Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza (Chicago Style)
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Unbelievable Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza. That’ right, Chicago style pizza made in the crockpot. BOOM!
I have a strange fondness of making out of the ordinary dishes in the crockpot. I secretly consider it a personal challenge.
Some of my favorites include…
Crockpot Thanksgiving Stuffing
Crockpot Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin
A few weeks ago I was craving Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza in a major way, so I started rummaging through my cabinets to find the right sized pans to make it.
Suddenly I stopped in my tracks… Could Deep Dish Pizza be made in the crockpot?!?
Challenge accepted!
Instead of pulling out cake pans, I lifted my slow cookers onto the counter.
Since I had made bread in the crockpot before, I knew what wonderful things low heat could do to yeasty dough. This had to work.
As you can see in the photos, my efforts in making a Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe were a huge success.
You might be wondering, “Why would I make pizza in a slow cooker when I could just pop it in the oven?”
I’m so glad you asked…
Why You Should Make Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza
Slow cooker pizza is hard to burn. I mean, you really have to try to burn it. If you have an affinity for leaving things in the oven too long, this recipe is for you! Leave the house for a few hours without fear.
Crockpot cooking saves energy. It also keeps your house cool.
Perfect crust. Cooking the crust low and slow gives it a fabulous pillowy texture on the inside, yet it still crisps up on the outside.
It’s a great kids cooking project. Gone are your concerns of singed fingers. Set out toppings and let the kids go crazy! They’ll have fun stretching the dough and piling on the cheese, right in the crockpot.
Come home to a finished dinner. Like with most crockpot recipes, you can prep the pizza in the morning and come home to a tantalizing dinner, ready and waiting for you.
Plus, if you have several crockpots you can make multiple varieties at once. (You wouldn’t believe how many friends and readers tell me they have 3-4 crockpots at home.)
I am in love with this Chicago Style Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza. Head over heels.
However, you can make any sort of deep dish pizza you like in your crockpot.
Why not give it a try?
Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza (Chicago Style)
Ingredients
- 1 pound homemade pizza dough or frozen pizza dough, thawed
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 shallot, peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian Seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded italian blend cheese
- 1/2 pound Italian pork sausage, cooked
- Garnishes: Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley
Instructions
- This recipe works best in a large oval 6-8 quart slow cooker. Roll the pizza dough out onto a large piece of parchment paper. Make sure to roll and stretch to dough into an oval 2 inches longer and 2 inches wider than the crock of the slow cooker. Sprinkle with cornmeal and press into both sides of the crust. Then use the edges of the paper to lower the crust into the crock.
- Place the butter and onions in a saute pan. Saute for 1-2 minutes, then add the garlic and saute another 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian Seasoning, sugar and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, cook the pork sausage in a separate skillet, breaking apart with a wooden spoon.
- Spread the cheese over the bottom of the pizza crust. Lift and stretch the sides of the dough so they stand up past the cheese. Sprinkle the crumbled sausage over the cheese. Then spread the tomato sauce over the sausage. Lift and stretch the sides of the crust again so it is above the edge of the sauce.
- Cover the slow cooker with a long piece of paper towel. Then place the lid over the paper towel and pull it tight. This helps catch excess moisture.
- Slow cook the pizza for 2-4 hours on high, or 4-6 hours on low. When you are ready to serve, lift the pizza out of the crock by the edges of the parchment paper and sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and parsley. Cut into 4 pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
Do I put the parchment paper in the crockpot and let it cook with it?
Hi Sydney,
Yes, it keeps the pizza from sticking to the bottom and also helps you to lift it out of the crock.
Haven’t made this – yet – but born and raised in Chicago many many years ago and retired in AZ since ’03. Just one question. Where does the sodium (1450g) comes from?
I always cook with “no salt added” ingredient’s so WHERE does the Sodium originate??
Thanks.
Salt in the pizza dough, crushed tomatoes, additional salt in step 2, salt in both mozarella and parmesan cheeses. I’ll be using lower sodium pizza crust, no salt added crushed tomatoes and no additional salt in step 2.
Oh yeah, and the sausage…..
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This style of pizza is very testy and looking very beautiful
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Is it really necessary to use cornmeal n the dough? I wear dentures and cornmeal is like razors when I eat pizza with cornmeal. Could I just spray the parchment with Pam spray?
