Being a Michigan Chef, knowing how to make a true Detroit-Style Pizza is a must!! And now that I have a Blackstone Pizza Oven, I had to share my Detroit Style Pizza Recipe for others to enjoy.
Pizza is one of my favorite foods and I love trying different pizza recipes. The first thing that you need is a Detroit style pizza pan. The second thing that you need is a good Detroit style pizza dough recipe.
After you have those two things, learn how to combine these with the proper techniques to create the best Detroit-Style Pizza that you have ever had! Making a Blackstone Detroit-Style Pizza is super fun to do and is a very delicious recipe to serve.
This tasty pan pizza has always been very popular, and the homemade version will make you feel like an accomplished pizza maker! It has a crunchy crust and crisp cheesy edges.
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What is a Detroit Style Pizza?
Detroit Pizza is made in reverse order. Meaning, when you are making the pizza, lay the pepperoni or other toppings down on top of the pizza dough.
Then spread the shredded mozzarella cheese over the whole top of the pizza. Finally, add dollops of pizza sauce on top of the shredded cheese.
Do not spread the tomato sauce around, just leave in the dollop sauce piles. Cook the pizza recipe as you normally would with your desired cooking method.
Detroit-style pizzas have thick square-cuts with a crisp crust covered with delicious melting cheese.
Want to learn more about an authentic Detroit style pizza? Check out the Detroit Style Pizza Company.
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Detroit Style Pizza Pan
When making this specialty pizza, having the right pizza pan is a must! To make this pizza the right way, a seasoned sharp cornered rectangular pan is needed.
This is a great Detroit Style Pizza Pan. A Detroit pizza pan is similar to a cast iron skillet. Do not clean in soapy water.
Just clean with a dry cloth or paper towel. Season pan with a layer of oil after cleaning and before pressing the dough into the bottom of the pan.
Make sure to follow manufactures instructions on seasoning the pan. DO NOT CUT in the pan!! If you cut the pizza in the pan, it will ruin the seasoning on the pan.
What are the Layers of Detroit-Style Pizza?
A Detroit pizza has distinct layers making it stand out from other ordinary pizzas. Start with a special thick dough recipe that has risen a bit before placing the rest of the layers.
Add a generous layer of pepperonis on top of the risen pizza dough. If adding anymore toppings, sprinkle over the pepperonis in an even layer.
The next layer is shredded mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheese completely to cover the whole top.
Finally, add spoonful’s of homemade pizza sauce on top of the shredded cheese. Do not spread the sauce around, just leave in small clusters.
How to Make Detroit Style Pizza Dough
Detroit style pizza dough is a very unique pizza crust. It is a rustic bread that is similar to focaccia.
When I purchased my Detroit-Style pizza pan on Amazon, it came with a pizza dough recipe from detroitstylepizza.com.
This is the dough recipe that I will be using. Gather the ingredients to make your pizza dough.
I like to use a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, but you can use a hand mixer. In a mixing bowl, add the semolina flour, sugar, instant dry yeast, and 85°F water.
Stir together for about 1 minute and then let the yeast mixture work for about 15 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine the bread flour and salt.
Add the flour mixture to the yeast mixture in the mixing bowl. With a dough hook attachment or flat paddle, combine all the ingredients at low speed for one minute.
Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the side of the mixing bowl. Continue mixing the pizza dough on low speed for 3 more minutes.
Detroit Style Pizza Dough Recipe
Grease two medium sized bowls. Divide the into two equal pieces and transfer dough to the prepared greased bowls.
Shape each dough piece into a smooth round ball by folding the dough into the center. Place each smooth dough ball into its own bowl.
You have two choices. The preferred option is to cover the dough with a lid or plastic wrap, place in the refrigerator overnight or for 24 hours.
The quick option is to use the dough right away. I have used this pizza dough recipe with both methods and have had great success with both.
Pizza Sauce for Detroit-Style Pan Pizza
Homemade pizza sauce is easy to make with a few ingredients. Learn how to make and get my complete recipe here at Best Homemade Pizza Sauce.
No cooking needed of the homemade pizza sauce recipe. There are also great pizza sauce options at your local grocery store.
Store bought Contadina sauce and Classico pizza sauces are a couple of my favorites.
How to Prepare Crust for Pan Pizza
Learning how to make a Detroit pizza is very easy to do. Gather all the ingredients to make the thick crust pan pizza.
Preheat the Blackstone Pizza Oven on medium-to-medium high heat with the oven temperature gauge reading at least 500°F. Heating the Blackstone pizza oven will take about 10-15 minutes.
Generously grease the Detroit- style pizza pan with a pastry brush, making sure to get in all the corners and up the sides. Place the dough ball in the greased pan.
How to Press out Pizza Dough
With your fingertips, press the dough out about halfway to cover the bottom of the pan. Let the dough rest about 15 minutes to let the gluten in the dough relax before continuing.
