How to Make Chicago Style Stuffed Pizza - A Step-by-Step Guide

Chicago style stuffed pizza is a delicious and hearty dish that originated in the Windy City. This iconic pizza is known for its deep dish crust, layers of cheese, meat, and vegetables, and topped with a thick layer of tomato sauce. Unlike traditional thin crust pizzas, Chicago style stuffed pizza is more of a casserole, with its layers of ingredients enclosed inside a thick, buttery crust.

What sets Chicago style stuffed pizza apart from other types of pizza is its unique assembly. I...

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Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, divided
  • ½ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • ½ cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ pound spicy Italian sausage - browned, drained and crumbled
  • 9 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅓ cup diced pepperoni
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • ⅛ cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • ½ cup tomato sauce

Information

  • Prep Time: 1 hr
  • Cook Time: 50 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins
  • Servings: 5
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings

  • To Make Dough: In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in 1 cup warm water; in a separate small bowl combine the yeast, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup warm water. Mix together and let rest in bowl for about 20 minutes, until foamy.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl mix together remaining 2 1/2 cups flour with cornmeal and salt; remove half of this mixture from bowl and stir 1 cup sugar water into bowl. When well mixed, return second half of flour/cornmeal mixture to bowl and mix all together; then stir in yeast mixture. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 12 minutes. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled in volume.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). To Make Stuffing: In a large bowl combine the sausage, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, pepperoni, onion, bell pepper, oregano and garlic. Mix well.
  • Press half of the dough in the bottom and up the sides of a lightly greased deep dish pan. Bake crust in preheated oven for 4 minutes, then add the stuffing mixture to the bottom crust and cover with top crust; seal edges together with fingers, and trim excess. Slit top crust to allow steam to vent during baking; top with tomato sauce.
  • Bake on lower rack at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes, then cut and serve.
  • Nutrition

    703 cal.

    • Total Fat: 30g
    • Saturated Fat: 12g
    • Cholesterol: 70mg
    • Sodium: 1646mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 76g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 5g
    • Protein: 31g
    • Vitamin C: 8mg
    • Calcium: 488mg
    • Iron: 5mg
    • Potassium: 397mg