Detroit Style Pepperoni Pizza Pie

This detroit style pepperoni pizza pie is drizzled with ranch dressing and chili crisp oil. It's the perfect cheesy, spicy pizza recipe that's made in a Detroit style pizza pan.

Table of Contents

• What is Detroit Style Pizza Pie?
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make Detroit Style Pizza
• What goes with Detroit Style Pizza?
• How to reheat Detroit Style Pizza?
• Frequently asked questions
• Save this recipe for later
• Recipe

What is Detroit Style Pizza Pie?

Detroit Style Pizza is kind of like Chicago Deep Dish Pizza but instead of being made in a round pie pan, it's made in a rectangle steal pan.

Imagine biting into a slice of heaven where the spicy kick of chili crisp oil balances a cool, creamy drizzle of ranch dressing.

Sounds dreamy, right?

Well this isn't just any pizza; it's a culinary masterpiece where its edges rise to crispy perfection, encasing a gooey, cheese-laden crust.

The crunchy pepperoni cups, slightly charred at the edges, sit atop a cheesy layer of fresh and low moisture mozzarella with fresh basil on top.

For dough, we're using a ball of store-bought pizza dough but treating it like focaccia dough by bathing it in olive oil.

This spicy pizza recipe redefines indulgence and the combo of ranch dressing and crispy chili oil really take it over the edge.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Olive Oil - Make sure to use a good, high quality olive oil. The taste adds so much to this pizza and really helps crisp up the edges.
• Pizza Dough - You could absolutely make your own but I never plan out my week that far in advance.
• Marinara Sauce - I'm using a jar of Rao's because it's my fav but you could use whatever brand you prefer. Or you could obviously make it yourself!
• Low Moisture Mozzarella - Low moisture mozzarella lends that classic cheese pizza texture and I do not recommend looking for a substitution.
• Fresh Mozzarella Pearls - Fresh mozzarella adds little dots of fresh milky, cheesy goodness. If you want to skip one of the cheeses, I recommend this one as it's more a texture and flavor thing rather than a necessity.
• Pepperoni Cups - I'm using Hormel Cup n Crisp Pepperoni because I love how the cup up and trap all the grease. If you can't find them, you can either order them on amazon or use regular pepperoni.
• Ken’s Ranch Dressing - This is my go-to for ranch dressing. And trust me, even if you're not a ranch of your pizza type of person, this combo is insanely delicious.
• Chili Crisp Oil - I'm using the Southern Crispy Chili Oil form Red Clay Hot Sauce but it's a specialty item that always sells out. I recommend buying the brand HCO if you need a new jar.
• Fresh Basil - I love how the fresh basil just adds so much freshness to the pizza but it is optional.

How to make Detroit Style Pizza

Preheat your oven: Preheat oven to 500℉ degrees.

Prepare the Pizza Pan: Add olive oil to a 9x13” metal cake pan and coat the bottom and sides. Stretch out your pizza dough and then place it in the cake pan - stretch it to the sides. It’s ok if it doesn’t stay - it will puff up as it cooks.

Dress it: If you're doing it the traditional way, add pepperoni first then top with cheese and sauce... However, I like my cheese to have some crispiness to it so I'm doing it the other way around. I start by adding marinara sauce over the top, then add the low moisture mozzarella followed by the fresh mozzarella.

Bake it: Place the pepperonis on top then place in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the dough is puffed up and the edges are crispy and starting to pull away from the pan.

Finish the Pizza: Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Add a hefty drizzle of Ken’s Ranch Dressing followed by the chili crisp and the fresh basil. Serve with more Ken’s for dipping/drizzling and enjoy!

What goes with Detroit Style Pizza?

This spicy pizza goes perfectly with all sorts of things! Here are my favorite side dishes to serve with with it:

• Kale Butternut Squash Salad with Feta, Avocado & Hot Honey Vinaigrette
• Tortellini Pesto Salad
• Dirty Martini Pasta Salad
• Sausage, Kale and White Bean Soup
• Baked Goat Cheese Dip with Hot Honey Bacon & Dates
• Ravioli Carbonara
• Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sandwich

How to reheat Detroit Style Pizza?

1. Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven or air fryer to a low to medium temperature, around 300-350°F (150-175°C). Detroit-style pizza has a thick crust, so reheating it at a lower temperature helps ensure that it heats evenly without burning.
2. Wrap in Foil (Optional): If you want to retain moisture, you can wrap the pizza in aluminum foil. This can prevent the crust from drying out during reheating. However, if you prefer a crispier crust, you can skip this step.
3. Reheat in the Oven: Place the pizza directly on the oven rack, air fryer basket or on a baking sheet if you prefer. Reheat for about 10-15 minutes or until the pizza is heated through. Keep an eye on it to prevent it from burning.
4. Check for Doneness: To ensure that the pizza is thoroughly reheated, check the center with a knife or fork. If it comes out hot, the pizza is ready to eat.
5. Serve and Enjoy: Once the pizza is heated through, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a minute or two before slicing and serving.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Detroit-style pizza special?

Detroit-style pizza steals the spotlight with its thick, pillowy crust, crisped to perfection in square pans that once housed automotive parts, and its signature reverse layering—cheese sprinkled right up to the edges, creating a caramelized cheese border, then topped with stripes of rich tomato sauce. It's a hearty, cheesy dream, turning every bite into a crunchy, melty, flavor-packed party in your mouth.

What cheese goes on Detroit-style pizza?

Detroit-style pizza gets its ooey-gooey, irresistibly cheesy goodness from a generous blanket of Brick Cheese. Since I can never find it where I live, mozzarella works just fine! It still fills into the nooks and crannies of the thick crust, creating those iconic, crispy, caramelized edges that cheese dreams are made of.

What is the difference between deep dish and Detroit-style pizza?

While deep dish pizza dives into a buttery, pie-like crust with layers of cheese and toppings buried under a chunky tomato sauce, Detroit-style pizza struts its stuff with a thick, airy crust, a reverse layering of cheese and sauce, and those crispy, caramelized cheese edges that scream flavor. It's like choosing between a cozy, saucy hug and a crispy, cheesy high five!

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