After the dough has rested for several minutes, continue pressing the dough out with your fingertips to completely cover all the edges of the pan with an even layer. You do not want to push the dough up the sides.
The pizza dough should be one even layer completely covering the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan with a clean towel and set in a warm place.
Let the dough rise for about 15-30 minutes. When the dough has risen 1/3rd of the way up the pan, it is time to create your pizza.
How to Make Detroit Style Pizza
While the dough is rising in the pizza pan, gather the ingredients needed to create the pizza. When the dough is ready for you to build the pizza place a layer of pepperoni on top of the unbaked crust.
Add a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pepperoni. If other ingredients are desired, you can place them underneath or on top of the cheese.
The final step is adding dollops of pizza sauce all over the top of the freshly assembled pizza. Time to bake the Detroit style pan pizza.
How to Cook the Blackstone Pizza Oven Detroit-Style Pizza
Once the outdoor Blackstone pizza oven temperature gauge (on the front of the pizza oven) is between 500°F and 600°F, cook the pan pizza. Use the pizza peel to slide the freshly made pizza pan in the middle of the pizza oven.
Place the pizza oven door back on, if desired. Every 2 minutes, check the homemade pan pizza.
Rotate the pizza pan about halfway through cooking, using the pizza peel. Blackstone Detroit Style pizza cooking times will vary for every pizza oven.
Pan pizzas will cook in about 8 minutes. When the pan pizza has a crispy golden-brown bottom crust and the cheese is lightly browned and melted, remove from the pizza oven.
Double check to make sure the center of the homemade pizza is fully cooked by using a fork to test. Let the pizza cool for a couple of minutes and then remove it from the pan.
Cutting a Detroit Pizza
Use a griddle spatula to help the crust release from the pan. The first couple times of using the pan, the crust will want to stick to the pan.
Just use the griddle spatula to help remove it without breaking the pizza apart. DO NOT CUT THE PIZZA IN THE PAN!!
Place the Blackstone pizza on a cutting board to cut into pieces using a Blackstone pizza rocker or pizza cutter. Serve the Detroit pizza hot with your favorite sides.
Cooking the Pizza on a Blackstone Griddle
If you don’t have a Blackstone Griddle Pizza Oven, then you can still make it on the Blackstone Flat Top Griddle. Heat the Blackstone Griddle on medium-high heat.
Just use a pizza stone that was preheated along with a rectangle dome lid to create an oven around the pizza pan. Cooking times will vary.
Baking Pizza – Detroit Style in the Oven
This pan pizza can easily be made in your kitchen oven. Preheat oven to 400°F.
Place the prepared pan pizza in the preheated oven on the center rack for about 15 minutes. Once the chewy crust is deep golden brown as well as the cheese on top, test the center for doneness.
When the pizza is done, remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Remove pizza from the pan and cut into pieces on a cutting board.
What to Serve With Detroit Pizza
Need some ideas on what to serve with your homemade Detroit Style Pizza? Try these Pizza Hut breadsticks, fruit cookie pizza, and a strawberry acai lemonade.
How to Store Leftover Pizza Recipe
Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Detroit style pizza is great eaten cold right from the fridge or reheat.
How to Reheat Detroit Style Pizza
Reheating leftovers is easy using one of the following methods. Reheat in the Blackstone pizza oven, kitchen oven, microwave, or air fryer.
The air fryer method is quick and helps keep the crispiness of the pizza.
Other Blackstone Pizza Oven Recipes and Tips
- Regular Pizza Crust – Blackstone Pizza Dough Recipe
- Easy Pizza Sauce
- Blackstone Breakfast Pizza
- Blackstone Pepperoni Pizza
- Blackstone Chicken Alfredo Pizza
- Read more about the Blackstone Pizza Oven Attachment
- Unboxing and Setting Up the Blackstone Pizza Oven
- Blackstone Pizza Oven Accessories
Blackstone Detroit-Style Pizza – FAQ
A deep-dish Chicago-style pizza features a thick round crust going up the sides of the pan. The topping ingredients are layered on top like a traditional pizza with the sauce first, then desired toppings and finally a layer of shredded cheese. A Detroit-style pizza meanwhile has a crust similar to the focaccia style bread. It is prepared in a special rectangle seasoned pan with an even thick pizza crust. The toppings are placed in reverse order.
Detroit Style Pizza Recipe
For the full recipe, calories, and nutrition information, click below for the recipe card.
Detroit Style Pizza Recipe
Being a Michigan Chef, knowing how to make a true Detroit-Style Pizza is a must!! And now that I have a Blackstone Pizza Oven, I had to share my Detroit Style Pizza Recipe for others to enjoy.
