For a truly memorable family pizza night, Detroit Style Pizza delivers with its thick, airy crust and crispy cheese edges. We love loading ours with pepperoni and brick cheese, which caramelizes perfectly against the pan. The sauce gets spooned on top just before baking, creating a rich, layered finish. This square-pan classic turns any dinner into a special occasion with its satisfying texture and bold flavors.
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A Pizza You’ll Want to Make Again
- Crispy Cheese Frame – Each slice has that famous crunchy, caramelized cheesy crust.
- Simple, Real Ingredients – You probably have most of these pantry staples already.
- Perfect for Sharing – This pizza bakes up big and satisfying for a crowd.
- A Truly Special Treat – It feels gourmet but is totally doable in your own kitchen.
Your Detroit Style Pizza Shopping List
For the crust
- Bread Flour – This gives the crust its signature chewy texture.
- Instant Yeast – Essential for getting that perfect rise.
- Kosher Salt – Balances the flavors and enhances the dough.
- Warm Water – Just warm enough to activate the yeast, not too hot.
- Olive Oil – Adds richness and helps create a crispy edge.
For the toppings
- Brick Cheese – The classic Detroit-style choice, cut into cubes for that gooey, melty goodness.
- Tomato Sauce – Spoon it on in stripes for the iconic look and flavor.
- Dried Oregano – A must-have for that classic pizza herbiness.
- Pepperoni Slices – Go for the classic or use your favorite variety if you’re feeling adventurous.
Detroit Style Pizza
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- 1.5 tsp kosher salt
- 1.5 cups warm water about 110°F
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 12 oz brick cheese cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1.5 cups tomato sauce
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 0.25 cup pepperoni slices
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, combine bread flour, instant yeast, and kosher salt. Gradually add warm water and olive oil, mixing with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a 10×14-inch Detroit-style pizza pan or similar metal pan. Press the dough evenly into the pan, stretching to reach all corners. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 475°F. Arrange brick cheese cubes evenly over the dough, pushing them slightly into the surface and ensuring coverage all the way to the edges.
- Spoon tomato sauce in three parallel stripes over the cheese, then sprinkle with dried oregano and arrange pepperoni slices on top.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown around the edges and the cheese is bubbly and slightly caramelized.
- Remove from oven and immediately run a spatula around the edges to loosen. Transfer the pizza to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into squares.
Nutrition
Private Notes
Let’s Talk Time in the Cozy Kitchen
I promise this recipe feels like a relaxing weekend project, not a chore. The hands-on part is really just about 30 minutes of active prep time, and then you get to let the cozy smell of rising dough fill your kitchen. The oven does the heavy lifting for a fast 18 minute cook time. All in all, you’re looking at a total time of just under an hour from start to that first incredible bite.
This is the kind of meal I love to make on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I have a little extra time to put love into my cooking. The wait is absolutely worth it for that fluffy homemade dough baked in pan. If you’re looking for another great weekend project, you’ll adore this baked ziti with parmesan too.
Making This Detroit Style Pizza Your Own
I always believe in making recipes work for you and your family, so feel free to play around. For a sugar conscious approach, you can easily find a tomato sauce with no sugar added to keep things simple and wholesome. If you’re watching your sodium, a low sodium cheese blend works beautifully here too.
The beauty of this savory pepperoni pizza with brick cheese is how adaptable it is. You can load it up with your favorite veggie toppings or keep it classic. Cooking should feel good, and these little tweaks can help you enjoy it even more.
My Favorite Detroit Style Pizza Pro Tips
I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count, and I’ve learned a few things along the way. First, don’t be shy with the oil in the pan, it’s the secret to that incredible crispy edge pepperoni pan pizza we all crave. For a fun flavor swap, try using a spicy marinara or even a bit of pesto swirled into the sauce.
If your dough is resisting as you stretch it, just walk away for five minutes to let the gluten relax. To store leftovers, wrap slices tightly and pop them in the fridge, they reheat beautifully in a hot skillet. For another cheesy, family favorite, this cheeseburger pasta is always a hit at my table.
The Wonderful Benefits of Homemade Pizza
There’s something so fulfilling about creating a baked pan pizza with crispy cheese crust from scratch. You control every ingredient, from the quality of the flour to the richness of the cheese. This Detroit pizza crust provides a satisfying source of carbohydrates for energy, and the cheese offers protein and calcium.
