Really Deep Dish Pizza

littleturtle's Note:

Bit like a pizza casserole but this has a crust so theoretically you could pick it up and eat it like regular pizza, but half of the toppings would probably slide off. The toppings listed are mostly suggestions try it this way or using your favorite toppings instead.

• Total Time: 44 mins
• Prep Time: 24 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 1.0 9x12

Dough

• 1 cup warm water or 1 cup milk
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 1 ounce parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Toppings

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 (14 ounce) jar pizza sauce
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (fresh or canned)
• 1 (4 ounce) package sliced pepperoni
• 2 (8 ounce) packages mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives

Directions:

1. In a measuring cup or small bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in water.
2. Combine flour, parmesan and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the center.
3. Pour yeast mixture and oil in well and stir into dry ingredients until dough forms; let rise 5 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350°F.
5. Heat olive oil over medium heat, add hamburger, onions and garlic, season with chili powder and sauté until onions are tender and meat is browned, about 10 minutes.
6. Grease a 9x12-inch cake pan, and press dough into pan.
7. Pour 1/2 of sauce onto dough, layer 1/2 of all remaining ingredients, top with remaining sauce, then layer on all remaining ingredients (the cake pan will be full at this point).
8. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned.

Reviews

[PetesNina]

What a pizza! I made this in two 9 inch cake pans and ended up baking it for 30 minutes. I used all the toppings listed except for the shrooms and I added sausage and red bell peppers and used a home made sauce. My family devoured it! The crust is very flavorful and held up good considering the amount of toppings piled onto it. I am planning to make this often. Thanks so much for sharing this excellent pizza! ~~~UPDATE~~~ I make this all the time, but this time I made it a stuffed crust deep dish pizza by using sring cheese. It was perhaps the best pizza we have ever had, home made or bought. Again, many thanks for sharing!

[agiolam]

I had been watching an episode on T.V about deep dish pizzas. I had to have one. This recipe was just what I was looking for. I made this last night for the family. The crust turned out great. I did make the crust in my bread machine. I used my cheesecake pan to make the pizza in instead of my cast iron. My DH said that it was a little watery but it still tasted great. That was not recipes' fault but mine because I wanted so many toppings. I used two types of cheese, mozzarella and provolone. I did not use pepperoni. Instead, I used Italian sausage and ground beef seasoned with season salt and garlic powder with chopped onion and minced garlic thrown in. Everyone was full and happy last night. Thanks!

[random witty name]

I love this dough recipe. It's a regular in our house. I bake the dough for 12 to 15 minutes to thicken/firm it up. Then add the toppings then the cheese. Bake for 15 minutes then pull it out add sauce on top for pseudo sicilian style and bake for 5 more minutes. Wonderful. Thank you again for posting. On a side note I add italian herbs to the crust and garlic salt instead of reg salt.