Chicago Meat Lovers Pan Pizza: The Ultimate Guide

A meat lover's Chicago pan pizza is a mouth-watering, indulgent treat. Typically, this pizza is made with a thick, buttery crust, and stuffed with generous layers of cheese, meat and sauce. The meat feast usually includes Italian sausage, pepperoni, and bacon, with some recipes adding ham or salami. The cheese is often a combination of mozzarella and parmesan, with the sauce being a tangy, slightly spicy tomato sauce. This pizza is assembled in layers, with the cheese on the bottom, followed by meat and then sauce, before being baked until bubbly. It's a knife and fork affair, with its thickness and occasional messiness making it a delicious treat.

Dough and crust

The crust is a key component of a Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza. The dough is typically made with a combination of all-purpose flour, cornmeal, yeast, olive oil, and water, with variations including sugar, salt, and honey. The dough-making process involves mixing, kneading, and letting the dough rise before rolling it out and placing it in a pan.

Dough Recipe:

The dough recipe for a Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza typically includes the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour: 2 cups or 1.5 cups for a smaller batch.
• Cornmeal: 2 tablespoons or 1 tablespoon for a smaller batch. Yellow cornmeal is commonly used.
• Yeast: 1 1/4 teaspoons or 1 tablespoon for a smaller batch. Instant or active dry yeast can be used.
• Olive oil: 1 teaspoon or 3 tablespoons for a larger batch.
• Water: Room temperature or lukewarm water is used, with the amount adjusted to achieve the right dough consistency.
• Sugar: White sugar or honey is added in small quantities, such as 1 tablespoon.
• Salt: Adjusted to taste.

Dough-Making Process:

The process of making the dough involves the following steps:

• Mixing: Combine the dry ingredients, then add water and mix until a soft dough forms.
• Kneading: Use a dough hook or knead by hand for several minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Rising: Form the dough into a ball, coat it with oil, and let it rise in a covered bowl for about an hour or until doubled in size.
• Rolling: On a floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle or circle, depending on the pan shape.
• Laminating (optional): For a buttery flavor, spread softened butter over the dough, roll it into a cylinder, and fold. Refrigerate the dough for the butter to firm up.
• Resting: Let the dough rest for a few minutes after placing it in the pan to prevent shrinking during baking.

Crust Characteristics:

The crust of a Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza is thick, buttery, and crisp. The high-sided crust allows for a generous amount of filling. The dough is rolled and fitted into a pan, typically a 9-inch cake pan with 2-inch sides, a springform pan, or a cast-iron pan. The dough is pressed into the pan, creating a lip of dough around the edges. The crust should be an even thickness on the bottom, with some inconsistencies around the edges, adding character to the homemade pizza.

Sausage

When making a Chicago meat lover's pan pizza, it is important to consider the amount of sausage you use. While you want to ensure there is enough sausage to satisfy meat lovers, you also don't want to overload the pizza. Too much sausage can make the pizza greasy and heavy. It can also make it difficult to pick up and eat the pizza. A good rule of thumb is to use around 8-14 ounces of sausage for a meat lover's pizza, depending on the size of the pizza and the number of other toppings.

The type of sausage you use can also affect the taste and texture of the pizza. Italian sausage is a popular choice because it has a blend of spices that pairs well with the other toppings typically found on a meat lover's pizza. Other types of sausage, such as breakfast sausage or chorizo, could also be used, but they may alter the flavour profile of the pizza.

In addition to the type and amount of sausage, the way you prepare the sausage for the pizza is also important. Cooking the sausage before adding it to the pizza helps to remove some of the excess grease and ensures that it is cooked through. Crumbling the sausage into small pieces allows the flavour to be distributed throughout the pizza and provides a nice texture contrast to the other toppings.

Finally, the order in which you assemble the toppings on your Chicago meat lover's pan pizza can also affect the taste and presentation of the sausage. Placing the sausage under other toppings, such as cheese, can help to hold it in place and prevent it from sliding off when the pizza is picked up. This can also help to keep the sausage moist and prevent it from drying out during baking.

Cheese

When it comes to the cheese on a Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, the type of cheese itself is important. While a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza typically calls for mozzarella cheese, you can also use other blends of shredded Italian cheeses to add a little extra flavour. If you're making your pizza from scratch, you'll want to slice or grate the mozzarella, or use shredded mozzarella for a slightly different texture.

The quantity of cheese is also an important consideration. A Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza is known for its generous amount of cheese, so you'll want to be sure to have enough on hand. As a guide, a typical recipe might call for 8 ounces (1 cup) of sliced or grated mozzarella, or 2 cups of shredded mozzarella.

In terms of placement, the cheese goes directly on top of the pizza dough, creating a layer that keeps the crust crisp and allows the cheese to melt and ooze. After adding your choice of meats, such as Italian sausage, pepperoni, and Capocollo, you'll then add the sauce. The slightly sweet and spicy tomato sauce not only adds flavour but also helps to hold the pizza together when you slice it.

Finally, to finish off your cheese creation, you'll want to sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top just before baking. This extra touch adds a salty, savoury note that complements the other ingredients perfectly.

Sauce

The sauce is a key component of a Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza. While some recipes suggest using a store-bought pizza sauce, others include a recipe for a homemade sauce.

A slightly sweet and spicy sauce is typical of a Chicago-style pizza. To achieve this, the sauce should be made with crushed tomatoes, although diced or whole canned tomatoes can also be used. The sauce should be cooked for long enough to thicken—it should be thicker than tomato puree but not as thick as tomato paste.

Garlic, onions, and Italian herbs such as oregano, rosemary, and basil are added to the sauce to give it a distinct flavour. It's important to let the sauce simmer so that the flavours can blend.

When assembling the pizza, the sauce is spread on top of the other ingredients, including the cheese and meat, to prevent the crust from becoming soggy. The thick sauce also helps hold the pizza together when sliced.

Toppings

Italian sausage is a must-have for any meat lover's pizza. It adds a spicy kick and pairs perfectly with the other toppings. Some recipes call for hot Italian sausage, while others suggest using mild sausage or a mix of both. You can also remove the casing and crumble the sausage before adding it to the pizza. This gives the pizza a more unified texture and ensures that the sausage flavour is distributed throughout.

Pepperoni is another classic meat lover's topping. It adds a salty, spicy flavour that complements the other meats and cheese.

Mozzarella cheese is the star of any Chicago-style pizza. The best type to use is low-moisture pizza mozzarella, as it provides the perfect cheese pull. You'll want to cut the mozzarella into thick slices (about 1/2 inch) and cover the entire bottom of the pizza for the ultimate gooey, cheesy experience.

In addition to these staples, some recipes include other meats such as bacon, ham, or Capocollo (a type of Italian salami similar to prosciutto). These toppings can be added to suit your taste preferences and create a truly indulgent meat lover's pizza.

Remember, the key to a successful Chicago Meat Lover's Pan Pizza is to be generous with your toppings! Load up on the meats and cheese, and don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations to find your perfect pie.

Frequently asked questions