Deep Dish Meat Lovers Pizza (Print Format)

Loaded with beef, gooey cheese, and rich tomato sauce atop a golden crisp crust. Perfect for sharing.

# Ingredients:

→ Pizza Dough

01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
03 - 1 teaspoon sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - ¾ cup warm water

→ Meat Filling

07 - 1 lb lean ground beef
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1 small onion, finely diced
10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - 1 teaspoon paprika
13 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1 teaspoon salt

→ Cheese Layer

15 - 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pizza Sauce

17 - 2 cups crushed tomatoes
18 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
19 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
20 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
21 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
22 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
23 - ½ teaspoon basil
24 - ½ teaspoon sugar
25 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

26 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
27 - Grated Parmesan, optional

# Steps:

01 - Combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. Mix in the flour, salt, and olive oil. Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion until softened, then add the garlic. Stir in the ground beef, seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned. Drain excess grease and let cool.
03 - In a saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic for 30 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15–20 minutes until thickened.
04 - Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a deep 8–9 inch cake pan or deep-dish pizza pan.
05 - Roll the dough into a large circle and press it into the pan, covering the bottom and sides. Add half of the mozzarella cheese, then the cooked beef mixture, followed by the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the top and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
06 - Bake for 30–35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling. Let the pizza rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Tips:

01 - Use low-moisture mozzarella for the best cheese pull.
02 - Drain the cooked beef well to keep the crust from becoming soggy.
03 - Let the pizza rest before slicing so the layers hold together.
04 - Add pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushrooms, or green peppers for extra flavor.
05 - The sauce should always be placed on top of the cheese, just like a classic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.
06 - Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for the crispiest crust.

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