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Detroit Style Pizza

A thick, square pizza baked in a steel pan with crispy caramelized cheese edges and sauce stripes on top.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Rectangular Detroit style pizza with crispy cheese edges and pepperoni

A thick, square pizza baked in a steel pan with crispy caramelized cheese edges and sauce stripes on top.

The Motor City square

Born in Detroit’s blue-collar bakeries — an airy, focaccia-like crust with cheese caramelized right up to the pan’s edge and sauce in stripes.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Mix the flour, salt, and yeast; add the warm water and olive oil and knead 5 minutes. Cover and rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
  2. Generously oil a 9x13 metal pan (ideally steel). Stretch the dough to fill the pan, cover, and proof 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to 500°F. Press dimples into the dough with your fingertips.
  4. Sprinkle the cheese evenly all the way to the edges — the corner cheese will caramelize.
  5. Add the pepperoni, then spoon the sauce in three stripes down the length of the pizza. Top with Parmesan and oregano.
  6. Bake 15-18 minutes until the edges are dark and crispy. Rest 5 minutes, then loosen with a spatula and slice.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Cheese to the very edge is the secret — it creates the crispy, almost-fried crust that defines Detroit style. A steel or dark metal pan is essential.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook20 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →