With a crisp golden crust, tender interior, and layers of bubbling cheese and rich sauce, this deep dish pizza is made for slow evenings and gathering around the table. Baked in a cast iron skillet or deep baking dish, it's hearty, satisfying, and full of classic pizzeria flavor.

FORAGE BAKER'S NOTES

Flour Matters. Gluten-free flour blends can vary considerably in weight per cup, which is why we always recommend baking by weight whenever possible.

If measuring by volume, gently scoop Rustic Bread Flour into a measuring cup and level with a knife. This yields approximately 125g per cup. Packing the cup can result in excess flour and a denser dough.

Working the Dough. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes before shaping. As the flour hydrates, the dough becomes smoother and easier to work with. Lightly damp hands make pressing the dough into the pan simple and mess-free.

Build It Your Way. Layer the cheese directly onto the crust before adding toppings and sauce. This helps protect the crust and creates the rich, classic texture of traditional deep dish pizza.

DOUGH

Makes one 10-inch deep dish pizza

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups (219g) Rustic Bread Flour
• ½ cup (120g) room temperature water
• 2 large eggs (100g)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter (for greasing the pan)

FILLING

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Cooked Italian sausage or seasoned ground beef (optional)
• Sautéed mushrooms
• Diced onions
• Sliced black olives
• Bell peppers (optional)
• Pizza sauce or well-drained crushed tomatoes
• Additional mozzarella cheese for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Generously grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet, deep dish pie plate, or baking dish with olive oil or melted butter. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder and sea salt, if desired.
2. In a medium bowl, combine Rustic Bread Flour, water, and eggs. Mix until fully combined.
3. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes.
4. Knead gently until the dough becomes smooth and forms a soft ball.
5. Press approximately half of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Roll the remaining dough into a rope and press it around the edges to form the side crust. Alternatively, roll the dough between sheets of parchment paper and transfer it to the pan.
6. Sprinkle the bottom of the crust with the mozzarella cheese.
7. Add your desired toppings, such as cooked sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers, and olives.
8. Spoon the pizza sauce evenly over the fillings.
9. Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the crust is fully baked.
10. Sprinkle with additional mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 3–5 minutes, or until melted and lightly golden.
11. Allow the pizza to rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving.

FORAGE TIP

A cast iron skillet creates the crispiest crust, but any deep baking dish or pie plate works beautifully. Letting the pizza rest before slicing helps the layers set and makes serving much easier.