Deep dish pizza dough is easy to make and the topping combinations are endless.

I am not a huge pizza fan.  There I said it.

But, of course, living with a house of boys they all LOVE pizza.

When we moved to our new house, we found out very quickly that our pizza options were limited.  I set out to find a good pizza dough that we all loved so I could just make pizza at home.

After making many different types of pizzas and doughs, this has become our go-to homemade pizza.

I was always intimidated by dough but after I learned a few key points, it really hasn’t been hard to work with.

• The biggest thing is making sure your water is 110 to 115 degrees.  No more, no less.  Less and the yeast won’t activate, More and it will kill the yeast.  I use a thermometer to make sure it is right on point.

• I like putting a little sugar in the water before adding the yeast.  I’ve never had a problem getting the yeast to activate when I’ve added the sugar.

• Make sure your yeast is not expired.

• A KitchenAid mixer is a big help so you don’t have to knead by hand.  I believe using a bread machine would be fine but I haven’t tried that process.

This picture shows how your yeast should look after the 5 minutes.  It’s hard to see but the mixture has puffed up and become foamy looking.

   The dough should be pressed into the bottom of the pan and then pushed up onto the sides.  I used a pizza cutter to cut off the excess and keep it somewhat even.

Half and Half Pizza Toppings

The buffalo chicken pizza I made isn’t super spicy but the kids prefer cheese so I made this pizza half and half.

This was after the dough had cooked for about 10 minutes in the oven.  I added the toppings and then put it back in the oven to bake the remaining 15 minutes.

This is the final result.  I used an 8″ springform pan and it works perfect.  You could also use a cake pan, cast iron pan, etc.

Cleaning up the flour/dough on your counter top can be a mess.  I love this tool.  It makes clean up a breeze.

Our favorite topping combinations have been: pepperoni, cheese with garlic and herb crust, and buffalo chicken.   What’s your favorite toppings on pizza?

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Deep Dish Pizza Dough

Deep dish pizza dough is easy to make and the topping options are endless.  Create any kind of pizza you like or do two types in one pizza.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword deep dish pizza, pizza

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Rising Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water 110 to 115 degrees
• 1 package active dry yeast or 2 1/2 teaspoons
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp. melted butter
• 2 tbsp. olive oil

Instructions

1. In the bowl of your KitchenAid stand mixer, combine the warm water and sugar. Immediately sprinkle the yeast over the water/sugar mixture and do a quick stir to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes. 

2. On low speed with the dough hook attached, alternately add in a cup of flour and a little of the olive oil at a time. Continue beating on low until all of the flour has been added. Scrape the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are combined. Increase the speed to high and beat for 3 minutes. 
   

3. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm area for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until doubled in size.

4. Once it has doubled in size, lightly flour your work area and place the dough in the center. Let it sit for 2 minutes to rest before working the dough.
   

5. Roll the dough to a circle, about 2 inches wider than your pan. I use a 8" springform pan and roll the dough to 10". You will want the dough to cover the bottom of the pan and go up the sides a couple inches.
   

6. Mix the 2 tbsp. melted butter and olive oil together. Prepare the pan by brushing the entire inside with the butter/oil mixture.
   

7. Place the dough in the middle of the pan. Push down so that the dough is covering the entire bottom and then start pressing the dough up the sides of the pan. 
   

8. Cover and let rise again about 15 minutes. You can let it rise longer if you want a really thick pizza (adjust baking time to accommodate the extra thickness).
   

9. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
   

10. Add your toppings and cook for 25 to 30 minutes 

    OR

    I like to cook the dough for about 10 minutes before I add the toppings on some of my pizzas. For instance, my buffalo chicken pizza includes pre-cooked chicken, so I like to cook the chicken on the pizza for less time so it doesn't dry out. If you put veggies on your pizza, you may want to put them on right away so they have time to soften. 

    You can also brush the dough with a mix of butter, garlic, and herbs to add even more flavor. This is especially important if you use less toppings, like cheese only pizza.