Old Chicago Classic Deep Dish | Restaurant Copycat Recipe | John Eats Cheap

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces fat while still melting well.

Italian sausage

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground beef is often more affordable.

crushed tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: canned tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes can be used for a fresher taste, while canned are often cheaper.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while grated pecorino is often less expensive.

In a mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon and a quarter of salt.

Add 1 and a half teaspoons of yeast and 1 and 1/3 cups of warm water to the dry ingredients; mix until a dough forms.

Knead the dough for about 3-4 minutes until it is incorporated and forms a ball.

Spray a bowl with olive oil and place the dough inside, flipping it to coat both sides.

Let the dough rise for 1.5 to 2 hours until it doubles in size, using the oven light to keep it warm.

Slice mushrooms and dice fresh garlic while the dough rises.

Place sweet Chicago Italian sausage chunks on a pizza pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment and bake at 400°F for about 15 minutes until par-cooked.

In a saucepan, add a 28 ounce can of whole tomatoes and blend with an immersion blender to create a sauce.

Add 3 tablespoons of butter, garlic powder (about 2 teaspoons), Italian seasoning (about 1 tablespoon), 2 teaspoons of salt, and pepper to taste to the blended tomatoes; cook for about 10-15 minutes until bubbly and thickened.

Grease the bottom of a pizza pan with a butter oil (or olive oil) for a buttery crust.

Press the dough into the greased pizza pan, ensuring it covers the sides and bottom; let it rest for about 30 minutes.

Spread the prepared sauce over the crust, followed by a layer of cheese.

Add the par-cooked sausage, sliced mushrooms, and 9 cloves of fresh garlic evenly over the cheese.

Finish with pepperoni and any additional toppings as desired.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens