Description
This Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza Pie is a hearty and indulgent meal perfect for pizza lovers craving a thick, cheesy, and flavorful pie. Featuring a homemade yeast dough, layers of mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni, vegetables, and pizza sauce, it’s baked until golden and bubbly for a comforting dish that serves 6 to 8 people.
Ingredients
Scale
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
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
Topping
- 1/4 cup melted butter (for brushing)
- 1 egg (for egg wash, optional)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Prepare Dough: In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, salt, and olive oil. Add the foamy yeast mixture and stir until a dough begins to form. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let Dough Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and set it in a warm place. Allow it to rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan or comparable baking dish to prevent sticking and for easy removal.
- Roll Out Dough: Roll the risen dough to fit the pie pan, leaving extra dough around the edges to fold over the filling later.
- Assemble Pizza Layers: Layer mozzarella cheese evenly over the bottom of the crust. Add cooked crumbled sausage, pepperoni slices, diced bell pepper, and diced onion. Pour the pizza sauce over the toppings, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried basil to distribute flavors.
- Seal the Pizza: Fold the extra dough edges over the top of the filling, sealing the stuffing inside the dough. Brush the exposed dough with melted butter and, if desired, add a beaten egg wash to give the crust a rich golden color during baking.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese inside is bubbly and melted.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the stuffed deep dish pizza pie to cool for about 5 minutes to set before slicing and serving hot.
Notes
- Make sure the water for the yeast is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
- Use cooked sausage to avoid undercooking the filling inside the deep dish.
- Folding the dough over the filling helps trap the moisture and flavors inside, making the pizza more like a stuffed pie.
- The egg wash is optional but it gives the crust a nice shiny, golden finish.
- Letting the pizza cool slightly before slicing helps prevent the filling from spilling out.
- You can customize the toppings as per your preference, adding vegetables or different meats.
