Loaded Deep Dish Pizza
Loaded Deep Dish Pizza
Ingredients
For the Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
For the Pizza Assembly
- 1 pound thick crust pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1/4 cup jalapeños, sliced, fresh or pickled
- 4 ounces pepperoni slices
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and Italian sausage. Add black pepper, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly by hand until all seasonings are well incorporated into the meat.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Cook the seasoned meat mixture in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease from the cooked meat and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
On a lightly floured surface, unroll or stretch the thick crust pizza dough into a large circle, approximately 12-14 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer the dough to the prepared springform pan, pressing it up the sides of the pan to form a crust that extends at least 2 inches above the rim.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Spread 1/2 cup of pizza sauce evenly over the bottom of the dough in the pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pizza sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Spoon the cooked meat mixture evenly over the mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Add another 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the meat.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Distribute the sliced green bell peppers and jalapeños over the cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Place half of the pepperoni slices (about 2 ounces) on top of the vegetables.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Add a final 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the pepperoni.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Carefully fold the excess dough from the sides of the pan over the filling, creating a top crust that partially covers the toppings. You don't need to seal it completely, just fold it inwards.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Spread the remaining 1 cup of pizza sauce thinly over the folded dough.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Arrange the remaining pepperoni slices, green bell peppers, and jalapeños on the very top of the pizza.
⏱️ 1 min
- 16
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 375
- 17
Once baked, carefully remove the deep dish pizza from the oven. Let it rest in the springform pan for 5-10 minutes before releasing the sides of the pan. This helps the pizza set and makes it easier to slice.
⏱️ 5 min
- 18
Slice into wedges and serve hot.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Loaded Deep Dish Pizza
For the Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
For the Pizza Assembly
- 1 pound thick crust pizza dough, store-bought or homemade
- 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1/4 cup jalapeños, sliced, fresh or pickled
- 4 ounces pepperoni slices
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and Italian sausage. Add black pepper, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix thoroughly by hand until all seasonings are well incorporated into the meat.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Cook the seasoned meat mixture in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease from the cooked meat and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
On a lightly floured surface, unroll or stretch the thick crust pizza dough into a large circle, approximately 12-14 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer the dough to the prepared springform pan, pressing it up the sides of the pan to form a crust that extends at least 2 inches above the rim.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Spread 1/2 cup of pizza sauce evenly over the bottom of the dough in the pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pizza sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Spoon the cooked meat mixture evenly over the mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Add another 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the meat.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Distribute the sliced green bell peppers and jalapeños over the cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Place half of the pepperoni slices (about 2 ounces) on top of the vegetables.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Add a final 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the pepperoni.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Carefully fold the excess dough from the sides of the pan over the filling, creating a top crust that partially covers the toppings. You don't need to seal it completely, just fold it inwards.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Spread the remaining 1 cup of pizza sauce thinly over the folded dough.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Arrange the remaining pepperoni slices, green bell peppers, and jalapeños on the very top of the pizza.
⏱️ 1 min - 16
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 375 - 17
Once baked, carefully remove the deep dish pizza from the oven. Let it rest in the springform pan for 5-10 minutes before releasing the sides of the pan. This helps the pizza set and makes it easier to slice.
⏱️ 5 min - 18
Slice into wedges and serve hot.
⏱️ 1 min