130 verified meals · USDA cook-time datasheets
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cast-iron ChartsDATASHEET // CT-CI-017
cast-ironSTATE: FRESHVERIFIED DATASHEET

How Long to Cook Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza (10-inch skillet) in the cast iron

Specification: Cornmeal-flour dough pressed 1.5 inches up a greased 10-inch skillet, cheese layered under sauce, sausage crumbles, and crushed San Marzano on top

Target Temp
Heat Waves
475°F (246°C) — bottom rack for maximum crust browning
Stovetop Sear
Total Time
Clock Time
22–28 mins
Total Cook Window
Flip Mark
Flip Action
No Flip
Continuous Cook
Internal Safe Temp
Thermometer Probe
USDA Safe Pull

3-Step Execution Protocol

1
Preheat & Prep

Heat cast iron skillet over 475°F (246°C) — bottom rack for maximum crust browning until lightly smoking. Prepare chicago deep-dish pizza (10-inch skillet) (Cornmeal-flour dough pressed 1.5 inches up a greased 10-inch skillet, cheese layered under sauce, sausage crumbles, and crushed San Marzano on top).

2
Cook

Cook for 22–28 mins. Do not flip; allow surface to develop undisturbed.

3
Check & Rest

The dough edge visible above the cheese is deep golden and pulls slightly from the skillet wall; the tomato on top is bubbling in slow, viscous pops rather than watery jumps; the underside of the crust reads brittle-crisp when checked with a metal spatula at the edge. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Verification Basis & Testing Rig

Uno Pizzeria & Grill (original Chicago deep-dish recipe) published bake profile 475°F/25 min for 10-inch; Lodge Cast Iron "Deep Dish Pizza" recipe reference 475°F/22–28 min in 10-inch skillet; America's Test Kitchen "Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza" cookbook 500°F 20 min for equivalent volume — no probe target because pizza doneness is a crust colour + sauce reduction pair, not an internal-temp target, so internalTempTargetF is omitted per HR-2.

Pro Tip: Cheese goes UNDER the sauce, not on top — the cheese layer waterproofs the crust while the sauce reduces and concentrates in dry oven heat. Reversed, the fresh tomato steams the dough into gluey mush every time and the "signature" texture never happens.
Want the complete meal with seasoning & sides?View Full Recipe

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How Long to Cook Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza (10-inch skillet) in the cast iron (475°F (246°C) — bottom rack for maximum crust browning, 22–28 mins) | Dad Meals // Zero Fluff