Deep Dish Pizza Pot Pie

Category: Dinner Ideas That Actually Work

Deep dish pizza pot pie features hearty layers of gooey mozzarella and provolone cheeses covered with rich pizza sauce and your favorite toppings, all lovingly sealed beneath pillowy pizza dough. Baked in oven-safe bowls, the golden, crispy crust gives way to molten cheese and savory fillings, delivering classic pizzeria flavors in individual portions. Use pre-made or homemade yeast dough and customize with sausage, peppers, or veggies as desired. Once baked, invert onto plates and remove the bowls for a show-stopping presentation perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.

Clare Recipes
Created By Lily Chen
Updated on Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:07:27 GMT
A pizza pot pie with cheese and pepperoni. Save
A pizza pot pie with cheese and pepperoni. | lilicooks.com

Pizza pot pie turns deep dish pizza on its head by baking all the gooey cheese and rich sauce inside a bowl, crowned with golden pizza dough. It is bubbling and fragrant at the table, and breaking through that crust feels like a little celebration every time. This was my treat for sleepovers and game nights, and it easily wins over any crowd craving comfort food.

The first time I made these, the crust puffed up like a balloon and everyone at the table applauded when I served them upside down. It felt like restaurant magic, but made right at home.

Ingredients

  • Pizza dough: makes up the signature crispy and chewy cap and can be homemade or bought fresh from a bakery. Choose dough that feels elastic and not dry.
  • Mozzarella cheese: melts into gooey layers and helps anchor the sauce. I like pre-sliced deli mozzarella for consistency.
  • Provolone cheese: adds creamy depth and becomes golden while baking.
  • Pizza sauce: brings tang and bright tomato flavor. Choose a sauce with minimal sugar for a classic taste.
  • Pizza toppings: provide personalization by letting everyone add their favorites like pepperoni, sautéed mushrooms, or sliced olives. Select high-quality toppings and precook meats for best results.
  • Baking spray or oil: ensures nothing sticks and getting the finished pot pie out is a breeze.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep Your Equipment:
Lightly coat the inside and outer rim of four oven-safe ramekins with baking spray and set them on a baking sheet for easy handling and to catch any melted cheese that might bubble over.
Layer the Cheese:
Arrange mozzarella slices inside each ramekin so the ends overlap in the center. This creates a gooey and melty cheese layer as the base.
Add Sauce and Fillings:
Spoon two tablespoons of pizza sauce on top of the mozzarella. Scatter over any pizza toppings you like, but resist the urge to overpack or the filling can spill. If you want extra sauciness, drizzle on two more tablespoons of sauce.
Top With Provolone:
Lay a slice of provolone over the fillings for a creamy melt that toasts beautifully in the oven.
Prepare and Apply the Dough:
Divide your dough into four even balls. Stretch each piece into a round about an inch and a half wider than your ramekin. Draping it over the top and pressing gently around the edges seals in steam for a tender but crisp crust.
Bake Until Golden:
Slide the tray into a preheated 400 degree oven. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, watching as the dough turns golden and slightly puffed.
Serve Upside Down:
Let the ramekins cool just enough to handle. Invert each one onto a plate. Use a butterknife to loosen if needed and gently lift off the ramekin, revealing your pizza pot pie shell filled with molten goodness.
A pizza pot pie with cheese and pepperoni. Save
A pizza pot pie with cheese and pepperoni. | lilicooks.com

My favorite memory is watching my son try to eat one for the first time. He cut into it and grinned when all that cheese and sauce oozed out. I am always amazed how a little kitchen theater makes dinner so much fun.

Storage Tips

Cover leftover pizza pot pies with foil and refrigerate for up to three days. Reheat in a 350 degree oven until heated through and the crust is crisped back up. Avoid microwaving for long periods, as the crust can become chewy.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you do not have provolone, try fontina or more mozzarella for a stretchy melt. For a dairy free version, use a meltable vegan cheese. Store-bought pizza dough is a great shortcut, but you can make your own using your favorite recipe.
Any cooked meat or vegetable can be swapped in based on taste or what needs to be used up in the fridge.

