If you love the idea of sinking your teeth into a thick, cheesy, and utterly comforting pizza, you are going to adore this Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe. It brings together all the rich flavors of a classic deep dish pizza with the convenience of slow cooking, so you get a perfectly tender crust and bubbling cheese without ever heating up your oven. Whether it’s a cozy weeknight treat or a crowd-pleasing weekend meal, this recipe will quickly become one of your favorites to whip up when you want something warm, hearty, and deliciously satisfying.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients is the secret to a mouthwatering Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe. Each component plays an essential role, from the savory sausage that adds depth, to the fresh dough that forms the perfect crust, and of course, the generous layers of cheese and sauce that bring it all together in vibrant color and flavor.
- 8-oz Italian sausage: Use quality sausage without casings for easy browning and hearty flavor.
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic: Adds aromatic depth that brightens the meat sauce.
- 1 (10.5-oz) can tomato puree: Provides a smooth, rich base for the sauce that infuses every bite.
- 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs that gives your pizza an authentic Italian flair.
- 1 Tbsp dried onion flakes: Adds subtle sweetness and texture to the sauce.
- 1 pound purchased fresh pizza dough: Fresh dough is key for achieving a tender, chewy crust inside the slow cooker.
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese: The essential gooey cheese layer that melts perfectly for that irresistible stretch.
- Pizza toppings: Choose your favorites like sliced peppers, onions, mushrooms, or olives for a personal touch.
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese: A finishing sprinkle that adds a nutty, salty kick right before serving.
How to Make Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Brown the Sausage and Prepare Sauce
Start by browning the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until it’s no longer pink, then drain off any excess fat. Adding minced garlic at this stage and cooking it for a minute releases wonderful aromas that blend seamlessly with the sausage. Stir in the tomato puree and dried onion flakes, and let everything cook together briefly to marry the flavors. This rich meat sauce will be the heart of your deep dish pizza.
Step 2: Prepare the Dough in the Slow Cooker
Roll your fresh pizza dough out on parchment paper so that it’s slightly larger than the insert of your 6-quart slow cooker—about two inches longer and wider. Carefully transfer the dough along with the parchment into the slow cooker, pulling the dough up the sides to form a deep crust. This step ensures you get that signature thick edge that holds all the delicious toppings and sauce.
Step 3: Layer Cheese and Toppings
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough. Next, add your chosen pizza toppings right on top of the gooey cheese layer. This layering locks in the flavors and allows the cheese to melt perfectly amidst the colorful variety of your toppings for a mouthwatering experience.
Step 4: Add the Meat Sauce
Spread the sausage and tomato sauce you prepared earlier on top of the pizza toppings, gently spreading it out to cover everything evenly. This top layer of sauce keeps the pizza moist and bursting with flavor as it slow cooks.
Step 5: Cook Your Pizza Low and Slow
Place a few paper towels over the pizza before setting the slow cooker lid on top—this prevents condensation from dripping back onto the pizza and making the crust soggy. Cook your pizza on HIGH for 3 hours, or if you have more time, set it on LOW for 6 hours. The slow, gentle heat transforms the dough and melds all the ingredients together beautifully.
Step 6: Finish and Serve
Once cooked, carefully lift the pizza out using the parchment paper and transfer it to a cutting board. Sprinkle that final touch of grated Parmesan cheese across the top and let the pizza rest for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing. This brief pause lets the cheese set just enough for neat slices with gooey pulls of mozzarella.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
Enhance your Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe with fresh garnishes like chopped basil or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes. A drizzle of high-quality olive oil or a few torn fresh basil leaves can brighten the flavors and add a beautiful pop of color that makes the pizza even more inviting.
Side Dishes
This pizza pairs wonderfully with crisp, fresh side dishes that provide some contrast and balance. Try a simple mixed green salad with a light vinaigrette or a bowl of tangy coleslaw to cut through the richness. For a heartier meal, roasted vegetables or garlic bread make a perfect complement.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, serve slices of your slow cooker deep dish pizza on rustic wooden boards or colorful plates. Garnish the edges with fresh herbs or sprinkle Parmesan on the serving platter to amp up the presentation. You could also offer small ramekins of dipping sauces like marinara or ranch for everyone to customize their bites.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying your pizza, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This helps preserve the flavors while keeping the crust from becoming too soggy. When you want to enjoy it again, reheating gently will bring back that freshly made magic.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later, slice the cooled pizza and wrap individual pieces tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze the slices for up to 1 month. This way, you have a ready-made, savory meal waiting for you on busy days or last-minute gatherings.
