🍕 Deep Dish Pepperoni & Beef Pizza Pie
🌟 Introduction
Deep Dish Pepperoni & Beef Pizza Pie is the ultimate comfort food that combines two favorites: pizza and pie. With a buttery crust, savory beef filling, tangy tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and pepperoni on top, this dish is rich, filling, and crowd-pleasing. It’s a perfect centerpiece for family dinners, game nights, or when you want a hearty, cheesy indulgence.
🥩 Ingredients
For the Crust (Pie Base)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter (cold, cubed)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ cup cold water (add gradually)
(Optional: Use store-bought pie crust or pizza dough if you prefer.)
For the Meat Filling
- 500 g (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes or pizza sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Topping
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 15–20 slices pepperoni
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or oregano (for garnish)
👩🍳 Instructions & Methods
Step 1: Prepare the Crust
- In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and sugar.
- Cut in cold butter until mixture is crumbly.
- Gradually add cold water until dough forms.
- Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll out dough and press into a deep-dish pie pan.
- Pre-bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes.
Step 2: Cook the Beef Filling
- Heat olive oil in a skillet.
- Add onions and garlic; sauté until golden.
- Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil.
- Cook until browned, then stir in crushed tomatoes or pizza sauce.
- Simmer 10 minutes until thickened.
Step 3: Assemble the Pizza Pie
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on the baked crust.
- Fill with the beef mixture.
- Top with shredded mozzarella.
- Arrange pepperoni slices on top.
- Sprinkle parmesan for extra flavor.
Step 4: Bake
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.
Step 5: Serve
- Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with parsley or oregano.
- Enjoy hot with salad or garlic bread.
📜 History
- Pizza pie has Italian-American roots. Traditional Italian pizza inspired Chicago-style deep-dish pizza in the 1940s.
- Combining pie crust with pizza ingredients is an American twist, designed to make pizza more filling and casserole-like.
- Pepperoni, the most popular American pizza topping, became the star of such dishes in the mid-20th century.
💪 Benefits
- Protein-rich: Ground beef and cheese provide essential proteins.
- Energy-dense: The crust and beef make it filling and satisfying.
- Calcium & iron: Cheese adds calcium for bones, beef provides iron for energy.
- Crowd-pleasing: A comfort meal perfect for sharing.
- Customizable: Can be made with chicken, veggies, or even vegetarian substitutes.
🛠 Formation (How it Comes Together)
- The crust forms the foundation.
- The beef mixture provides a hearty middle layer.
- The cheese and pepperoni topping create a gooey, flavorful crown.
- Baked together, it forms a savory pie with pizza flavors.
❤️ Lovers
- Pizza lovers adore the cheesy, saucy flavors.
- Pie lovers enjoy the flaky crust.
- Meat lovers savor the beefy richness.
- Cheese lovers can’t resist the gooey mozzarella top.
- Families love it because it’s fun, filling, and made to share.
🥗 Nutrition (Per Slice – Approx. 1/8 of Pie)
- Calories: 420–480 kcal
- Protein: 24 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fat: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Calcium: 220 mg
- Iron: 3 mg
✅ Conclusion
Deep Dish Pepperoni & Beef Pizza Pie is a fusion of pizza and pie that delivers indulgence in every bite. With a buttery crust, savory beef, tangy tomato sauce, gooey cheese, and pepperoni, it’s a dish loved across generations. It unites pizza lovers, beef lovers, cheese lovers, and comfort food lovers into one big happy table.
