Upside-Down Deep-Dish Pizza

Ingredients

• 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (Placed in the bottom of the pan)
• 0.5 cup green bell pepper (Sliced or diced)
• 0.5 cup red onion (Sliced or diced)
• 0.5 cup black olives (Drained and sliced)
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms (Fresh)
• 1 lb spicy Italian sausage (Cooked and crumbled; the creator used Trader Joe's spicy Italian sausage)
• 0.5 cup pepperoncini (Sliced or drained from a jar)
• 0.25 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (Sprinkled over the pepperoncini)
• 6 slices provolone cheese (Placed over the toppings)
• 1.5 cup pizza sauce (Homemade or store-bought; use more if desired)
• 1 lb pizza dough (Stretched to cover the pan)
• 1 tbsp garlic-infused olive oil (For brushing over the dough)
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (For garnishing after flipping)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly prepare a deep-dish or similarly deep oven-safe pizza pan so the finished pizza can be inverted safely.

2. 2

   Add the shredded mozzarella to the bottom of the pan and spread it into an even layer.

3. 3

   Add the green pepper over the mozzarella, distributing it evenly.

4. 4

   Add the red onion over the green pepper.

5. 5

   Add the drained black olives, followed by the sliced mushrooms.

6. 6

   Add the cooked, crumbled spicy Italian sausage as the next layer. The sausage should already be fully cooked and no longer pink; pepperoni or cooked ground beef can be substituted if desired.

7. 7

   Add the pepperoncini over the sausage.

8. 8

   Sprinkle the shredded Parmesan over the pepperoncini.

9. 9

   Arrange the six slices of provolone over the layered toppings, overlapping them slightly if necessary.

10. 10

    Spoon the pizza sauce over the provolone and spread it evenly so the toppings are covered. Add more sauce if you prefer a saucier pizza.

11. 11

    Stretch the one-pound piece of pizza dough until it is large enough to cover the pan. Lay it over the sauce, then gently pull and tuck the dough all the way around the edges so it seals the filling inside.

12. 12

    Brush the surface of the dough with the garlic-infused olive oil, coating it evenly for flavor and browning.

13. 13

    Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 25 to 30 minutes, until the crust is deeply golden, crisp, and fully baked. Watch the edges closely near the end of baking.

14. 14

    Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Place a large pizza pan or serving platter over the baking pan, firmly grip both pans with heatproof protection, and carefully flip them over so the pizza releases with the crust on top.

15. 15

    Sprinkle the top with grated Parmesan. Let the pizza sit briefly because the filling will be very hot, then cut into pieces and serve.

Notes

The toppings are customizable. The creator mentioned pepperoni, ground beef, and cream cheese as possible personal variations. Use caution when flipping the very hot pizza, and allow it to rest briefly before serving.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pizza
• deep-dish
• baked
• Italian sausage
• customizable
• family-friendly
• comfort food