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Rectangular Detroit-style pizza with dark crisp cheese edges and three red sauce stripes
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Detroit-style pizza

A high-hydration rectangular steel-pan dough with an airy crumb and crisp fried base, designed for edge-to-edge toppings and Detroit-style frico.

Prep35 min
Cook18 min
Rest210 min
Oven250°C
Servings4
Cook mode

Adapted from King Arthur Baking and Serious Eats techniques for Detroit pan dimensions, high hydration, cheese placement, and sauce order

Ingredients

Written for a 25 × 35 cm dish

Units
Temperature
Servings
4

Dough

  • 300 g strong bread flour
  • 225 ml lukewarm water
  • 7.5 g fine salt
  • 2.5 g instant yeast
  • 15 g olive oil

For the pan

  • 20 g olive oil, for coating the pan

Dietary labels are a guide, not a guarantee. If you have an allergy, read the ingredients yourself.

Method

  1. Mix the flour, water, salt, yeast, and 15 g oil until no dry flour remains. Rest for 15 minutes, then perform three rounds of stretch-and-folds at 15 minute intervals. The high-hydration dough will be sticky but should become cohesive and elastic. Its exact weight is 550 g.
  2. Cover and ferment at room temperature for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until expanded by about half. For more flavour, refrigerate after the folds for 12 to 24 hours, then warm the covered dough for 60 minutes before panning.
  3. Coat a traditional 25 x 35 cm dark blue-steel Detroit pan with 20 g oil. An anodized aluminium Detroit pan is the best explicit alternative. A dark 23 x 33 cm metal baking pan also works, but gives taller corners and a less even frico; do not use glass.
  4. Transfer the dough to the pan and turn it once in the oil. Dimple and stretch it gently toward the corners. If it springs back, cover for 15 minutes and repeat. Cover and proof in the pan for 45 to 75 minutes, until airy, relaxed, and nearly doubled.
  5. Put a baking steel or stone on the lowest rack and heat the home oven to its maximum, ideally 250 to 275°C, for 45 to 60 minutes.
  6. Use the topping selector below for exact quantities, assembly order, and before-bake and after-bake steps. Choose a Detroit-compatible preset and take its cheese right to the steel-pan walls if a frico edge is desired. Where the selector calls for sauce on top, apply it in Detroit-style stripes. Do not exceed the preset’s pan capacity.
  7. Bake on the lowest rack for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating once, until the sauce bubbles, the centre is set, and the cheese at the walls is mahogany rather than black. If the base is pale, set the pan directly on the preheated steel for the final 2 to 4 minutes.
  8. Rest for 2 minutes only. Loosen the frico carefully with a thin spatula, lift the pizza from the pan to a rack, and wait 3 minutes before cutting into rectangles. Leaving it in the pan traps steam and softens the fried base.

Notes

  • Baker’s percentages: strong bread flour 100%, water 75%, salt 2.5%, instant yeast 0.83%, and oil in the dough 5%. The exact 550 g dough fills one 25 x 35 cm pan.
  • Brick cheese is a mild, high-fat Wisconsin cheese and is the traditional Detroit choice. In Germany, equal parts young Butterkäse and low-moisture mozzarella approximate its melt, richness, and browning better than wet fresh mozzarella.
  • Brick cheese is style context, not part of this dough-only ingredient list. The topping selector supplies actual cheese or other topping quantities and their safe preparation.
  • Detroit differs from Sicilian pizza through its smaller deep steel pan, cheese all the way against the walls for frico, and sauce stripes over the cheese. The crumb remains airy, but the caramelized cheese perimeter defines the style.
  • A home oven cannot reproduce the strong bottom heat and rapid recovery of a commercial deck oven. A fully heated steel under a dark metal pan helps, but the bake is longer and the base may be less uniformly crisp.
  • Use a thick sauce. A watery sauce placed on top can flood the crumb. Judge doneness by the crisp mahogany edge, browned underside, bubbling sauce, and springy centre rather than by time alone.
  • Refrigerate cooled leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat at 220°C on a rack or in a dry skillet so the base and frico become crisp again.

Sources consulted

Choose your topping

Make the dough with the recipe above, then open one option below. Each dropdown gives the topping quantities for one 30 cm thin pizza. Follow that pizza style's own size guidance when scaling.

Spicy salami and mushroom Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

The dependable crowd favourite with red sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, and browned mushrooms.

Ingredients

  • 100 g house tomato pizza sauce
  • 110 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 55 g spicy salami or pepperoni , thinly sliced and ready to eat
  • 100 g mushrooms , sliced, browned dry, and cooled

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread the red sauce, add mozzarella, then distribute the salami and dry cooked mushrooms evenly.

After baking

  1. Rest for 2 minutes before cutting.

Best styles

New York, Chicago tavern, Detroit

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Bee Sting Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Red sauce, good ham, mozzarella, optional hot peppers, and a hot honey finish.

Ingredients

  • 100 g house tomato pizza sauce
  • 90 g ready-to-eat cooked ham , full slices or torn pieces
  • 100 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 25 g, optional pickled hot peppers , well drained
  • 20 g hot honey

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread the tomato sauce, then add ham, mozzarella, and optional well-drained hot peppers.

After baking

  1. Drizzle with hot honey only after baking.

Best styles

Neapolitan, New York, Detroit

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Spicy Perogy Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

A garlic dairy base with tender potato, two cheeses, onion, optional cooked meats, green onion, and sour cream.

Ingredients

  • 90 g plain garlic yogurt or crème fraîche base , mix thick yogurt or crème fraîche with grated garlic, salt, and pepper; no dill
  • 120 g waxy potato , cut into 2 mm slices, cooked just tender, drained, and dried
  • 60 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 30 g cheddar , shredded
  • 25 g onion , thinly sliced
  • 30 g, optional cooked bacon , crisped, drained, and crumbled
  • 60 g, optional fully cooked ground beef , reached at least 71°C, drained, and cooled
  • 1 whole, optional cooked potato and cheese pierogi , sliced as a variation, not the core topping
  • 15 g green onion , thinly sliced
  • 30 g sour cream

Before baking

  1. Spread the plain garlic dairy base. Add dry potato slices, mozzarella, cheddar, and onion.
  2. Choose one rich addition: pre-cooked bacon, fully cooked ground beef, or the optional cooked pierogi variation. Never combine all three and never add raw meat.

After baking

  1. Finish with green onion and small spoonfuls of sour cream.

Best styles

New York, Thick crust pan, Detroit

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Inspiration source: Boston Pizza

Big Mac Pizza Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Beef, cheddar, tomato sauce, mozzarella, onion, and tomato finished with burger sauce and iceberg lettuce.

Ingredients

  • 70 g house tomato pizza sauce
  • 95 g fully cooked ground beef , seasoned, cooked to at least 71°C, and drained
  • 30 g cheddar , shredded
  • 55 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 20 g onion , finely diced
  • 45 g tomato , seeded, diced, drained, and patted dry
  • 40 g house burger sauce
  • 35 g iceberg lettuce , finely shredded, washed, and dried

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread tomato sauce. Add drained cooked beef, cheddar, mozzarella, onion, and dry tomato.

After baking

  1. Drizzle with burger sauce and add fresh shredded iceberg lettuce only after baking.

Best styles

New York, Thick crust pan, Detroit

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

House Hawaiian Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Barbecue and tomato sauce, excellent ham, pineapple, jalapeño, two cheeses, and optional cooked bacon.

Ingredients

  • 70 g barbecue tomato pizza sauce
  • 70 g high-quality ready-to-eat ham , cut into bite-size pieces
  • 60 g low-moisture mozzarella , lightly shredded
  • 70 g pineapple , small pieces, thoroughly drained and patted dry
  • 18 g jalapeño or candied jalapeño , sliced and well drained
  • 20 g cheddar , shredded
  • 30 g, optional cooked bacon or candied bacon , drained and crumbled

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread the barbecue tomato sauce. Add ham, light mozzarella, very dry pineapple, jalapeño, cheddar, and optional pre-cooked bacon.

After baking

  1. Rest for 2 minutes before cutting.

Best styles

New York, Thick crust pan, Detroit

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Margherita Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Choose a fresh tomato and olive oil route or the simpler house tomato sauce route.

Ingredients

  • 20 ml olive oil , for the fresh tomato route and finishing
  • 1 small clove garlic , finely grated
  • 1 pinch each fine salt and black pepper
  • 140 g ripe tomato , thinly sliced, drained, and patted dry for route A
  • 110 g house tomato pizza sauce , use instead of fresh tomato for route B
  • 110 g fresh soft mozzarella , drained, torn, and patted dry
  • 8 leaves fresh basil
  • 10 ml, optional balsamic reduction

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Route A: brush with garlic, 15 ml olive oil, salt, and pepper, then add dry tomato and mozzarella.
  2. Route B: spread the house tomato sauce, season with oregano and thyme if desired, then add mozzarella.

After baking

  1. Add basil, the remaining olive oil, and optional balsamic reduction.

Best styles

Neapolitan, New York, Homemade mozzarella pizza

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Mixed mushroom Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

A delicate yogurt-based pizza with mozzarella and several well-browned mushroom varieties.

Ingredients

  • 110 g yogurt dill garlic sauce
  • 100 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 220 g mixed mushrooms , sliced, cooked dry, and cooled
  • 10 ml olive oil , for browning the mushrooms
  • 1 pinch each salt and black pepper

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Brown the mushrooms in a wide hot pan until their released water has evaporated. Cool them.
  2. Spread the yogurt sauce, add mozzarella, then distribute the cooked mushrooms without piling them.

After baking

  1. Season lightly and serve this delicate pizza before spicy or strongly flavoured pizzas.

Best styles

Neapolitan, Flammkuchen, Chicago tavern

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Black and Blue Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Blackberry sauce supports thin apple, blue cheese, walnuts, and a light layer of mozzarella.

Ingredients

  • 90 g blackberry pizza sauce
  • 80 g crisp apple , very thinly sliced and patted dry
  • 60 g blue cheese , crumbled
  • 25 g walnuts , roughly chopped
  • 55 g low-moisture mozzarella , lightly shredded

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread the cooled blackberry sauce. Add apple in one layer, then blue cheese, walnuts, and a light scattering of mozzarella.

After baking

  1. Rest for 2 minutes so the fruit sauce settles.

Best styles

Neapolitan, New York, Grandma

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Chimichurri steak Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Chimichurri and mozzarella bake on the dough, while rested medium rare skirt steak goes on afterward.

Ingredients

  • 50 ml house chimichurri , reserve 5 ml for finishing
  • 90 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 35 g, optional onion , thinly sliced
  • 70 g, optional mushrooms , browned dry and cooled
  • 180 g skirt steak , kept separate from ready-to-eat ingredients
  • 1 pinch each salt and black pepper

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Use separate utensils and a clean plate for raw steak. Grill it over high heat to medium rare, rest for 8 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.
  2. Spread 45 ml chimichurri, add mozzarella, and add optional onion and cooled mushrooms. Do not put the steak on before baking.

After baking

  1. Add the rested sliced steak only after the pizza leaves the oven, then spoon over the reserved chimichurri.

Best styles

Neapolitan, New York, Homemade mozzarella pizza

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Pesto chicken Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Basil pistachio pesto, mozzarella, and fully cooked chicken with two safe timing options.

Ingredients

  • 70 g basil pistachio pesto
  • 100 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 130 g, optional fully cooked chicken , reached at least 74°C, then chilled promptly or kept hot

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread pesto and add mozzarella.
  2. Cold fully cooked chicken may be distributed on top before baking. Do not use raw or partly cooked chicken.

After baking

  1. Alternatively, slice warm grilled chicken that has reached 74°C and add it after baking.

Best styles

Neapolitan, Roman al taglio, Grandma

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Big Dill Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Yogurt, dill, garlic, mozzarella, and full coverage of thin, well-drained pickle coins.

Ingredients

  • 120 g yogurt dill garlic sauce
  • 100 g low-moisture mozzarella , shredded
  • 130 g dill pickles , thin coins, drained and patted very dry
  • 30 g, optional feta , crumbled

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread the yogurt sauce, add mozzarella, cover evenly with dry pickle coins, and add optional feta.

After baking

  1. Rest for 2 minutes before cutting.

Best styles

Neapolitan, Chicago tavern, Flammkuchen

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Spicy Greek Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

A bright mix of peppers, onion, green olives, garlic, tomato, and feta on red or yogurt sauce.

Ingredients

  • 75 g house tomato sauce or Greek-spiced yogurt sauce
  • 50 g low-moisture mozzarella , lightly shredded
  • 35 g bell pepper , thinly sliced and patted dry
  • 20 g pickled hot peppers , well drained
  • 20 g onion , thinly sliced
  • 25 g green olives , sliced and drained
  • 1 small clove garlic , finely grated
  • 35 g tomato , seeded, diced, drained, and patted dry
  • 45 g feta , crumbled
  • 10 ml, optional balsamic glaze

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Spread the selected sauce. Add light mozzarella, dry vegetables, olives, garlic, tomato, and feta in an even layer.

After baking

  1. Finish with optional balsamic glaze.

Best styles

Neapolitan, Chicago tavern, Flammkuchen

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Golden Garden Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

Garlic olive oil, soft-ripened cheese, thin cauliflower, dates, walnuts, and honey.

Ingredients

  • 35 ml garlic olive oil pizza base
  • 85 g Brie or Camembert , thinly sliced
  • 90 g cauliflower florets , sliced very thin, blanched 2 minutes, drained, cooled, and dried
  • 35 g pitted dates , thinly sliced
  • 25 g walnuts , roughly chopped
  • 50 g low-moisture mozzarella , lightly shredded
  • 20 g honey or hot honey

Sauce recipes

Before baking

  1. Brush on the garlic olive oil. Add Brie or Camembert, dry cauliflower, dates, walnuts, and a light scattering of mozzarella.

After baking

  1. Drizzle with honey or hot honey.

Best styles

Neapolitan, Roman al taglio, Grandma

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Hohenloher Blootz topping Enough topping for one 30 cm thin pizza

The house pizza adaptation with Schmand or Greek yogurt, onion, pre-cooked bacon, and a little mozzarella.

Ingredients

  • 120 g Schmand or thick Greek yogurt
  • 1 pinch each salt and black pepper
  • 65 g onion , very thinly sliced
  • 65 g pre-cooked bacon , thin pieces, drained and cooled
  • 55 g low-moisture mozzarella , lightly shredded

Before baking

  1. Season and spread the Schmand or yogurt, then add onion, pre-cooked bacon, and a little mozzarella.

After baking

  1. Serve hot. This is the shared house adaptation, not the egg-bound regional version.

Best styles

Hohenloher Blootz, Flammkuchen, Chicago tavern

Scale all amounts by pizza surface area. For thick pan styles, use a little less topping to protect the bake and crumb.

Good with

Sources consulted

The formula is scaled to one 25 x 35 cm home-oven pan and includes a practical German cheese substitute.

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