Chicago tavern style pizza is a thin crisp crust pizza that is typically cooked in a deep dish pan. This style of pizza originated in the city of Chicago in the late 1940s. The style was popularized by taverns and small family-owned restaurants in the area. The style is characterized by a thin, crisp crust and a layer of cheese and toppings that are melted together in the pan during the cooking process.
The original Chicago tavern style pizza was made with a simple combination of tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings. However, as the style evolved, it came to include a variety of different toppings, such as sausage, pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, and onions. Today, many restaurants and pizzerias make their own unique version of Chicago tavern style pizza, with unique toppings and flavor combinations.
Making Chicago tavern style pizza with sausage at home is a fun and easy way to enjoy this classic style of pizza. This recipe will make one large pizza, perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Tavern Style Pizza Ingredients:
-1 pizza dough ball (Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Safeway all have solid pre-made pizza doughs)
-1/2 cup tomato sauce
-1 cup mozzarella cheese
-1/2 cup cooked Italian sausage
-1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
-1/4 cup sliced olives
-1/4 cup sliced onion
Kitchen Equipment Needed:
-Rolling pin
-Parchment paper
-Spatula
–Baking steel or pizza stone
Cooking Instructions
-Place pizza stone or baking steal in oven
-Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C). We prefer to cook our pizza on baking steal, but a pizza stone also works well
-Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
-Transfer the dough to pizza peel with a fine layer of cornmeal
-Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough.
-Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
-Top with the cooked sausage, mushrooms, olives, and onion.
-Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Garnishes and Spicy Variations:
Once the pizza is cooked, it can be garnished with fresh herbs such as oregano, basil, or parsley. For a spicy variation, try adding a few teaspoons of your favorite hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes to the pizza before baking.
Making Chicago tavern style pizza with sausage at home is a great way to enjoy this classic pizza style. With the right ingredients, kitchen equipment, and a bit of time, you can make a delicious pizza that you and your family will love.
Need an app to go before dinner? Make these awesome mozz sticks.