Meta Description: Indulge in an authentic taste of Chicago with Uno deep dish frozen pizza. Learn tips for baking up the perfect cheesy, saucy deep dish pie at home. Explore creative topping ideas for customized deep dish fun.
Chicago-style deep dish pizza is a staple icon of the Windy City. But it’s not the only food that makes up Chicago’s identity. There are also Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, and other delicious dishes unique to the city. Among the many great restaurants in Chicago serving classic deep dish pizzas, none are as legendary as Uno Pizzeria. For more than 70 years now, they’ve been perfecting oven-baked deep dish pizzas stacked high with cheese, sauce, and toppings. While Uno’s might have started off as a sought-after restaurant destination in Chicago, folks from all over can now enjoy their signature pies at home with Uno deep dish frozen pizza.
In this comprehensive post, we’ll tell you about how Ike Sewell opened his first restaurant and grew the Uno’s brand into an empire. We’ll give you tips on how to bake your own perfect deep dish frozen pizzas right in your oven at home too. You’ll get ideas on creative ways to customize your favorite flavors using Uno pizzas as a base as well. Lastly but perhaps most excitingly — we’ll explain how this frozen delight can bring some of Chi-Town spirit into family dinner nights so you can pass it down for generations.
Let’s dive in!
History of The Famous Deep Dish Pizza: Origins
The start of the story begins nearly eighty years ago when Ike Sewell had just come back from fighting in World War II.
Sewell was dead-set on opening up a restaurant back home in Chicago after he was discharged from service. When he visited Italy during one trip abroad though, there was something that would change his life forever: A deep-dish apple pie.
He thought back to those unforgettable moments spent savoring every bite of that delicious treat and wondered why no one had made a savory version handheld like pizza before.
Fast forward to after his discharge: Sewell teamed up with his friend Ric Riccardo and they opened Pizzeria Uno in 1943. The River North neighborhood of Chicago would be the site for their flagship deep dish destination.
It was far from the thin, wide, foldable New York-style pizza that every other place was selling at the time. The Chicago deep dish pie consisted of a tall, buttery crust baked in a pan filled with mounds of cheese, chunky tomato sauce, and your choice of toppings. Deep dish pizzas are so filling that you’ll typically use a fork to eat it if you’re not trying to get messy.
Uno’s recipe resulted in a crust so flaky and soft on the inside that it tasted almost pastry-like. The amount of cheese used was also extravagant compared to what other places were using back then (and still today).
To this day, they still advertise how every pizza is made with an authentic recipe passed down from Ike Sewell himself.
With its rich flavor and hearty texture coming from all those layers of goodness, Chicagoans fell in love with their new favorite dish just as quickly as the rest of us did — and fawned over it for any excuse necessary.
Taking Chicago Deep Dish Nationwide with Uno's Frozen Pizzas
Pizzeria Uno didn’t take long to become everyone’s favorite spot for deep dishes after its debut. They soon expanded past Illinois’s borders too. Now, there are over 200 locations around the world where you can order an authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza — which has always been impossible unless you lived near one.
But even if you live near one now (and we’re jealous if you do), chances are it won’t compare to eating one fresh out of the oven at home instead.
Luckily for us, Uno has made it so that we can enjoy their pies from our ovens at home.
Their frozen pizzas are made to taste exactly like the restaurant’s — but with our own personal spin on them. Each ingredient is carefully crafted so that the texture and flavors are identical to what you’d get if you ordered one straight from Pizzeria Uno’s kitchen.
- Fluffy pizza dough moistened with butter creating a crispy yet flaky exterior with a chewy, biscuit-like interior.Â
- Bursts of their secret mix aged cheeses to give an indulgent, creamy melt full of flavor.
- House-made, herb-flecked tomato sauce strikes that perfect sweet and savory balance.
- Authentic Chicago toppings like spicy sausage, smoky bacon, and ample pepperoni.
- Hearty amounts of deluxe toppings like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms.
You can skip the flight to Chicago and enjoy the official style in your home. Uno’s has translated their most legendary pizzas into freezable form.
- Chicago Classic – Sausage, cheese, chunky tomato sauce, signature crust
- Chicago Classic Spinach – Spinach, cheese, tomato sauce, garlic-buttery crustÂ
- Chicago Classic Veggie – Tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers onions cheese.
- Chicago Classic Pepperoni – Loads of pepperoni cheese signature red sauce
- Chicago Classic Meaty – Sausage pepperoni bacon ground beef cheeseÂ
- Chicago Classic Supreme – Pepperoni sausage mushrooms onions peppers
Bake it as is or add something new for more flavors! Read on for tips to achieve deep dish perfection.
Baking Secrets for Perfect Uno Deep Dish Every Time
Patience and the right techniques are key to baking flawless Uno frozen pizzas worthy of a famous pizzeria. Here’s what you need to do:
Thaw Right
- Always thaw frozen pizzas in the refrigerator overnight before baking. This prevents dough from becoming too soft.
Get The Gear
- A pizza pan or pizza stone is ideal for deep dish. The raised edges keep edges contained.
- Line the pan with parchment paper for easier release and cleanup.
Take Your Time
- Preheat the oven completely to 425°F before placing the pizza in.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes to gently melt cheese without burning or drying out.Â
- Uncover and bake 12-15 more minutes to achieve a crispy, golden brown crust top.
Monitor Progress
- Check at half baked time and rotate the pan if one area is browning faster.
Rest and Release
- Let the pizza rest for 10 minutes before slicing it to allow the contents to set up.
