Ohhh yes—Chicago-style deep dish 🍕💥
Thick, buttery crust. Cheese on the bottom. Sauce on top. Zero apologies.
Here’s a true homemade Chicago-style deep dish pizza that hits the classic vibe.
Homemade Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
Equipment
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9–10 inch deep dish pan or cast-iron skillet
Crust (Buttery & Crisp)
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2¼ cups all-purpose flour
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½ cup cornmeal
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1 tsp sugar
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1 tsp salt
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2¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
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¾ cup warm water
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3 tbsp melted butter
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2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce (Simple & Chunky)
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1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 tsp dried oregano
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½ tsp dried basil
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Salt to taste
(No sugar—Chicago sauce is savory)
Cheese & Toppings
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12–14 oz low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella, sliced
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Italian sausage (raw, crumbled)
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Pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers (optional)
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Grated Parmesan (for finishing)
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Dough
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Mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and yeast.
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Add warm water, butter, and olive oil.
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Knead until soft and slightly tacky (5 minutes).
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Cover and let rise 1 hour, until doubled.
2️⃣ Make the Sauce
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Heat olive oil, sauté garlic 30 seconds.
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Add tomatoes, oregano, basil, and salt.
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Simmer 20–30 minutes, thick but spoonable.
3️⃣ Assemble (Order Matters!)
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Preheat oven to 425°F / 220°C.
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Grease pan generously with butter or oil.
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Press dough into pan, going up the sides.
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Layer 1: Mozzarella slices (protects crust)
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Layer 2: Meat & veggies
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Layer 3: Sauce
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Finish with grated Parmesan
4️⃣ Bake
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Bake 30–35 minutes, until crust is golden and sauce bubbles.
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If browning too fast, tent loosely with foil.
5️⃣ Rest (Important!)
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Let sit 10–15 minutes before slicing.
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This isn’t New York—patience is part of the recipe 😉
Pro Tips 🍕
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Use sliced mozzarella, not shredded—it melts better.
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Raw sausage cooks perfectly under the sauce.
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For Lou Malnati’s vibes, add a touch of corn oil to the pan.
Variations
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Stuffed deep dish (extra dough layer inside)
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Veggie-loaded spinach & mushroom
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White deep dish with ricotta + garlic cream base
If you want, I can:
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Scale this for a 12-inch pan
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Do a no-yeast quick version
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Clone Giordano’s vs Lou Malnati’s styles side-by-side