Deep dish pizza is a specialty dish that has lots of fans. One of the things that makes it so remarkable is that many people think they need to travel to Chicago to get it or find a pizzeria that makes it. However, it can be made right at home in the slow cooker, as in the recipe that follows. Don't just place pizza dough inside and add all the toppings, though. Deep dish pizza is special for a reason, and it's because there is a very specific way to create it if you want to get close to the real thing.
First of course, you need a thick crust. To achieve it, the bottom crust needs to be a bit thicker than regular pizza, but it also has to travel up the sides a bit. Unlike other types of pizza, toppings get added and then the sauce. It may sound a bit weird at first, but trust the process. Lastly, the sides of the pizza dough get folded just a bit over all of those toppings. This not only gives it a little heft so all that goodness can be lifted up without spilling out, but it's also one of the defining characteristics of deep dish pizza.
Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza
6 pieces
10 minutes
6 hours
6 hours, 10 minutes
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 green pepper, small dice
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 pound Italian sausage, removed from casing
1 pound fresh pizza dough
2 tablespoons cornmeal
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
1 cup pizza sauce, plus more if needed
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet set over medium heat.
When oil is hot, add the sausage, breaking up the pieces as you do. Cook for about 3 minutes.
Add the green peppers and the mushrooms, and stir. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables have released their moisture and have softened slightly and the sausage is no longer pink.
While the vegetables and the sausage cook, line a 6-quart slow cooker with parchment paper. Sprinkle with cornmeal.
Using your hands, flatten the pizza dough on the bottom of the slow cooker and move it up the sides so it is about 1-1/2 inches thick all around.
Sprinkle one cup of mozzarella cheese on the bottom of the pizza dough.
After the vegetables and sausage have cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer mixture onto the cheese sprinkled on the pizza dough.
Top the sausage and vegetables with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
Evenly spread pizza sauce over the cheese, using more than one cup if needed to cover the entire top of the pizza.
Slightly roll the pizza dough over the edge of the toppings.
Place a paper towel or clean kitchen towel over the top of the slow cooker.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and pull up the corners of the towel so they're on top of the slow cooker and not hanging down.
Cook on high for 2 to 4 hours or on low for 4 to 6 hours.