- Use gentle sawing motions with a pizza wheel or chef’s knife to cut slices.
- Start by cutting halfway down the center then slice each half into quarters.
With the right prep and techniques, your homemade deep dish pizza will rival Uno’s signature pies! Now let’s explore fun ways to customize.
Customizing Your Uno Pizza
Step Number | Action | Options | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Select Base Pizza | Classic, Spinach, Veggie, Pepperoni, Meaty, Supreme | Choose based on your preference |
Creative Ideas for Mouthwatering Uno Deep Dish Toppings
While Uno’s traditional sausage and pepperoni please most crowds, half the fun of homemade pizza is choosing your own adventurous toppings. Take Uno deep dish frozen pizza to the next level by piling on these delicious combos:
All the Meat
Bacon, sausage, ground beef, ham, pepperoni for the ultimate meat lover’s pie
Chicken Alfredo
Chicken broccoli garlic alfredo sauce mozzarella makes a creamy chicken sensation
Greek
Feta cheese spinach artichokes red onions black olives oregano captures distinctive Mediterranean flavors
Chili Cheese Dog
Beef chili hot dogs cheddar cheese mustard onion for an unexpected kitchen-sink twist
Hawaiian
Ham pineapple red peppers toasted coconut teriyaki drizzle makes a tropical getaway
Taco
- Taco: Ground beef, red onion, tomato, lettuce, tortilla chips, salsa  Â
- Bacon Cheeseburger: Bacon, ground beef, cheddar cheese, onion, pickle chips, special sauce
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, bacon, potato, cheddar, scallions
- Margherita: Fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil
- Thai Chicken: Chicken, carrots, basil peanuts, Sriracha drizzle.
- Loaded Baked Potato: Potatoes bacon cheddar scallions ranch drizzle Â
Extra 10-15 min bake time after putting on toppings takes Uno deep dish frozen into just about any flavor you crave. Gather the whole family to dream up your own creations!
Deep Dish Pizza Night for Family Bonding
Baking Instructions
Step | Traditional Uno Deep Dish | Uno Deep Dish Frozen |
|---|---|---|
Thawing Time | Not applicable | Overnight in refrigerator |
Serving up Uno deep dish frozen pizza can bring some excitement into routine family dinner nights. Kids love pizza and preparing homemade deep dish together is a tasty way to bond. The novelty of extra thick and overflowing cheese is sure to bring out smiles around your dinner table. Consider these fun ways to get the family involved:
- Let kids draft their ideal toppings and create an ultimate pizza lineup.
- Make individual sized deep dishes so everyone makes their own.
- Shape dough into fun forms like pizza pockets, calzones, braids and other shapes.
- Get creative with sauces drizzled on top like ranch BBQ or buffalo.
- Involve kids in prep by having them measure ingredients and shape individual dough rounds.
- Make it a weekend activity to prepare the dough and sauce completely from scratch.
- Have a friendly deep dish bake-off and vote for the most creative flavor.
Play Italian music in the kitchen while prepping and savoring deep dishes together. Pair deep dish with homemade garlic knots salad or Italian sodas for a complete Italian feast.Â
The hands-on process of making deep dish pizza adds extra meaning to mealtimes. Uno’s frozen pizzas provide a convenient foundation. Have kids help select fun toppings and shape their own individual pies. Customizing pizzas to each family member’s preference prevents disagreements. While the savory cheesy pies bake, enjoy the aromas filling your kitchen. Then savor the charming imperfections in shapes and patterns from homemade creations.Â
Uno deep dish frozen pizza night becomes quality bonding time with shared effort in the kitchen and pride at the dinner table. When you need some comfort food, fast call on Uno’s frozen pizza and let the indulgent ooey-gooey pie bring warmth along with full bellies. Those nights when everyone seems scattered rallying together around Uno deep dish pizza making lets conversation flow as naturally as melted cheese.
Cleaning Up After Deep Dish Success
With great pizza comes great responsibility to clean up afterward! Uno deep dish pies are hearty which often means leftover melted cheese solidifying on plates, pans and utensils. Here are some tips for easy cleanup:
- Soak cooking pans and pizza cutters in hot soapy water immediately to prevent sticking.
- Use cooking spray on pans before adding pizza for quick release after baking.
- Cover leftover pizza tightly and refrigerate within 2 hours to contain odors.
- Run serving plates under hot water before dried cheese sticks. A little oil helps it slide right off.
- Get the family involved in wrapping up leftovers to teach responsibility and pitching in.
- Fill pans with water and let soak to loosen for hard to clean baked-on messes.
Sure, you’ll need some elbow grease when cleaning Uno deep dish. But after trying it once, we promise you’ll be back for seconds! If there’s anything a good pizza does right, it’s being able to put a smile on your face.
Conclusion
Deep dish pizza has been around since 1943 at Pizzeria Uno. But if you haven’t had a chance to try their authentic Chicago-style yet, don’t worry. Today anyone can partake in their famous buttery, flaky crust thanks to Uno deep dish frozen pizza. Mastering how to translate all that cheesy goodness into freezable form was no easy task. Luckily they’ve shared their recipe with us so that we can all enjoy it!
For the best results when cooking make sure you bake your pizzas covered at moderate heat then uncovered until golden brown. This will give your pie crispy edges but a soft interior that melts in your mouth just like the ones you’d get straight from Uno. After that go crazy! Top off your little slice of heaven with whatever ingredients fit your fancy!
