Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 teaspoon oil (for greasing the pan)
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
For the Pizza:
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ⅓ pound Italian sausage (crumbled and cooked)
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C).
- Lightly grease a 9-inch or 10-inch deep-dish pizza pan or cast-iron skillet with 1 teaspoon oil.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle.
- Place the dough into the prepared pan, pressing it up the sides to form a deep crust.
2. Assemble the Pizza
- Layer the cheese: Spread 1 ½ cups mozzarella evenly over the dough.
- Add the sausage: Scatter cooked Italian sausage over the cheese. Add pepperoni if using.
3. Make the Sauce
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar.
- Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the Sauce and Bake
- Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the sausage and cheese.
- Sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.
- Let the pizza rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Enjoy!
This homemade deep-dish pizza has a crispy yet tender crust with layers of gooey cheese, savory sausage, and rich tomato sauce. Let me know if you’d like to tweak the recipe!