish Pizza
In a glass mixing cup or small bowl, stir together the water and sugar. Then, sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water and allow to activate for a couple minutes.
In a large bowl, add the flour and salt. Pour the yeast water into the bowl and stir until a dough ball forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead a few times to help the dough stick together.
Then, place the dough back into the bowl, sprinkle with some flour so it doesn’t stick too much, cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rise for 30-40 minutes until doubled in size.
If your kitchen is cold or drafty (like mine is the winter), you can place the bowl inside a slightly warmed oven to rise.
Oil the inside of an eight-inch square pan. Then, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a small square. I like oil over butter here as I think it makes the bottom and edges of the crust a little crispier.
Place the dough in the oiled pan. Top with the sauce, cheese, and toppings. Make sure to sprinkle the cheese all the way to the edge, so it touches the pan (this will let it get crispy as it bakes).
Bake the pizza at 400°F for 15-16 minutes, until the edges are browned and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Slice the pizza three time across, making nine square pieces.
Tips for Success
- To get that crispy edge, be sure to sprinkle the cheese all the way to the edge so that it’s touching the pan.
- I like to provide red pepper flakes and grated parmesan cheese as an optional topping for the pizza.
- This recipe is made for an 8 inch baking pan, you may also use a cast-iron skillet to bake your pizza.
Here I tried to show you the thick and fluffy crust with that crispy edge. It’s soooo good! I love this deep dish pizza recipe. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best deep-dish pizza pan?
Use an 8 inch square baking pan or dish (the kind you would use for baking brownies. You may also use a cast iron pan for this recipe.
Salad Recipes:
- Broccoli Salad
- Cucumber Salad
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Ranch Dressing
- Lemon Vinaigrette
- Honey Mustard Dressing
- Fruit Salad
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Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast (instant)
- 1 cup water
- ⅛ teaspoon sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for kneading)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ cup tomato sauce
- 3 ounces mozzarella (shredded)
- toppings of your choice
Equipment
- oven
Instructions
- In a glass mixing cup or small bowl, stir together the water and sugar. Then, sprinkle the yeast over the top of the water and allow to activate for a couple minutes.
- In a medium to large size bowl, add the flour and salt. Pour the yeast water into the bowl and stir until a dough ball forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead a few times to help the dough stick together. Then, place the dough back into the bowl, sprinkle with some flour so it doesn't stick too much, cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rise for 30-40 minutes until doubled in size. If your kitchen is cold or drafty (like mine is the winter), you can place the bowl inside a slightly warmed oven to rise.
- Oil the inside of an eight-inch square pan. Then, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a small square. Place the dough in the oiled pan. Top with the sauce, cheese, and toppings. Make sure to sprinkle the cheese all the way to the edge, so it touches the pan (this will let it get crispy as it bakes).
- Bake the pizza at 400°F for 15-16 minutes, until the edges are browned and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Make 2 😆. They’re so good and my 4 kids devoured it. I made the dough the night before and then stuck it in the fridge. Made it for dinner the next night and it was super easy to spread in the bottom of a square pan after letting it sit out while the oven was preheating. Will make again!
What would be best to do if I want to save the dough for over night
I’ve never done this so this advice is untested. But, if it were me I would simply, cover (like, wrap in plastic wrap) refrigerate overnight and allow to sit at room temperate for about 20-30 minutes before stretching to the pan.
How thick should the dough be when rolled out for a single batch 8×8 pan? I am hoping to double or triple the recipe to use it in my big half sheet rectangular pan, but unsure how thick to roll out for a given recipe. Thanks!
Hmm. I don’t really roll it a certain thickness, more a shape. It’s a little like focaccia bread dough (if you’ve ever made that). It’s very soft, so it doesn’t roll like cinnamon roll dough or something with more shape. I would just roll it into a rectangle and get in into your pan and then gently use your fingers to stretch / press it toward the edges. Good luck!
this looks soooooo good.
I actually finally had pizza in Detroit after having made this recipe multiple times I can now say for certain that it is a perfect recipe. My husband even told me while we were eating the pizza in Detroit that the one I have been making at home is spot on and just as good as the one we bought in Detroit.
Best pizza recipe I’ve tried. Everyone loved it!
Drooling over this pizza.
My boys love these pizza pieces as an afternoon snack.
Love this recipe!
I have tried Chicago Style Dip Dish Pizza and I loved it. Thanks for sharing.
I only have a 9 inch container to cook in. Will this still work or do I need to adjust ingredient quantities? Thanks
Love this recipe! I’m making it a second time as I’m waiting for the dough to rise.
I’ve done this 3x so far with pre-made dough. It is really good! The 2nd time I made it though, I went a bit wild with the cheese and sauce…no bueno!! Stick to what she puts down!! Such a good quick tasty pizza!
Best pizza I’ve made so far!!! Thanks for the recipe !!!
Oh man this looks SO good, and easy! Love that you don’t need any fancy pizza tools and you just need a square pan. Trying this asap.
xo Jessica
an indigo day
Can’t wait to make this. I’ve been craving deep dish pizza!
The BEST pizza recipe!
Yum!! Thanks for the tips to keep the crust crispy- that’s hard with a thicker pizza sometimes!!
Struggling with the recipe to print
Hi Lydia—- I’m sorry about that! What kind of error did you get when you tried to print?
Still obsessed with this pizza recipe and now I make it for my son too. 🙂