Description
This hearty Deep-Dish Pizza Pie features a savory Italian sausage and vegetable tomato sauce baked within a crispy pizza dough crust, topped with melted mozzarella cheese for a classic, comforting meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Base
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Crust and Cheese
- 1 (10 oz) package refrigerated pizza dough
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the pizza pie.
- Cook sausage and vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage along with chopped onion and both green and red bell peppers until the sausage is browned and vegetables soften. Drain excess grease to keep the pie from becoming oily.
- Simmer sauce: Stir in minced garlic, drained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper into the skillet mixture. Let it simmer gently for 10 minutes to blend the flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Prepare crust: Press the refrigerated pizza dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish to form the crust.
- Fill crust: Spoon the sausage and vegetable tomato mixture evenly into the dough-lined pie dish.
- Initial bake: Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, allowing the crust and filling to cook through.
- Add cheese and finish baking: Remove the pie, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, then return it to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and serve: Let the pizza pie stand for 5 minutes to set before slicing and serving for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Drain excess grease after cooking sausage to prevent soggy crust.
- Simmering the sauce allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken for a richer taste.
- You can add extra toppings like mushrooms or olives if desired.
- Allowing the pie to rest before slicing helps the filling set and makes cutting easier.
- If refrigerated dough is not available, homemade or store-bought pizza dough can be substituted.
