Description
This Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza Pie offers a hearty and satisfying meal featuring a golden, buttery crust filled with melted mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and colorful veggies, all topped with rich pizza sauce and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for pizza lovers craving a comforting, homemade deep dish experience.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
For the Filling
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1 can (15 oz) pizza sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp dried basil
For Finishing
- 1/4 cup melted butter (for brushing)
- 1 egg (optional, for egg wash)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and olive oil. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir until a dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough into an oiled bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and set aside in a warm area. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan or a similarly sized baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Shape Dough: Roll out the risen dough to fit the pan, ensuring some excess dough hangs over the edges to seal the pie later.
- Layer Ingredients: Spread mozzarella cheese evenly over the bottom of the crust. Layer cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni slices, diced bell pepper, and diced onion on top. Pour the pizza sauce over the filling and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried basil for rich flavor.
- Seal and Brush: Fold the overhanging dough edges over the filling to enclose it fully, forming a sealed pie. Brush the dough top generously with melted butter. For a glossy golden finish, optionally brush with a beaten egg.
- Bake: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and the cheese inside is bubbly and melted.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pizza pie from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes to set before slicing. Serve warm and enjoy your hearty deep dish pizza!
Notes
- Allowing the dough to rise properly ensures a light, fluffy crust.
- For spicier flavor, consider adding crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce or filling.
- Use room temperature ingredients for easier dough formation.
- The egg wash is optional but adds a lovely golden shine to the crust.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture.
