Deep Dish Sausage Pizza
A hearty deep dish sausage pizza featuring savory sausage, melted mozzarella, olives, and vegetables on a flaky bread dough crust, perfect for satisfying pizza lovers.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pork sausage ⓘ
- 1 medium onion, chopped ⓘ
- 6 oz. can tomato paste ⓘ
- 3/4 cup water ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano ⓘ
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves ⓘ
- 1/4 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed ⓘ
- 1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed ⓘ
- 2 1/4 oz. can sliced ripe olives ⓘ
- 1/4 cup chopped green pepper ⓘ
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese ⓘ
Instructions
- Brown the pork sausage and chopped onion in a 12-inch skillet with an ovenproof handle.
- Drain the fat from the skillet.
- Remove the sausage and onion from the skillet and set aside.
- Mix the tomato paste, water, oregano, thyme leaves, and crushed fennel seed to make the sauce.
- Roll out the thawed bread dough and fit it into a greased deep dish or pie pan.
- Spread the sausage and onion mixture evenly over the dough.
- Pour the tomato sauce over the sausage mixture.
- Top with sliced ripe olives, chopped green pepper, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 30 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For a spicy kick, try adding red pepper flakes to the sausage while browning. If you don't have fennel seed, you can substitute with a pinch of anise seed. To save time, use store-bought pizza sauce instead of making your own. Experiment with other toppings like bell peppers or mushrooms, which pair beautifully with this deep dish sausage pizza.
Serving Suggestions
Serve hot from the oven for the best texture. This deep dish sausage pizza pairs well with a crisp green salad or garlic bread on the side for a satisfying meal. For a complete dinner, consider serving with Grandma's Best Baked Beans for a hearty combination.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, place slices in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is bubbly again. Avoid microwave reheating to keep the crust crispy.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Deep Dish Sausage Pizza contains roughly 316 calories, with 8g protein, 51g carbohydrates, and 12g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (77% of the Daily Value), iron (44% of the Daily Value), and dietary fiber (35% of the Daily Value), and a good source of protein and potassium. It also contributes 10g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of sausage?
Absolutely! Feel free to substitute pork sausage with turkey sausage or a plant-based alternative for a lighter or vegetarian option. Just ensure it’s cooked thoroughly before adding it to the pizza.
What can I do if I don't have bread dough?
If you're out of frozen bread dough, you can use store-bought pizza dough or even a pre-made pie crust as a base. The texture will differ slightly, but it will still be delicious.
How can I make this pizza healthier?
You can make this pizza healthier by using whole wheat bread dough, reducing the cheese, and loading up on vegetables like spinach and mushrooms. Adding more veggies increases the nutritional value without sacrificing flavor.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).