Chicago-style deep dish pizza is one of the most satisfying pizzas you can make at home. With its buttery crust, layers of gooey mozzarella, savory toppings, rich tomato sauce, and golden baked edges, every slice is loaded with flavor.

Many people assume deep dish pizza requires a traditional indoor oven, but it turns out beautifully inside a Wood Fired Pizza Oven. The live hardwood fire gives the crust incredible flavor while maintaining the steady heat needed to bake the thick pizza evenly.

In this guide, I’ll walk through my complete process for making deep dish pizza in a wood-fired pizza oven. I’ll leave the dough recipe and favorite toppings to your own preferences, but the cooking method remains the same regardless of what ingredients you choose.

---

Why Make Deep Dish Pizza in a Wood Fired Pizza Oven?

Unlike Neapolitan pizza that cooks in only 90 seconds, deep dish pizza benefits from slightly lower temperatures and a longer bake.

A Wood Fired Pizza Oven provides:

• Even radiant heat
• Crispy buttery crust
• Beautiful browning
• Slight wood-fired flavor
• Excellent heat retention

The result is a restaurant-quality pizza that rivals many famous Chicago pizzerias.

---

Equipment Needed

• Wood Fired Pizza Oven
• Digital Read Thermometer
• Pizza peel
• Lodge Cast Iron Deep dish pizza pan (9 x 13 inch)
• Infrared thermometer
• Pizza cutter
• Cooling rack
• Heat-resistant gloves
• Here’s a Starter bundle of Pizza Equipment

---

Ingredients

For this recipe you’ll need:

• Homemade dough (Recipe Here)
• Pizza sauce
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan cheese
• Favorite pizza toppings
• Olive oil

---

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Prepare your preferred deep dish dough according to this recipe. Here

Allow the dough to:

• Rise completely
• Reach room temperature
• Become soft and workable
• Use 2/3 of our dough recipe to line the 9×13 pan. Ball up the rest and freeze for next pizza.

Cold dough is much harder to press into a deep pizza pan.

---

---

Step 2: Preheat the Pizza Oven

Deep dish pizza cooks differently than thin crust pizza.

Instead of the extremely hot temperatures used for Neapolitan pizzas, aim for:

Oven Temperature

550–650°F

Measure the stone temperature using an infrared thermometer.

This slightly lower heat allows the thick dough to cook completely before the cheese or sauce burns.

Allow the oven to stabilize for approximately 20–30 minutes.

---

Step 3: Prepare the Pizza Pan

Liberal coat the inside of your deep dish pan with olive oil.

This accomplishes two things:

• Prevents sticking
• Creates the signature buttery crispy crust

Press the dough evenly into the bottom.

Work it up the sides approximately 1½ inches.

Avoid making the bottom too thick.

---

Step 4: Layer the Ingredients

Unlike traditional pizza, Chicago deep dish is assembled in reverse.

The proper order is:

1. Tomato Sauce
2. Meat and vegetables
3. Mozzarella Cheese
4. Parmesan cheese
5. Italian seasoning

Putting the sauce directly against the crust protects it during the longer bake.

---

---

Step 5: Bake the Pizza

Place the pizza into the center of the pizza oven.

Bake approximately:

15–20 minutes

Rotate every 8–10 minutes to ensure even cooking.

The crust should become:

• Golden brown
• Crispy
• Firm

The cheese should bubble while the sauce thickens.

---

Step 6: Check for Doneness

Your deep dish pizza is finished when:

✅ Crust is golden brown

✅ Cheese is bubbling

✅ Sauce has thickened

✅ Internal crust reaches approximately 200°F

If necessary, loosely tent with foil if the top browns too quickly.

---

---

Step 7: Let the Pizza Rest

One of the biggest mistakes is cutting immediately.

Allow the pizza to rest:

10–15 minutes

This allows:

• Cheese to set
• Sauce to thicken
• Easier slicing
• Cleaner presentation

---

Slice and Serve

Use a sturdy metal spatula to remove slices.

Serve with:

• Caesar salad
• Garlic bread
• Roasted vegetables
• Cold craft beer

---

Common Deep Dish Pizza Mistakes

Using Too High of a Temperature

Extremely hot ovens can burn the crust before the center finishes cooking. Try putting a fire brick between the pan and the fire. Or let the temperature reduce before inserting the pan.

Stay around 550–650°F.

---

Overloading the Pizza

Deep dish already contains many layers.

Too many toppings can prevent proper cooking.

---

Skipping the Rest

Allowing the pizza to rest creates cleaner slices and prevents the filling from spilling everywhere.

---

Too Much Sauce

A moderate amount of sauce keeps the crust from becoming soggy.

---

Forgetting to Rotate

Wood-fired ovens naturally develop hot spots.

Rotating the pizza several times ensures even baking.

---

Tips for Better Wood Fired Deep Dish Pizza

• Preheat thoroughly.
• Use low-moisture mozzarella.
• Shred cheese fresh.
• Don’t overload with toppings.
• Bake on a well-oiled pan.
• Rotate several times.
• Rest before slicing.
• Let hardwood flavor enhance the crust naturally.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook deep dish pizza in a wood fired pizza oven?

Absolutely. Simply lower the cooking temperature compared to Neapolitan pizza and allow a longer baking time.

---

What temperature should deep dish pizza cook?

The ideal stone temperature is between 550°F and 650°F.

---

Should cheese go on top or bottom?

Traditional Chicago deep dish places the mozzarella directly on the dough, followed by toppings and finally the tomato sauce. I use sauce on the bottom.

---

Can I use homemade dough?

Absolutely. Homemade dough typically produces the best texture and flavor.

---

Final Thoughts

Deep dish pizza is one of the most rewarding pizzas you can make in a wood-fired oven. The buttery crust, bubbling cheese, and rich tomato sauce create a meal that’s perfect for family pizza nights or entertaining guests.

A Wood Fired Pizza Oven provides the consistent heat needed to produce a crisp crust without burning the toppings, while adding a subtle hardwood flavor that makes homemade pizza even better.

Once you master this process, you’ll find yourself experimenting with endless topping combinations while enjoying authentic deep dish pizza right in your own backyard.