Deep Dish Pizza
Craving a thick, hearty pizza that hits all the right notes? This Deep Dish Pizza recipe is the perfect solution! It’s a classic comfort food with a vegan twist, and the best part is that it’s easy to make right at home. With a crispy crust, gooey melted vegan mozzarella, and your favorite toppings nestled in a bed of marinara, this pizza is sure to become a household favorite.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just treating yourself, this pizza delivers all the rich, savory flavors you love in a deep dish, while being entirely plant-based.
Why You’ll Love Deep Dish Pizza
- Thick, Crispy Crust: The combination of bread flour and cornmeal gives the crust that perfect crunchy texture on the outside and chewy on the inside.
- Customizable Toppings: Add your favorite vegetables and seasonings to make it exactly how you like it.
- Vegan-Friendly: With vegan mozzarella and plant-based ingredients, this deep dish satisfies without compromise.
- Two Crusts: The recipe makes two pizza crusts, so you can save one for later or make a second pizza!
What You Need To Make Deep Dish Pizza
You can find all the exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card, but here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need:
- Bread flour
- Fine ground cornmeal
- Instant active dry yeast
- Organic cane sugar
- Warm water
- Olive oil
- Vegan mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- Vegetables of choice (sliced or diced)
- Marinara or pizza sauce
- Optional seasonings: Italian seasoning, sea salt, crushed red pepper
How To Make Deep Dish Pizza
- Prepare the Dough
In a bowl or a stand mixer with a dough hook, combine the flour, cornmeal, yeast, and sugar. Add the warm water and olive oil, and mix until a dough forms. If you’re not using a mixer, grease your hands lightly and knead the dough until smooth. - Let the Dough Rise
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean dish towel, and let it rise for 1 ½ hours until it doubles in size. - Prepare the Crust
Preheat your oven to 475°F. Lightly grease a nine-inch springform or cake pan and dust with cornmeal.
Punch down the dough and divide it into two equal pieces. Stretch one piece into a circle and press it into the pan, making sure to form a thick edge around the sides. - Assemble the Pizza
Sprinkle vegan mozzarella evenly over the crust. Add your vegetables, then cover with marinara sauce. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, sea salt, and crushed red pepper, if desired. - Bake
Bake the pizza for 30 minutes, until the crust edges start to brown. Let it cool for 10 minutes before releasing it from the pan. - Slice and Enjoy
Slice into six pieces and serve. Use the second crust for another deep dish or freeze it for later!
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I use different flours for the crust?
Yes, you can substitute bread flour with all-purpose flour, though bread flour gives the best texture. For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free baking mix.
Can I freeze the extra dough?
Absolutely! You can freeze the second dough ball in an airtight bag for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the fridge before using.
What kind of vegan cheese works best?
Shredded vegan mozzarella works great for this recipe, but you can also experiment with other plant-based cheeses like cheddar or provolone for different flavor profiles.
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftover pizza slices in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to restore that crispy crust.

Vegan Deep Dish Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups bread flour
- 1 cup fine ground cornmeal
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon organic cane sugar
- 1 ½ cups warm water at least 110°
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for greasing the bowl
- ¾ cup shredded vegan mozzarella
- Sliced and diced vegetables whatever kind you want
- ½ – 1 cup marinara or pizza sauce
- Italian seasoning optional
- Sea salt optional,
- Crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Add the flour, cornmeal, yeast, and sugar to a bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer that has a dough hook attachment. Whisk to combine all of the dry ingredients. Add the water and olive oil and mix with the dough hook or stir with a wooden spoon until all of the ingredients come together to form a dough. If you are not using a stand mixer, grease your hands lightly with oil and use your hands to knead the dough and bring it all together when it becomes too difficult to stir.
- Knead until you have a smooth ball of dough. Lightly grease the sides of the bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with a clean dish towel and let sit for 1 ½ hours until it doubles in size.
- Preheat the oven to 475°.
- Lightly grease a nine inch springform pan or cake pan and dust with cornmeal.
- Punch the dough down and turn onto a floured work surface. Cut the dough in half so that you have two equal pieces. Use your hands to gently stretch one piece into the shape of a circle that is the size of the pan, try not to overwork the dough when stretching it out.
- Place it in the prepared pan and press outward from the middle to push the dough up onto the sides of the pan to create the deep dish edges. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the crust. Add vegetables of choice, cover the mozzarella and vegetables with marinara. If desired, sprinkle the marinara with italian seasoning, sea salt, and crushed red pepper.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the edges of the crust are starting to brown slightly. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife between the edges of the crust and the pan to release the crust from the pan.
- If using a springform pan, release from the pan. If using a cake pan, place a spatula underneath the crust and gently transfer the pizza to a cutting board.
- Cut into 6 pieces.
- Use the second crust for another deep dish or a traditional crust.
This vegan Deep Dish Pizza is an irresistible combination of a crunchy crust, gooey mozzarella, and flavorful toppings. Whether you’re a fan of classic toppings or like to get creative, this recipe has you covered for a satisfying meal that’s sure to impress!