Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza - on the BBQ!

Deep Dish Pizza is an amazingly delicious and simple meal that can feed the entire family and then some. The term deep dish refers to the pan in which the pizza is made, usually 1-1/2 tp 2" deep giving the finished pizza its characteristic high sides. Because of the thickness of the pizza they are just loaded with layer upon layer of delicious ingredients and can offer a shock and awe factor when served to guests. I decided to create a meaty masterpiece of a pizza filling it with 3 different kinds of meat and some delicious mozzarella cheese.

I love cooking on the BBQ to naturally I made this pizza outside on the grill!!

Prep : 3 hours: (if you make your own dough)

Cooking time : 20 minutes @ 400 degrees on the BBQ

Cooling Time : 10-15 minutes

Materials Needed

Cooking

Cast Iron Pan

Pizza Stone (optional)

BBQ

Rolling Pin

Mixing Bowl

Food Mixer ( Optional )

For Pizza

Salami

Pepperoni

Sausage Meat (cooked)

Mozzarella Cheese

Parmesan Cheese

Pizza Sauce

Butter

For Dough

2-1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 TSP salt

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2/3 Cups Warm Water

1-1/2 TSP Active Dry Yeast

1 TSP sugar

Cooking time for this pizza is quite quick the only time consuming part is he rise time for the dough assuming you have made it yourself, if not then you can jump right into deep dish construction.

Step 1: Making the Dough

****I was filming this portion so I did not take any photos but you can watch the video to get a better understanding of the steps involved****

Steps

Pour 2/3 cups of warm water in to a glass then add 1-1/2 TSP of active dry yeast and 1 TSP of regular sugar. Stirr the mixture lightly then allow to sit for around 10 minutes.

While the yeast and water mixture is sitting add 2-1/4 cups of all purpose flour to a mixing bowl then add 1 TSP of salt and mix well.

Well Mixing flour and salt slowly pour 1/4 cups of extra virgin olive oil into the flour and continue to mix well to blend the oil into the flour.

Once the yeast has sit for at least 10 minutes you can pour the water and yeast mixture into the flour while continuously mixing with the food processor and dough hook.

Allow the mixer to mix until the dough forms a ball and has picked up all bis of flour around the edge of the bowl

If you notice the dough is not picking up all the flour simple add 1/4 cups of water at a time until the dough reaches the desired consistency

Once a ball has formed you can turn off your mixer and removed the dough.

Take some non-stick spray and evenly coat a mixing bowl, form your dough into an even ball and place in the mixing bowl and allow to rise for 2 hours at room temperature. Place a tea towel over the bowl to ensure the dough does not dry out.

Step 2: Building the Deep Dish Pizza

After your dough as risen for about 2 hours it will have doubled in size and now you can begin rolling and forming the pizza crusts.

Lay your dough out and cut 1/3 of the dough and set aside wrapped in plastic wrap. This piece will be used for the top of the pizza.

With the remaining 2/3 coat a work area in some flour and begin rolling out your bottom layer of dough.

Make sure to roll it as evenly as possible and big enough so that it will go up the sides of your cast iron pan.

Before placing the dough in the pan use some butter and coat the inside of the pan creating a non-stick layer so we can easily remove the finished deep dish pizza. ( Butter works better then the non-stick spray for this part)

Once coated place the dough in the pan and make sure there are no air bubbles around the sides.

Layering your Meaty Deep Dish Pizza

Grate a generous amount of Mozzarella Cheese and make a base layer,

1 - Add a layer of Salami

2 - Add a Layer of Pepperoni

3 - Add another lighter layer of grated Mozzarella Cheese

4 - Add some Parmesan Cheese ( To Taste)

5 - Add a layer of fully cooked Sausage meat

** Its important to pre-cook the sausage because the cooking times for the sausage and dough are different and would result in a burnt crust if we put un-cooked sausage meat in the pizza**

6 - Now its time to roll out the top or cap piece of dough, with the remaining 1/3 dough roll it out so that it will cover the entire pan and then secure it to the existing dough with a fork.

7 - Cut small vent holes in the top of the dough covering the previous layers, this will allow heat to escape and the pizza wont bubble.

8 - Add some Pizza Sauce and spread around with a spoon. ( Don't add to much a little goes a long way)

9 - Add some more Mozzarella Cheese and additional Pepperoni

Step 3: Cooking

Place your pizza stone on the BBQ then begin pre-heating the grill until it reaches 400 degrees.

Once your BBQ is at 400 place the cast iron pan on the baking stone and close lid

Cook the Deep Dish Pizza for 20 minutes rotating the pan once to ensure even cooking.

***Cooking times may vary based on your BBQ so keep an eye on the pizza and use your judgement and look for the signature golden crust to know when its done. Cooking will usually be 18-25 minutes.***

(If you don't have a pizza stone not to worry, just place the pan on the
actual grill but only light 1 burner so the heat is indirectly cooking your pizza ie: place pizza on right then have the left burner at full)

Step 4: Finished

Once you are done cooking allow the Deep Dish Pizza to sit for 10-15 minutes letting the juices and cheese to firm up slightly. using a sharp knife slice out your pieces and serve.

I like to add some fresh Parmesan Cheese and hot sauce for a little kick.

This Pizza turned out so amazingly well and the people who ate loved it so much I have doing another pizza party next weekend.

I hope you enjoy this pizza its very simple and a total crowd pleas'er ,, Enjoy