Homemade Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Directions

Make the Dough:

1. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl.
2. Add water and melted butter and mix on low speed (or by hand) until combined, 1–2 minutes.
3. Increase speed to medium and knead until dough is smooth, glossy, and pulls away from the bowl, 4–5 minutes.
4. Coat a large bowl with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl, turning to coat in oil, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled, 45–60 minutes.

Make the Sauce:

5. While the dough rises, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, oregano, and salt; cook until the onion is golden and liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes.
6. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes and sugar, increase heat to high, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce reduces to about 2 ½ cups, 25–30 minutes.
7. Off the heat, stir in basil and olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.

Laminate the Dough:

8. Turn dough onto a dry surface and roll into a 15×12-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough, leaving a ½-inch border. Roll from the short end into a tight cylinder. Flatten into an 18×4-inch rectangle.
9. Cut rectangle in half crosswise. Fold each half into thirds like a business letter, pinching seams to form dough balls. Place in oiled bowl, cover, and refrigerate until nearly doubled, 40–50 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

Bake the Pizzas:

10. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with 2 tablespoons olive oil each. Roll out one dough ball into a 13-inch circle. Transfer to the pan and press into corners and up 1-inch sides. Repeat with second dough ball.
11. Sprinkle 2 cups mozzarella evenly over each dough. Add pepperoni or other toppings if desired.
12. Spread 1¼ cups tomato sauce over the cheese and sprinkle 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the sauce.
13. Bake until crust is golden brown, 20–30 minutes. Let pizza rest 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (includes dough rising)
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Yield: 2 deep dish pizzas
Difficulty: Medium

Variations & Substitutions

• Add Italian sausage, mushrooms, or bell peppers for extra flavor.
• Use provolone or cheddar in place of mozzarella for a twist.
• Swap fresh basil with dried oregano if fresh isn’t available.

Serving Suggestions