Nick's Kitchen

The Secret Behind Deep Dish Pizza

Jun 5, 2026 5 min
chicago style pizzadeep dish pizzapizza recipe
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Summary

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This video provides a step-by-step guide to preparing an authentic, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, covering the unique dough, sauce, and layering process.

This cooking tutorial explains how to craft a deep-dish pizza from scratch, highlighting the departure from standard pizza conventions. The host details making a buttery, pie-like dough, prepping a thick, low-moisture sauce from San Marzano tomatoes, and using a distinctive layering order that places cheese at the bottom and a solid disk of sausage on top. The video emphasizes key technical aspects like cold-pressing the dough into the pan and using specific cheese moisture levels to prevent a soggy crust.

Recipe

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
American medium

Ingredients

dough
  • all-purpose flour
  • semolina
  • sugar
  • salt
  • active dry yeast
  • warm water
  • melted butter
  • corn oil
sauce
  • San Marzano tomatoes
  • garlic, freshly grated
  • olive oil
  • dried oregano
  • sugar
  • salt
toppings
  • Italian sausage
  • fennel seeds
  • salt
  • Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • low-moisture mozzarella, sliced

Equipment

  • stand mixer with dough hook
  • strainer
  • small pot
  • microplane
  • deep dish pizza pan
  • pastry brush

Steps

  1. 1
    Mix dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine in a stand mixer to form a shaggy dough. 0:13
  2. 2
    Let the dough rest for 10 minutes, then knead briefly. 0:34
  3. 3
    Shape into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours. 0:46
  4. 4
    Strain tomatoes and crush by hand to remove excess water. 0:54
  5. 5
    Simmer tomatoes with garlic, olive oil, oregano, sugar, and salt for 20 minutes until thickened. 1:50
  6. 6
    Combine Italian sausage with fennel seeds, salt, and Parmesan. 2:08
  7. 7
    Grease the pan with butter and press the cold dough into the bottom and up the sides. 3:28
  8. 8
    Layer slices of low-moisture mozzarella across the bottom of the crust. 3:58
  9. 9
    Press the sausage mixture into a flat disk and place it over the cheese layer. 4:10
  10. 10
    Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and spread the thick tomato sauce on top.
  11. 11
    Brush the edges of the crust with butter or olive oil.
  12. 12
    Bake on the bottom rack for 30 minutes, using aluminum foil if the crust browns too quickly.
  13. 13
    Let the pizza rest for a few minutes before serving.

Finishing

  • Cut and serve with a fork and knife.

Substitutions

  • Italian sausage → Spicy or regular as preferred

Pairings

  • Sparkling water

Notes from the creator

  • Avoid over-kneading the dough to ensure it stays pie-like rather than chewy.
  • The cold dough is easier to handle because of the high butter and oil content.
  • The layer of sausage serves as a protective barrier to prevent the cheese from burning.

Key Points

  • 0:13 Preparing and chilling the deep-dish pizza dough.
  • 0:54 Making a thick, low-moisture tomato sauce.
  • 3:22 Assembling the pizza: layering cheese, sausage, and sauce.
  • Baking the pizza at a low shelf position and using foil to manage browning.

Worth watching if: You want to learn the specific techniques behind making an authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza at home.

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