Chicago Deep Dish

Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA · Category: Pan / Deep Dish

Deep-dish pan pizza with biscuit-like crust, often laminated with butter for flakiness. Cheese on bottom, fillings middle, sauce on top. Slower bake at lower temp. Lower hydration + high oil yields tender layered crust.

Baker's percentages

Hydration
55%
(5258%)
Salt
1.5%
Oil
10%
Sugar
1%
Yeast type
instant dry
Yeast %
0.5%
Flour
all purpose
Protein target
11%

Example: 1000g flour scaled out

  • Flour: 1000g (all purpose)
  • Water: 550g
  • Salt: 15g
  • Olive oil: 100g
  • Sugar: 10g
  • instant dry yeast: 5.00g
  • Total dough: 1680g

Fermentation + bake

Bulk (room temp)
1h
Cold ferment
24h
Ball rest
1h
Bake temp
425°F
Bake time
30–40 min
Vessel
2-3 inch deep round pan (cast iron or anodized aluminum)

Technique

Roll out dough, optional butter-lamination (turn 3x like puff pastry) for flaky layers. Press into well-oiled deep pan. Cheese first (against dough to seal), fillings, sauce on top. Bake 30-40 min at 425°F.

Source

King Arthur Baking — Chicago Style Deep Dish

For full step-by-step recipe with photos and shaping technique, follow the source link above. This page provides the formula for use with the hydration calculator.

Related references on this site