Crock Pot Pizza with Deep Dish Crust

You have to try this Crockpot Pizza recipe! It's a slow-cooked, crispy deep-dish pizza that's absolutely amazing. What could be easier on busy days than crispy pizza in your slow cooker!

Also, try our Crock Pot Pizza Casserole everyone loves! Crockpot Crack Chicken is also a fan favorite!

One thing my family can't get enough of is P-I-Z-Z-A.

We're always looking for new and different recipes that make life a little bit easier. This Crockpot Pizza makes dinner simple, for sure. It's a family favorite! Not to mention, buying takeout is expensive! 

And, you can't burn this one!

Slow-cooker Deep Dish Pizza (often called Chicago style) is an excellent recipe to make on game day, too, since it's literally set it and forget it. We love this recipe, these 3-Ingredient Crockpot Meatballs, and this Crockpot Casserole when having people over to watch the game.

Can You Make Pizza in a Slow Cooker?

You may be asking yourself, "can you cook the dough in your crockpot"? We were skeptical at first, but it totally works! 

The crust comes out golden and crispy, just as it should. So yes, you totally can make Pizza in a crockpot! It also saves energy and keeps your house cool!

Our family gives this recipe rave reviews. It's even good leftover for lunch the next day; however, that's probably unlikely!

Experiment with this easy slow-cooker deep dish pizza with any of your favorite pizza toppings! My family always chooses pepperoni, but the combinations are endless!

Ingredients

You'll need dough, of course, but here are our favorite ingredients to top our slow cooker pizza recipe. But feel free to experiment with your favorite pizza flavors or add what you're craving.

• Ground beef or Italian sausage - something crumbly and savory is a good place to start. You can go spicy or mild.
• Pepperoni slices - sliced thin from the deli or packaged meat aisle. You could even use mini pepperoni slices.
• Cheese - an Italian blend is our go-to, but mozzarella cheese is also a good choice. Adding a bit of parmesan is delicious as well. 
• Green pepper - if you want to add a veggie, peppers are great and add a bit of color. You can also use red peppers. 

Find the quantities below in the printable recipe card. 

How to Make A Crock Pot Pizza

It all starts with the dough.

STEP ONE - PREP THE DOUGH

First, scatter flour on a large piece of parchment paper, making sure to get a little flour on each side of the dough.

Next, roll the pizza dough out on the paper in an oval shape. Make sure to roll and stretch the dough 2-inches longer and 2-inches wider than your crockpot.

Use the edges of the paper to lower the crust into the crock.

STEP TWO - COOK THE MEAT

Cook the pork sausage (and opinion if using) in a large skillet over medium high heat, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Add your minced garlic in the last few minutes of cooking.

STEP THREE - ADD THE SAUCE, CHEESE & TOPPINGS

Spread spaghetti sauce (or jar of pizza sauce) over the bottom of the pizza crust inside of crockpot.

Then, cover with cheese. Lift and stretch the sides of the dough, so it extends past the cheese. Sprinkle the crumbled meat mixture over the cheese, and then add the pepperoni (if using).

Lift and stretch the sides of the crust again so it is above the edge of the toppings.

Here's an important step: Cover the crockpot with a long piece of paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Place the lid over the paper towels and pull it tight.

STEP FOUR - COOK

Slow cook your delicious pizza for 2-3 hours on HIGH or 4-5 hours on the LOW setting. Watch it the first time you cook it to make sure you have the correct cooking time.

When ready to serve, lift the pizza out of the crock by the edges of the parchment paper and sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and parsley.

Cut into four slices. And enjoy your homemade pizza night!

Tips & Tricks

• USE A 6-8 QUART CROCK POT - This crock pot pizza recipe works best in a 6-8 quart crockpot.
• LINE OR GREASE CROCK - This is a must; make sure you prep your crockpot with cooking spray or parchment paper, so your pizza comes out easily.
• You can use a homemade pizza dough recipe or fresh or frozen pizza dough, your choice.
• For the crust, you must ensure it comes above your ingredients on all sides. That makes for a better-looking pizza and ease when you're taking it out of the slow cooker.
• To soak up moisture, place a paper towel over the crockpot before putting the lid on. This will absorb moisture while the pizza is cooking, so you get that crisp crust you're looking for.
• Crockpots vary in cooking time, so monitor the recipe the first time you make it to find the perfect cook time.
• This delicious slow cooker pizza is customizable to whatever toppings you want to include. Pepperoni, ham, Canadian bacon, green bell pepper, or other veggies, go for it!
• A great way to make this pizza healthier is a whole wheat crust. We do it all the time on busy weeknights!

Pro Tip: if using pepperoni, zap it in the microwave 30-45 sec on a paper towel before adding it to the pizza. This eliminates too much pepperoni grease on your pizza.

How to Make a Crockpot Pizza Casserole

So, we have a top-rated recipe for Crockpot Pizza Casserole that is ahhhmazing any time of the year. We haven't met anyone who doesn't like it! It's so easy to put together too! It's great to take to potlucks when feeding a crowd.

Find the recipe for Crockpot Pizza Casserole here.

Tools Used

6-quart Crockpot - Ideal for all your favorite oval slow-cooker recipes - its 6-quart capacity and programmable time settings can accommodate varied cooking needs on your schedule.

Large Non-stick Skillet - Perfect for browning and sautéing or making everything from risotto or beef stroganoff!

Let Us Know How It Goes!

If you've tried this thick crust, Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza, or any other Suburban Simplicity recipe, don't forget to rate it and let me know how it went in the comments below; we love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food, fun crafts + DIYs, and what I'm up to daily!

This recipe originally appeared on Real Housemoms.

Ok, pizza lovers, enjoy a homemade Crockpot Pizza tonight at your house!

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