Detroit Style Cheese Pizza is a cheesy and delicious dish that is sure to WOW everyone.

Who doesn't like pizza?? My picky daughter also likes it and that is something to say because she says she doesn't like cheese (???).
I don't even know where she came from sometimes. My son and I, on the other hand, eat cheese like there is no tomorrow 🙂
So when she says, she liked this Detroit style cheese pizza -- it is a BIG deal.I have quite a few pizza recipes on the blog already. But I don't think there are too many pizza recipes, ever.
Unique Recipe
This Detroit style pizza is slightly different from both New York and Chicago style ones. Recipe is simple and easy enough to make.
This recipe is made in a square baking pan which makes the crust thick and chewy. It is then topped with a sweet homemade tomato sauce and lots of ooey-gooey cheese.
Ingredients
This recipe needs the same ingredients as any pizza. Flour, yeast, cheese for the crust.
Traditionally Detroit brick cheese and grated mozzarella are used on this pizza. I didn't have the brick cheese, so I used pepper jack cheese instead. You can also use monterey jack or muenster cheeses as substitute.
To make the tomato sauce, you will canned tomato puree, garlic, dried oregano and dried basil.
Instructions
Start by making the dough:
- Combine all the ingredients for the crust in a mixing bowl. Mix and knead to form a soft, pliable dough. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and set aside for 15~20 minutes.
- Lightly grease a 8" or 9" square baking pan. Line the bottom with parchment and grease it lightly.
- Transfer the dough into the pan and spread it out in the bottom of the pan till the edges. Cover and let the dough rise until it is ½" thick.
Make the Sauce:
- Combine all the ingredients for the tomato sauce in small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and cook for 10~15 minutes. Keep the sauce warm.
Make the Pizza:
- Preheat the oven with 450°F. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese along the edges of the pizza. Spoon sauce over the pizza and top it with the pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses. Bake for 15 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Use a knife to loosen the edges of the pizza and slide it onto a wire rack to cool slightly. Slice the pizza and serve with more tomato sauce on the top. Enjoy!!
Taste Test
After baking, the cheese melts and forms a delicious golden brown crust on top. Chewy crust, delicious tomato sauce and cheese -- what else would you want from a pizza. Go ahead -- bake this and enjoy!!
Serve with a side salad -- so you don't feel guilty for eating that much cheese. I served a simple massaged kale & white bean salad (recipe courtesy Minimalist Baker).
Tips
- Pepper jack, monterey jack or muenster cheeses as good substitute to brick cheese.
- Blend 4~5 medium size fresh tomatoes to make the puree.
Detroit Style Cheese Pizza
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 cup All purpose flour*
- ½ tsp Instant Yeast
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup Warm Water
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 2 cups Tomato puree
- 1 Garlic clove, finely minced
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Dried Basil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- To taste Salt Pepper
Other Ingredients:
- ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 1 cup Pepper jack cheese, grated
- Pinch of Dried Oregano
Instructions
Prep the Dough:
- Combine all the ingredients for the crust in a mixing bowl. Mix and knead to form a soft, pliable dough. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and set aside for 15~20 minutes.
- Lightly grease a 8" or 9" square baking pan. Line the bottom with parchment and grease it lightly.
- Transfer the dough into the pan and spread it out in the bottom of the pan till the edges. Cover and let the dough rise until it is ½" thick.
Make the Sauce:
- Combine all the ingredients for the tomato sauce in small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and cook for 10~15 minutes. Keep the sauce warm.
Make the Pizza:
- Preheat the oven with 450°F. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese along the edges of the pizza. Spoon sauce over the pizza and top it with the pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses. Bake for 15 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Use a knife to loosen the edges of the pizza and slide it onto a wire rack to cool slightly. Slice the pizza and serve with more tomato sauce on the top. Enjoy!!
Notes
- I usually add ¼ cup of White Whole wheat flour to the dough for fiber and nutrition.
- Pepper jack, monterey jack or muenster cheeses as good substitute to brick cheese.
- Blend 4~5 medium size fresh tomatoes to make the puree.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner
The cheesy crust is simply awesome.. Every bit has a cheesy burst..
Sasmita
This style cheese pizza looks so so delish, awesome share 👌
Vidya Narayan
Have never been to Detroit but looking at the lovely cheesy golden bake, I am sure it tastes far more better than any restaurant style pizza. Love the wholewheat inclusion instead of APF and that nutritious kale salad on the side. Perfect meal with a bit of cheat and nutrition dose too!
Jayashree
Cheesy pizza looks yumm. Who can say no to this?
Bhawana
hahahha kids are like that Pavani, at my place kid's choices are changing so often that now we don't claim what they like or dislike. This pizza recipe looks very easy to me and making me think to make one. Moreoevr thanks for sharing this page. Looooooooot of baking here dear.
Ruchi
Wow pavani , what a droolicious pizza ... Superb share. Love your pics
Jagruti
hahaha..all children are same, mine is 24 and her eyes lit up when she hears the word about Pizza 🙂 Your's has come out so well and sounds so delicious!
Padmajha PJ
Until a few months,my LO did not like cheese and the EO and I used to wonder how a person can be like this!Now he wants cheese sandwiches! Kids and their tastes are so hard to figure out!! And this pizza is treat to the taste buds and I am drooling over your pics as usual 🙂
Swati
This looks Divine ! How could anyone keep themselves away from so much deliciousness ? This is indeed a unique Pizza recipe and I am saving it to try !