Ingredients
- Pizza Dough (Makes 2 Crusts)
- Sugar 2 teaspoons
- Semolina Flour 1/2 cup
- Instant Dry Yeast 2 teaspoons
- Water, 85°F 1 3/4 cups
- Bread Flour 3 1/2 cups
- Sea Salt 2 teaspoons
- Pizza Toppings
- Pepperoni, Sliced 1/2 cup
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 2 cups
- Pizza Sauce 1/2 cup
- Oil, Vegetable 2 tablespoons
Instructions
Detroit Style Pizza Dough Recipe
- Gather the ingredients to make your homemade pizza dough.
- I like to use a Kitchen Aid mixer, but you can use a hand mixer. In the mixing bowl, add the semolina flour, instant dry yeast, sugar, and 85°F water. Stir together for about 1 minute. Then let the yeast mixture rest for about 15 minutes.
- In another bowl, combine the bread flour and salt. In the mixing bowl, add the flour mixture to the yeast mixture. With a dough hook or flat paddle, combine all the ingredients at low speed for one minute. Use a spatula to scrape down the side of the mixing bowl. Continue mixing the pan pizza dough on low speed for 3 more minutes.
- Grease two medium sized airtight bowls. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and transfer to the prepared greased bowls. Shape each dough piece into a smooth round ball by folding the dough ball into the center. Place each prepared dough ball into its own bowl.
- You have two choices depending on your time frame. The preferred option is to cover the dough with a lid and place in the refrigerator overnight or for 24 hours. The other option is to use the pizza dough right away. I have used this dough recipe with both methods and have had great success either way.
Pizza Sauce Recipe
- I love to make my own homemade pizza sauce recipe with only a few ingredients. Learn how to make and get my complete pizza sauce recipe here at Best Homemade Pizza Sauce. No cooking is needed for this homemade pizza sauce. There are also great store bought pizza sauce options at your local grocery store. Contadina sauce and Classico pizza sauces are a couple of my favorites.
Prepare the Pizza Crust
- Gather all the ingredients to make the thick pan pizza.
- Preheat the Blackstone Pizza Oven on medium-to-medium high heat with the pizza oven temperature gauge reading at least 500°F. Heating the pizza oven will take about 10-15 minutes.
- Generously oil the Detroit- style pizza pan with a pastry brush, making sure to get in all the corners and up the sides of the pan.
- Place one dough ball in the greased pan. With your fingertips, gently press the pizza dough out about halfway to cover the bottom of the pan. Let the pizza dough rest about 15 minutes to let the gluten relax before continuing. After the dough has rested for several minutes, continue pressing it out with your fingertips to completely cover the whole bottom of the pan with an even layer. You do not want to push the pizza dough up the sides. The pizza dough should be one even layer completely covering the bottom of the pizza pan.
- Cover the pizza pan with a clean towel and set in a warm place. Let the pizza dough rise. When the dough has risen 1/3rd of the way up the pan, it is time to create your Detroit-Style pizza.
How to Make the Detroit Style Pizza
- While the pizza dough is rising in the pan, gather the ingredients needed to create the pizza. When the dough is ready for you to build the pan pizza place a layer of pepperoni slices on top of the unbaked crust.
- Add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the sliced pepperonis.
- If other ingredients are desired, you can place them underneath or on top of the shredded cheese.
- The last step to building the Detroit Style pizza is adding spoonfuls of pizza sauce all over the top of the freshly assembled pizza.
How to Cook the Blackstone Pizza Oven Detroit Style Pizza
- Once the Blackstone pizza oven temperature gauge (on the front of the pizza oven) is between 500°F and 600°F, cook the Detroit pan pizza. Slide the freshly made pizza pan in the middle of the pizza oven. Place the pizza oven door back on. Every 2 minutes or so, check the homemade pizza.
- Rotate the pizza pan about halfway through cooking process, using the pizza peel. Blackstone Detroit-Style pizza cooking times will vary for every Blackstone pizza oven. These pan pizzas will cook in about 8 minutes.
- When the pan pizza has a crispy golden-brown bottom crust and the cheese is lightly browned and melted, remove from the oven.
Double check to make sure the center of the pizza is fully cooked by using a fork to test. - Let the pan pizza cool for a couple of minutes and then remove it from the pizza pan. Use a griddle spatula to help the crust release from the pizza pan. The first couple times of using the new pizza pan, the crust will want to stick to the pan. Just use the griddle spatula to help remove it without breaking the pan pizza apart. DO NOT CUT THE PIZZA IN THE PAN!!
- Place the Blackstone Detroit style pizza on a cutting board to cut into rectangle pieces. Serve the Detroit pizza hot with your favorite sides.
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This page contains affiliate links. Click on the highlighted text in a post to explore a product. If you purchase through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I ONLY EVER ENDORSE PRODUCTS THAT I TRULY LOVE. Thank you for your support!
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 446Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 25mgSodium 967mgCarbohydrates 63gFiber 3gSugar 3gProtein 18g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
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What can be used to replace the semolina flour?
I can’t find any where I live.
You can purchase semolina flour on Amazon or search online. I have only used semolina flour and have not tested this recipe with any other types of flour.