Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza with Ground Beef
A hearty Detroit-style deep dish pizza featuring a crispy cheese crust, rich tomato sauce, pepperoni, and crumbled ground beef. Baked to golden perfection in a rectangular pan, this pizza delivers a perfect balance of crispy, cheesy edges and a tender, flavorful inside for a satisfying family dinner.
Ingredients
Check ingredients as you go.
- Pizza Filling
- Pizza Base
- Pizza Toppings
- Cheese Crust
- Preparation
- Pizza Filling
- Sauce
- Seasoning
Let’s make it
Preparation
Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch rectangular baking pan with the canola oil to prevent sticking and help crisp the crust.
Pizza Filling
In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the chopped yellow onion and minced garlic in 1 tablespoon of oil until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Drain excess fat if necessary.
Sauce
In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce with dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Stir well to combine the sauce flavors.
Pizza Base
Press the pizza dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of the greased pan, creating a lip around the edges.
Cheese Crust
Scatter half the shredded mozzarella evenly over the dough, making sure to cover it completely to create the signature cheesy crust.
Pizza Filling
Evenly distribute the cooked ground beef mixture over the cheese layer, followed by a layer of pepperoni slices arranged to cover the pizza surface.
Assembly
Spoon the prepared tomato sauce evenly over the top of the pepperoni and beef, spreading it carefully without mixing into the toppings.
Assembly
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly on top of the sauce to finish assembling the pizza.
Baking
Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and the edges are golden brown and crispy.
Serving
Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to cool and set for about 5 minutes before slicing into squares and serving hot.
Tips & notes
Use a high-moisture mozzarella for the best melty cheese crust. Press the dough all the way up the sides of the pan to get the authentic thick edge. Let the pizza rest briefly before slicing to avoid sliding toppings. You can add more or less pepperoni to taste.
Saving it for later
Refrigerate leftover pizza in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Reheating
Reheat pizza slices in an oven or toaster oven at 190°C (375°F) for 8-10 minutes until heated through and crust is crisp. Avoid microwave to maintain crust texture.