Serving Suggestions

Serve the pizza pot pies inverted onto a plate and use a serrated knife to cut through the crust. Add a green salad or roasted broccoli for freshness. These are filling enough for a main but extra good with a little side of marinara for dipping.

A close up of a pizza pot pie. Save
A close up of a pizza pot pie. | lilicooks.com

Cultural and Historical Context

Chicago’s stuffed pizza inspired this technique of baking fillings under a thick crust, but pizza pot pie takes it a step further. Home cooks use oven-safe bowls to enclose all the cheese and toppings, creating a pie that is crispy outside and bubbling inside. It is a fun twist that lets everyone personalize their meal and turns pizza night into something special.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I use store-bought pizza dough?

Yes, store-bought dough works well and saves time. Just let it come to room temperature before stretching over the bowls.

→ Which cheese melts best for this dish?

Low-moisture mozzarella and provolone deliver perfect melt and flavor, preventing excess moisture in the filling.

→ Can I add meats or vegetables?

Absolutely! Try cooked sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, or bell peppers. Pre-cook raw meats first for food safety.

→ What kind of bowls should I use?

Oven-safe ramekins or Pyrex bowls sized around 10 ounces work well and allow easy unmolding after baking.

→ How do I know when the crust is done?

Crust should be golden brown and slightly puffed. Baking usually takes 15–25 minutes at 400°F.

Deep Dish Pizza Pot Pie

Mozzarella, sauce, and dough topped then baked in bowls for a hearty, cheese-filled Italian meal.

Preparation Time
20 min
Cooking Time
20 min
Overall Time
40 min
Created By: Lily Chen

Category: Main Dishes

Skill Level: Moderate

Cuisine Type: Italian

Output: 4 Serves

Dietary Options: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Main Ingredients

01 1 large portion of pizza dough
02 1 cup pizza sauce
03 8 slices mozzarella cheese, halved (not fresh)
04 4 slices provolone cheese
05 Optional additional pizza toppings, as desired

Steps

Step 01

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

Step 02

Spray four 10-ounce oven-safe ramekins with baking spray, including their interior and sides. Place the ramekins onto a baking sheet.

Step 03

Place slices of mozzarella cheese into the ramekins by positioning the short ends of each slice in the center of the bowl.

Step 04

Spoon 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce into each ramekin on top of the mozzarella cheese. Add any desired pizza toppings, being cautious not to overfill. Add an additional 2 tablespoons of sauce if preferred.

Step 05

Top the filling with one slice of provolone cheese.

Step 06

Divide the pizza dough into four equal portions and stretch each piece into circles that are 1 to 1.5 inches larger than the top of the ramekins.

Step 07

Cover the ramekins with the dough, gently pressing the dough around the edges to seal. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is golden brown, approximately 15 to 25 minutes.

Step 08

Remove ramekins from the oven and invert them onto serving plates. Carefully remove the ramekins by loosening the dough edges with a knife or using tongs as needed.

Tips

  1. Use only oven-safe bowls like Pyrex to prevent damage.
  2. Cook and cool any raw meat, such as Italian sausage, before adding as a topping.
  3. If using homemade dough, prepare the dough at least 60 minutes in advance to allow for rising time.

Required Tools

  • Oven-safe bowls (10 ounces)
  • Baking spray
  • Baking sheet
  • Knife
  • Tongs (optional)

Allergy Information

Always check each ingredient for allergens, and consult a medical professional if unsure.
  • Contains dairy due to mozzarella and provolone cheese.
  • Contains gluten due to pizza dough.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

These details are shared for general guidance and don’t replace professional advice.
  • Calories: 538
  • Fats: 21 g
  • Carbohydrates: 58 g
  • Proteins: 25 g