Making your own food is one of the best ways to nourish your body and soul. For more on the joy of cooking with whole ingredients, the Traditional Cheese and Crust Tips from Food52 is a wonderful read. If you love this, you might also enjoy our creamy spinach pasta for another wholesome meal.
A Lighter Take on Detroit Style Pizza
If you’re looking to lighten things up a bit, this recipe is wonderfully adaptable. You can use part-skim mozzarella instead of brick cheese for a leaner option that still gets wonderfully gooey. Loading up the pizza with vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions adds volume, nutrients, and fantastic flavor.
Another trick I use is to blot the pepperoni with a paper towel to remove excess grease before baking. For more inspired pasta dishes that are full of flavor, check out our tomato spinach pasta. You can also explore the chicken pasta for a protein-packed alternative.
How We Love to Serve Our Pizza Night
Pizza night is a full experience in our house, always accompanied by a big, crisp salad to balance the richness. I love serving this cheesy crust pizza with oregano sauce right in the center of the table and letting everyone dig into the square slices. The memory of my family fighting over the corner pieces, with the crispiest cheese, is one of my favorites.
It brings everyone together in the best way. A simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette is the perfect fresh contrast to the deep flavors of the pizza.
Common Detroit Style Pizza Mistakes to Avoid
Even the best of us can make a few missteps, so let’s walk through them together. The biggest mistake is using a glass or ceramic pan instead of a dark metal one, which won’t give you that signature crisp crust. Another common error is spreading the sauce underneath the cheese, which changes the entire character of this classic pie.
Be sure to press your cheese all the way to the edges for that iconic caramelized frame. For more great cooking techniques, the History of Detroit-Style Pizza offers some fun background. Also, don’t skip the second rise, it makes the crust incredibly light. For another recipe where technique is key, our roasted garlic pasta is a great lesson in building flavor.
Keeping Your Leftover Pizza Perfect
I firmly believe that leftover pizza is one of life’s great simple pleasures, especially cold for breakfast. To store any leftovers, let the pizza cool completely before wrapping slices tightly in foil or placing them in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the fridge for up to three days and still taste amazing.
For reheating, a skillet over medium low heat will bring back the crispy bottom without drying it out. If you find yourself with extra ingredients, you can always whip up a quick caramelized onion pasta. For another delicious make ahead meal, this chicken pasta bake is always a winner.
Try This Detroit Style Pizza Recipe Tonight
I truly hope you give this Detroit style pizza recipe a try and experience the joy of making it yourself. There’s a special kind of magic in pulling that perfectly golden, cheesy square out of your own oven. It’s a meal that creates instant memories around the kitchen table.
I’d love to hear how your pizza turns out. For more cozy and comforting recipes to fill your week, explore our spicy garlic penne pasta, our creamy basil pesto pasta, or our simple boursin cheese pasta.
More Cozy Family Dinners You’ll Adore
If you loved this pizza, here are a few more of our most beloved recipes for gathering around the table.
Charcoal Pizza – Experience the deep, smoky flavor of a grill right in your backyard.
Spicy Garlic Penne Pasta – A quick and incredibly flavorful pasta that comes together in minutes.
Boursin Pasta – Unbelievably creamy and luxurious pasta with minimal effort required.
Tomato Spinach Pasta – A bright, fresh, and healthy pasta dish that feels like a hug in a bowl.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a pizza a Detroit pizza?
A true Detroit pizza is defined by its rectangular shape, thick yet airy crust, and cheese that goes all the way to the edges of a well oiled blue steel pan. This creates its famous crispy, caramelized cheese frame. The sauce is also always added on top of the cheese in distinct stripes right before baking.
What is the difference between Detroit and Chicago-style pizza?
While both are deep dish styles, they are very different. Chicago style is a much deeper pie, almost like a savory pie with layers of cheese, toppings, and chunky sauce. Detroit style is a thicker, airier crust that is light inside with a crispy bottom and edges, topped with cheese and then saucy stripes. For another deep dish inspired meal, try our chicken pasta bake.
Does Detroit pizza have sauce on top?
Yes, absolutely. This is one of its most signature features. The sauce is spooned over the cheese in thick stripes just before the pizza goes into the oven. This prevents the crust from getting soggy and gives you those beautiful pockets of rich tomato flavor in every bite.
What toppings are on Detroit-style pizza?
The classic topping is pepperoni, often with cups that crisp up in the oven, and Wisconsin brick cheese is traditional. However, you can get creative. Other popular choices include mushrooms, onions, ham, and bacon. The key is to not overload it, as the star is really the crust and cheese.