Hi Sharon,
Sure, you can omit the cornmeal! :)
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If I make the homemade pizza dough recipe, will it make a whole pound? Or should I only use half of it?
Hi Caitlin,
Yes, our pizza dough recipe makes a one-pound ball of dough, for one large our two small pizzas. :)
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Will this work in the casserole crock pot? I don’t have an oval crock pot and my husband will have a fit if I bring home another crock pot – we already have 5.
Hi Jolie,
Yes, absolutely! :)
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Reason #6 — Rescues the poor soul who doesn’t have a working oven in her kitchen. :D
**By the way, I bookmarked your website. Thank you so much for having, “…a strange fondness of making out of the ordinary dishes in the crockpot.”
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Struggled getting the crust up the sides….. advice?
Once the fillings are in the crust, you should be able to gently tug up the sides. Hope this helps!
This pizza is delicious! I love homemade crust!
This is so genius!! I love this idea for deep dish pizza!
My husband has been begging me to make deep dish pizza at home. This slow cooker version is genius!
My family loves to make homemade pizza. These look so delicious! And, I love that this can be done in the crock pot!
Deep dish is the BEST pizza in my opinion!
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I don’t have a slow cooker. How would I recreate this with a stove or oven? Got a Creuset pot that i could use.
Hi Daniel,
I would use 9 inch cake pans and a very low oven temperature to create the same effect. (Maybe 175-200 degrees F)
However, if using an oven the classic baking method is great! https://www.recipegirl.com/chicago-style-deep-dish-pizza-recipe/
I wonder if anyone has made this using the two ingredient pizza crust ( no fat Greek yogurt & self rising flour). If so, how did it turn out?
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If I make your homemade dough, do I used the whole recipe or just one of the dough balls? I don’t know how much 1 pound of pizza dough really is. Thanks.
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Needs TWICE as much cheese
Do I line the slow cooker with something first?
Hi Leiann,
Yes, in the recipe it states to line the crock with parchment paper so it’s easy to lift the pizza out. Happy Cooking! :)
Has anyone tried making this without the parchment paper and paper towel? Does it still come out ok?
Hi! If you are asking for “earth-friendly” reasons, you could use a dish towel over the top to absorb the moisture. You could also grease the crock and you should be able to get the pizza out. The parchment just makes it easier. :)
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Can I use pizza dough from the re-fridgerated section that all ready to go?
Hi Jen, Absolutely! :)
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After 2 hours, mine was dried out and burnt on the bottom. :-(
Hi Tracy,
Oh no! Sorry that happened. All slow cookers vary a little bit. I’ve got a tutorial on slow cookers that might help you make adjustments so this works with your crockpot: http://www.aspicyperspective.com/how-to-use-slow-cooker-properly/
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Looks yummy, will pick up Trader Joes pizza dough and try it today in my Instant Pot.
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I made this for my family today and everyone loved it. I will definitely be making this again! Yum!!!
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This makes so much sense because I have made cakes and delicious breads in my crock pot! Why not a pizza? You’re a genius. I cannot wait to try this! Great post.
I’d never think to make pizza in slow cooker – genius!!
Your forgot to mention that incredibly cute oval shape in your list of Reasons to Make Slow Cooker Pizza. It makes it look twice as good. I plan to try this recipe this weekend, perfect for Labor Day. Thanks!
homemade deep dish?!? so good!
Pizza is one of my favorite things. In a crock pot seems even better. This is a must try!
I only have a 4 quart wonder what I could do?
I think so! Maybe use a slightly smaller piece of dough. :)
OMG, this looks amazing! My mouth is watering!
Can this be made in the 9×13 casserole crockpot?
Hi Renate,
Yes! You can double the recipe, or just stretch the dough out to fill in the crock. The bottom might be slightly thinner, but it should cook about the same length of time.
Sommer, girl…SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. This is amazing! I am so excited to try it for dinner one night!!
This is awesome!
You never cease to amaze me! Who da thunk it?! This looks so incredible and makes me want to go out and buy a new crock pot. Mine is old and testy but the pictures of that pizza make me want to splurge and get a new one so I can try this!