Reheating
To reheat, place the pizza slice on a baking sheet and warm it in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10 minutes. Using the oven instead of a microwave preserves the crust’s texture and ensures the cheese melts back to that delightful stretchiness you crave.
FAQs
Can I use store-bought pizza sauce instead of making the meat sauce?
Absolutely! While the homemade meat sauce adds a great depth of flavor, store-bought pizza sauce can be a convenient alternative. Just mix it with the browned sausage and garlic for a quick twist that still works beautifully in the slow cooker.
What if I don’t have a 6-quart slow cooker? Can I use a different size?
You can use a slightly larger or smaller slow cooker, but you’ll want to adjust the dough size and cooking time accordingly. Just aim for a slow cooker with enough depth to allow the dough to rise up the sides for that classic deep dish look.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes! Skip the sausage and load the pizza with your favorite vegetables—think mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, or artichokes. You can also add diced tofu or plant-based sausage for protein, and the cooking times remain the same.
Why do I need to put paper towels under the lid while cooking?
The paper towels absorb moisture that condenses on the lid during cooking. This keeps the pizza crust from getting soggy and helps it stay beautifully tender and slightly crisp around the edges.
Is the crust crispy or soft when cooked in a slow cooker?
The crust in a slow cooker comes out tender and chewy rather than crispy like oven-baked pizza. It’s a different, but equally delicious texture that feels like a warm, thick bread base holding all your favorite toppings.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about the Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe—it takes your favorite cozy pizza flavors and makes them effortlessly achievable without needing to heat up the whole kitchen. Once you try this slow cooker pizza, you’ll appreciate how easy and satisfying it is to serve a homemade deep dish meal that everyone will rave about. So grab your ingredients, fire up that slow cooker, and treat yourself to this wonderfully comforting dish. You won’t regret it!
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Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza recipe delivers a delicious homemade pizza with a perfectly cooked crust and rich, flavorful toppings using a convenient slow cooking method. The Italian sausage is browned and simmered with garlic, tomato puree, and seasonings to create a savory meat sauce layered generously over fresh pizza dough, mozzarella, and your choice of toppings before slow cooking to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 8 oz Italian sausage, removed from casings
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 (10.5 oz) can tomato puree
- 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp dried onion flakes
Pizza Base and Toppings
- 1 pound purchased fresh pizza dough
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Pizza toppings of choice (e.g., pepperoni, vegetables, olives, etc.)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown the sausage: In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles. Drain off any excess fat.
- Cook garlic and sauce: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomato puree and dried onion flakes, cooking for another minute. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Prepare the dough in the slow cooker: Roll the pizza dough on parchment paper into a piece two inches longer and wider than the insert of your 6-quart slow cooker. Place both the parchment and dough into the slow cooker, pressing the dough up the sides to form a crust edge.
- Add the cheese layer: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the prepared dough base.
- Add toppings: Arrange your chosen pizza toppings evenly on top of the mozzarella cheese.
- Top with meat sauce: Spread the cooked sausage and tomato sauce mixture over the pizza toppings in an even layer.
- Cover and secure: Place paper towels over the top of the slow cooker insert, then cover with the lid, stretching the paper towels taut to absorb moisture and prevent condensation from dripping onto the pizza.
- Cook: Cook the pizza on HIGH for 3 hours, or alternatively on LOW for 6 hours, until the crust is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and serve: Using the edges of the parchment paper, carefully lift the pizza out of the slow cooker and transfer it to a cutting board. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top and allow the pizza to cool for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- You can customize the pizza toppings to your preference—try mushrooms, peppers, onions, or olives.
- If your slow cooker tends to run hot, check the pizza toward the end of cooking to prevent burning.
- Using parchment paper makes it easy to remove the pizza from the slow cooker without breaking the crust.
- Covering the slow cooker with paper towels under the lid helps absorb excess moisture and keeps the crust from becoming soggy.
- For a crisper crust, you can finish the pizza under a broiler for a minute or two after slow cooking, but be careful not to burn it.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
