Description
Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza pot pie merges classic Italian flavors with Midwestern comfort. Layers of rich cheese, savory meats, and tangy sauce create a mouthwatering experience you won’t forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 (8 ounces) block cream cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
Dairy, Sauces, Pasta, and Other Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup salsa (mild or spicy)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or beef broth)
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (6 ounces) can tomato paste
- 1 (8 ounces) can refrigerated pizza dough
- Olive oil (for greasing the pan)
Instructions
- Ignite the oven to a toasty 375°F (190°C), preparing for a culinary adventure that marries Italian and comfort food traditions.
- Transform the Italian sausage into a golden-brown delicacy by sizzling it in a spacious skillet over medium heat, breaking it into tantalizing crumbles.
- Introduce diced onions and bell peppers to the sausage, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic essence, creating a flavor foundation.
- Infuse the mixture with crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and a symphony of herbs – basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper – letting the sauce simmer and thicken for 5-7 minutes.
- Lavish a deep-dish pie pan with a light olive oil coating, then gracefully drape the pizza dough, ensuring some edges cascade over the rim.
- Cascade the robust sausage and tomato filling into the dough-lined pan, spreading it evenly like a delectable landscape.
- Shower the surface with a blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, creating a molten, golden crown.
- Tenderly fold the overhanging dough edges inward, sealing the pie with a gentle crimp, creating a rustic, homemade seal.
- Slide the creation into the preheated oven, allowing it to transform for 25-30 minutes until the crust achieves a beautiful golden hue and the cheese bubbles with anticipation.
- Pause momentarily after removing from the oven, letting the pie rest and settle its flavors before slicing into this magnificent culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Perfectly brown meat by ensuring the skillet is hot before adding ground beef, preventing steaming and promoting caramelization.
- Drain excess fat thoroughly to prevent a greasy sauce and maintain the pasta’s creamy texture.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients like homemade salsa or freshly shredded cheese for enhanced flavor profiles.
- Customize the dish by substituting ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg