Tavern Style Chicago Thin Crust Pizza

Locals know that the REAL Chicago pizza is the tavern style thin crust. I'm revisiting the pizza I grew up eating by taking a trip to Vito and Nick's to recreate this iconic thin and crispy pizza. Visit drinktrade.com/brian to sign up and save $15 on select plans -- and get your first bag of coffee free.
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Pizza Dough Ingredients
▪360g (3c) bread flour
▪40g (3T) cold butter
▪180g (3/4c) ice cold water, divided
▪5g (1 1/2t) yeast
▪7g (1 1/2t) salt
Pizza Dough Instructions:
1. In a food processor, combine the bread flour and cold butter. Pulse until the butter is broken down into small, gravel-like bits.
2. Dissolve the yeast in 90g (1/4c + 2T) of ice cold water and the salt in another 90g (1/4c + 2T) of ice cold water.
3. Add the yeast water and salt water to the flour-butter mixture in the food processor. Pulse for 20-30 seconds until the dough is evenly hydrated. Be careful not to overmix.
4. Transfer the dough onto a work surface and knead for 2 minutes until it forms a homogeneous ball.
5. Round the dough into a ball, place it in a bowl, cover, and ferment for 2 hours.
6. After 2 hours, divide the dough into two equal pieces. Perform a preshape by folding in the sides and rounding off the dough into a ball. Cover the dough balls and let them rest for 20 minutes to relax the gluten.
7. Press the dough ball flat with a pizza pan or large pot then roll out each dough ball into a 12” (30cm) round
8. Use a pizza docking tool or a fork to pierce the dough to prevent large bubbles from forming during baking.
9. Spray 2 pieces of parchment paper with olive oil pan spray and a generous amount of fine grind cornmeal and place rolled out pizza doughs on top.
10. Place both doughs stacked on a sheet tray and refrigerate, uncovered, for 4-24 hours to cold ferment and develop a skin for a crispier crust. Preferably 24 hours.
--
Pizza Sauce Ingredients
▪1 28oz/800g can crushed tomatoes
▪100g (1/3 cup) tomato paste
▪12g (2 1/2 tsp) salt
▪20g (5 tsp) granulated sugar
▪1g (1/2 tsp) chili flakes
▪2g (2 tsp) dried basil
▪2g (1 tsp) dried oregano
▪2g (1/2 tsp) onion powder
▪2g (1/2 tsp) garlic powder
Pizza Sauce Instructions:
1. Scoop out half a cup of crushed tomatoes from the can.
2. Add the tomato paste, salt, sugar, chili flakes, basil, oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder to the remaining crushed tomatoes.
3. Blend the sauce with immersion blender until the dried herbs are broken down and everything is well combined.
--
Italian Sausage Ingredients
▪450g (1 lb) 80/20 ground pork
▪7g (1 1/2 tsp) salt
▪2g (3/4 tsp) black pepper
▪2g (1 tsp) chili flakes
▪5g (1 tsp) red wine vinegar
▪2g (1 tsp) ground fennel seed
▪5g (1 clove) fresh garlic, minced
Mix together all ingredients until well combined.
--
Assembling and Baking the Pizza
▪450g (16 oz) full-fat aged mozzarella cheese, shredded
▪1lb (1/2kg) italian sausage (preferably homemade, recipe above)
▪Pizza sauce (recipe above)
▪Dreid oregano
▪Dried basil
▪Salt
1. Preheat the oven to 550°F (285°C) with a pizza steel or an upside-down sheet tray.
2. Spread prepared pizza sauce evenly over the rolled dough.
3. Distribute half of the Italian sausage in rough balls evenly on top of each pizza (1/2lb per pizza)
4. Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the sausage of each pizza, spreading edge to edge (½ lb per pizza).
5. Sprinkle each pizza with a pinch of dried oregano, dried basil, and a pinch of salt.
6. Slide assembled pizza onto the preheated pizza steel or sheet tray in the oven.
7. Bake for about 10 minutes until the crust is deeply baked and the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
CHAPTERS:
0:00: Intro and preparing the pizza dough
5:27 step 1 in my morning routine
6:22 Making the pizza sauce
7:06 Making the italian sausage
7:50 Assembling and baking the pizzas
🎧MUSIC:
EPIDEMIC SOUND www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
#chicagopizza #thincrustpizza #tavernpizza

[@byohnk]

Babe wake up Brian uploaded a Chicago pizza video

[@BrianLagerstrom]

haha hell yeah.

[@planreview]

REAL Chicago pizza, thin crust gold.

[@broyofroyo1207]

⁠hey bri, what’s your favorite type of pizza?

[@stocktonnash]

I read this in Andy’s kiwi voice

[@XanderL]

@@stocktonnash Andy who?

[@Art_Murder]

B taking a bite out of every block of cheese always gets me

[@iknowbetterthanyou6260]

gets me a little sick.

[@BeachPeach2010]

Makes me think of major cloggage the next day. 😑

[@DanWhiteT]

this might have been the most aggressive bite yet, a comment I'm posting explicitly to goad Brian into taking an even bigger bite next time

[@Jacob-zv7xw]

B? damn didn't know you knew him like that 🤣

[@kapataunporter]

we need to create a donation box so we can send him a full wheel of 'parm just to watch him bite into that (no, this is not a kink)

[@TheMidwestWaterproofing]

I grew up 3 blocks away from Vito and Nicks. The standard bearer of Chicago pizza for over 100 years. Cash only, no delivery. Nick Barraco said "you want my pizza, you come get it"

[@pieexpo140]

You challenge Nick to a duel for the pizza 😄

[@saintseymour]

your first video for this style of pizza is the first thing i watched of yours during the pandemic. it was a weird time to be alive, and i made your recipe for my family, and we all felt really at home and happy eating it together. the channel is really doing it's thing now, and you deserve every bit of this. way to go dog

[@michaelplanchunas3693]

Sixty-four years ago, I started eating thin crust Pizza from Nick and Sons on Chicago Avenue in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. It has always been my standard of comparison for all other pizzas. The photos took me back to my teenage years prior to the military. I can still taste that pizza.

[@damienlu7318]

Yes sir I'll take this over a deep dish any day.

[@bryansweeney4562]

Except for, of course, Brian's deep dish!

[@colin_g]

Yeah, deep dish is a gross heartburn greasebomb

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

Vito & Nick's has been my birthday dinner several times, it really is amazing. If this is as close to the real thing as it looks, you have achieved something incredible.

[@Justicehillmusic]

That’s the real chicago style for sure. Tavern style baby

[@Phyde4ux]

Sorry Chicago, but you don't get to name two pizzas. Pick a style and own it. It's not our fault nobody liked your first choice.

[@benjaminbrand9550]

​@@Phyde4uxthey can do whatever they want you fascist.

[@mechmat12345]

​@@Phyde4uxcorrect. Chicago thinks they own this style because so many people in Chicago don't like thick crust, no because they invented it.

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

@@Phyde4ux We actually have THREE styles of pizza, stuffed being the one nobody outside Chicago seems to know about (or they mistake it for deep dish). Maybe Brian will do a video on that some time.

[@GrapeFlavoredAntifreeze]

@@Phyde4uxThat is such a petulant comment lmao

[@BLTkitchen]

Pizza docking is something I rarely hear people talk about. This explanation was PERFECT!

[@eaton24]

Some cooking channels really aim for entertainment. Others try to be educational. This channel mixes entertainment value with legit teaching and easy to follow recipes with the way things are shot. Kudos to Brian, he has made me a much better cook, love it!

[@jcbartlett25]

hell yeah, my favorite pizza style (grew up on it), can't wait to see how this stacks up to kenji's recipe

[@tmpickrell]

THIS is true Chicago style pizza. Thank you, Brian. I cant wait to make this.

[@mtothel657]

Love it Bri! Will be making this very soon. Best cooking content on YT by far. I've learned so much from your videos over the last few years, so thank you!

[@banethero]

This feels like a throwback to the good old days in all the right ways. Love it and can’t wait to make it!

[@DappledShade]

Someone nailed it at last! This version brings a tear to the eye of any displaced Chicagoan. Absolutely delicious. Going straight into rotation at my house. Thanks, Brian!

[@colbylaubach3254]

Bri, I have made every pizza recipe you have posted, and every single one is fantastic in it's own way. I hope there is more to come and am excited to try this one next! Thank you for making me look good with friends and family!

[@FoulOwl2112]

I use a 16 inch ceramic floor tile as a pizza stone. They work great and are dirt cheap compared to a commercial pizza stone. I keep it in my oven all the time. Even when I'm not making pizza. The thermal mass of the hot stone helps maintain a constant oven temp.

[@als1023]

Great Idea !! Thank you for posting !!

[@lizcademy4809]

I have used 8 inch "quarry" floor tiles for my pizza stone since the early 1990s - learned from Julia Child. They work great, ae dirt cheap, and the smaller size means I can line my entire oven rack with several tiles. [I have a couple that broke in half, I use those too.] The thin spaces between the tiles don't seem to matter.

[@Scootermagoo]

I know people that take red bricks and line the floor of the oven for the same reason.

[@lostphotographs3936]

I found a 2 stone setup really works well. I place my racks at the top and bottom of the oven. I start the pie on the bottom stone to get the crust as toasty as possible. 3-4 min or so. Then it gets slid and rotated to the stone that has been right under the broiler coils. I'm forced to use electric garbage ovens in California, and will switch the oven from 550 to Broil High and watch it to get the cheese and crust slightly browned and or charred.

[@walterw2]

cool, but i gotta say a pizza _steel_ is a whole different ballgame, especially a massive 1/4" thick one like i see in brian's oven (and like i found for my own oven for maybe $40 after first seeing that); way _more_ thermal mass and way faster heat transfer than a stone! the trick when you first get it is to file off any sharp edges, then season it like you would a cast iron pan to prevent rust after that, +1 to just keeping it in the oven to even out the temperature swings

[@user-oy3du5yl3d]

This is Gold!! Grew up there but moved away. This is exactly what I have been searching for!! Thank you soooo Much🌺

[@CB6028]

As a Chicago native I can attest that this is the kind of pizza that most Chicagoans eat on a regular basis and love. My favorite is Home Run Inn. Can’t wait to try this recipe - it looks fantastic.

[@JamanMosil]

That looks phenomenal. I now have mad cravings for one of those. THANKS a lot!

[@user-jw4fn6fh2x]

Your first video on this kind of za was my inspiration to start making it myself. I love it. These new recommendations will help me take mine to a new level. Thanks Brian. I love this pizza and love to serve it to my friends.

[@goorbarkai4007]

Man I can watch you play around with dough all day. That level of doneness is the way to go, nothing like darkened mozzarella! I’m about to make this one ❤

[@MileHighGuyBBQ]

I grew up in the Chicago area for 49 years of my 56 years I've been alive. 7 Years ago I moved to Colorado to be near my daughter and grandchildren. Since coming here I have NEVER found ANY tavern style pizza that reminds me of home...Aurelio's and Nino's were my favorite. This recipe you just showed in this video is the EXACT pizza I have been craving since leaving the Chicago area. Even though this process is a little long to get the finished product I do believe all these steps must be done to achieve authentic style Chicago area tavern style pizza. I have scoured all of the pizza places within a 50 mile radius of me and I just can't find it. I will be making this and thanks for this video 🙂

[@BrianLagerstrom]

Hope you enjoy it! Let me know how you think it compares.

[@MileHighGuyBBQ]

@BrianLagerstrom I will definitely let you know after I make it. After trying to find this pizza around here only to fail every time, I will be making my own thanks to you.

[@JoeAuerbach]

Giardenera is my new favorite pizza topping. It's really amazing

[@atomicbrain9401]

this one is a literal masterpiece. the finished product looks sooooo damn good. you outdid yourself!!!

[@coupdefoudre3597]

The technique looks flawless. It looks challenging, but (as always) you take the time to breakdown the key steps. Your attention to detail misses nothing!

[@maryd3779]

I don’t know that it looks challenging, but it certainly looks delicious, he makes it look effortless….like yeah, I can do this….heck he made sauce…and even sausage making stupid easy…I can’t wait to try this

[@sparks8218]

and thank you for cutting it the correct way!

[@churchgest]

Thank you for remaking the video on this recipe! Too many people sleep on this style of pizza

[@samgrant83]

Oh heavens - I need this in my life. One of your greatest ... scratch that, probably the greatest.

[@ronsorg2862]

Thank you Brian. Amazing articulate demo once again! Living in the Burbs of Chicago my whole life, Barnaby’s was the greatest go to for tavern style in the burbs.

[@kitebarbie]

Yayyy! Another pizza fave mini-master class… THANKS BRI!

[@Phantomwaxx]

Amazing pizza! Loved this recipe. Will definitely make again.

[@jacoblief8263]

Your videos are a highlight of my week.

[@rustyfrederick]

Great video and the exact style i'm trying to master. Your the man!!!

[@samvimes86]

It's 1:30am on Saturday morning in New Zealand and I've got a dough base in the fridge waiting for dinner tomorrow. Love your work and especially these regional pizza recipes, Brian!

[@jessicam6946]

Yes, this is the real Chicago pizza, I grew up on this. It's my favorite style of pizza and it's hard to get it right so I'm very excited to try this. 😃

[@darrensager2516]

This looks incredible Bri! Can’t wait to try it out! 🎉

[@kellyscott5675]

Your previous recipe for this style has become one of our standbys. Looking forward to giving this version a shot. Looks fantastic.

[@kilerbeez]

Straight up never heard of this style before, cant wait to try it.

[@geofsawaya394]

Hey Bri - you’re a brilliant chef. Hats off

[@calsurf93]

You nailed this, I'm from Minnesota. This pizza looks delicious and similar to ones I'd have at a local bar/tavern

[@starkiller6669]

Bri, you've helped a Chicago refugee make almost all of his favorite foods from the motherland at home, but there's one things I need you to develop a recipe for: Portillo's chopped salad

[@padders1068]

Hey Bri! Looks amazingly delicious, thanks for sharing! 🙂😋😎, ❤ to you and Lorn.

[@laurenwenzel]

I made this pizza and it was amazing! Thank you for sharing it!

[@dodgeball2d]

Cooked your first tavern pizza style countless times, can’t wait to try this variation

[@TommieG60]

OMG Brian!! That looks AMAZING!!

[@Krltplps]

As a Chicagoan trapped in AZ this recipe is legit. It's all about that fennel and sheer amount of sausage.

[@tbone8636]

Fennel sausage is nasty. Meant to cover up spoiled meat.

[@heather9857]

Hey, so I am I! Lol. Oh and the cheese being on TOP of the meat.

[@Krltplps]

@@heather9857 If you're near a Vero pizza their deep dish is dead on Giordano's. Their thin crust is also probably the best in the state that I've had so far.

[@bcj1jrj]

But spinatos!!!! No I get ya I'm gunna try this too. I do really enjoy spinatos however.

[@Krltplps]

@@bcj1jrj They're solid as well! Their sauce is a sweeter version of Aureilo's though, and we don't have any of them out here, sadly.

[@mauimarcus]

Still my favorite style. Takes some work and time, sure. Absolutely worth it. Thanks for this vid, Brian! 🤜🤛

[@restylesecrets8251]

yup, that's perfect. what I grew up eating at mom & pop's and bars in Northern Wisconsin. Yum.

[@coepuffs]

Vita and Nicks is THE best pizza in the world! I’m so glad you went there for this video!!!

[@johnnada5754]

Wells Brothers in Racine, WI almost just as good and V&N

[@Scottgilbert43]

I just ate at Vito and Nick's for the first time. I am very excited you made this, can't wait to recreate it

[@km-my4un]

That looks incredible. Great work!

[@timby495]

I’ve yet to make one of your pizza recipes. This is the one to change my mind. A+

[@TerryOlaes]

Gonna try this in the Ooni once all the storms stop soaking my porch!

[@cindyms.1237]

You have to be reading my mind. I was going to make your other thin crust pizza and now I can make this version. Also ordered the pizza docking tool. Thank you!

[@carlamoore2710]

I saw this pizza on triple d and it made me so hungry. Now you giving instructions on how to make my own and I intend to do just that. You are so awesome😊

[@loucinci3922]

Dude, you never let me down. Looks so good I have to try it.

[@Mbritten2011]

Don’t sleep on this one. Eating it as we speak and it’s amazing. The sauce is perfect, the sausage is far better than I’ve found to buy anywhere

[@EasyThereBigFella]

Looks really tasty! Think I'll give it a try! Thank you Brian

[@johnblachaniec8856]

Have been to Vito and Nicks! You have nailed it! I can now have Chicago thin crust pizza in Scottsdale now! Thank you!

[@DeadHawk23]

I prefer St. Louis style more. I live next to St. Louis and I have no idea what that was at 0:22 lol. Tavern style is also great though. It's pretty similar.

[@jamesstein5087]

Isn’t provel cheese a thing there?

[@TJ-tb3xm]

That looks amazing! Going to have to try this!

[@royalukas8144]

I love Chicago tavern pizza. Thanks Brian.

[@chrisberry9016]

I want to thank you so much for this one. Not only is the pizza awesome, but I really needed that recipe for the Italian Sausage! I like the taste of Italian Sausage, but normally have to avoid it, because it is either too hot, or Waaaaay too much fennel, which tears up my gut later. Now I can make my own and temper it to where I can eat it. Again thank you.

[@TheStrangr2112]

Bruh, I was literally about to put a pizza based off your bbq chicken recipe in the oven. Your timing is truly impeccable.

[@Berggren_]

SO happy to see tavern style get some love. Don't get me wrong, deep dish is something special (I'm a Malnati's guy myself), but tavern style definitely deserves more recognition. Much love from Chicago!

[@devastaterx]

Man this guy's a pro. I need this pizza in my life!

[@wagen_blast]

Pizza videos>>>> I was surprised how labor and time intensive this style is, thought it would be a quick one. Definitely want to try it though!

[@Thassodar]

Another killer recipe I need to try, your "old school" Dominoes style recipe is a favorite of mine, and my friends.

[@enterval4328]

I appreciate you for "doing the work" so to speak, makes it more interesting, I know eating pizza isn't exactly work but driving 5 hours to eat a pizza shows pure dedication to ur craft

[@maihess]

100% agree on getting good colour on a thin pizza ❤👍👍

[@zantar04]

That pizza looks so delicious! Definitely going to have to make one of these soon.

[@ronruethain5521]

Can’t wait to get home to try it

[@stephentoumi]

Oh yeah! Looks amazing B!

[@Blacklight_Music]

Now this is the style of pizza that I can CRUSH in one sitting. Lessssgooo!

[@paulavarela6702]

Your recipes are amazing. They are all lost-proof. So clear and concrete. Thanks. What about a sourdough pizza? I think a lot of us would love that! 😊😊😊

[@CrouchingGrandpa]

Briaaaaaaaaan . I suck at making pizza but the process is fun. Thanks for the vids.

[@GrapeFlavoredAntifreeze]

The best Chicago Pizza, just can’t beat it.

[@drzlecuti]

Great to see you were on the sout' side! V&N is excellent. You are absolutely right about what most Chicagoans eat as pizza. We call it thin-crust, tavern-style, or just by the name of the restaurant. Barracco's and Palermo's (among others) are popular in Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn. In Elmhurst we like Q's in Hillside and Roberto's in Elmhurst. I like this recipe a lot.

[@kathyastrom1315]

Up in Wheeling, we have Nino’s. I ordered it for my mom once, and she just raved about it.

[@charlesfinnegan7930]

Love Roberto's... grew up a few hundred feet from there. I could smell it outside walking home from school. Also like Q's.... go to their super bowl party every year.

[@ForgetU]

I've made this along with the sausage, which is very good.

[@BigBobDookie]

And he even cut it the right way. Good job Bri!

[@monkeygraborange]

Sorry, but the rest of the civilized world can’t comprehend pizza shaped like saltines.

[@williamfotiou7577]

I haven’t bought Italian sausage in over 25 years, for any application. I just find making my own very liberating and satisfying. Ever notice how many Italian sausage brands have BHP, BHA in them? St Louis and Chicago thin are always on the menu in my house. Great video bud!

[@JeanneHaegele]

Ahhhhh I grew up only a few blocks from Vito and Nick's--although for whatever reason we always called it Nick and Vito's instead. No idea what that's about. This is making me sooooo nostalgic. I'm gonna have to make this this weekend. Thank you!!!

[@MylesandMylesAway]

you are a LEGEND

[@schicianot]

Looks amazing, will definitely make next pizza night!

[@barbarareyes3005]

Hi Bri thanks for this very thorough recipe i will make my own thin crust pizza from now on... and i love the usual you taking a big taste of a crucial ingredient at least its cheese today.,,😋😋🙏🙏👍👍

[@DreadtheMadSmith]

This man has massively expanded my pizza horizons and just keeps going.

[@joshnok6369]

St. Louis has a lot of good pizza places though. Union Loafers being one my favorites.

[@kitcat9447]

If you were gonna say Imo's, I was going to report your comment 😅

[@gordonbombay17]

Brian used to work at Union Loafers so definitely felt like an odd shot at the St. Louis pizza scene. The picture could have at least been the Imos bastard.

[@johnhowaniec5979]

St Louis pizza is one of the worst I've ever tasted!

[@chackomc]

@@johnhowaniec5979St Louis style pizza is basically exactly this recipe except your use provel instead of mozzarella. Provel isn’t for everyone but plenty of people love it… I actually found it in an Italian grocery store in Dallas!

[@godzblade]

You NAILED it, my man!

[@johnnie_tips]

Vito and Nick’s was the perfect spot to choose!

[@danielryan8089]

Omg Brian I can not wait!!!! Since moving to Texas I’ve shamelessly missed (I know it’s not Chicago) monicals! Between the beefs and the pies, keep the classics coming. Much love from Bridgeport to SATX!

[@tstep522]

I'll be making this for sure!

[@loucinci3922]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing

[@ELEKTRARE]

I luv everything you cook 👨‍🍳 Brian , you are talented so charming man 😊❤

[@Broadpaw_Fox]

Damn.... I grew up in Chicago and didn't realize how good I had the little things like pizza until I moved away. Seeing this just made me hungry - but I'm quite full from dinner. I might have to try this out one of the nights I'm actually at home again (truck driver life). Thanks for sharing!!

[@nickkalister6291]

i love this style of pizza- grew up in milwaukee ordering it from mamma mia's and marty's

[@brendaf1033]

I have friends on the South Side. Every time I go to Chicago I eat at Vito and Nicks. Great pizza.

[@justrelaxing1501]

Arggghh! I'm drooling!

[@bryanmoraski7005]

Beautiful ! That's my kind of pizza.

[@spiderrico1853]

Looks Delish Brian! Great Work.