National Detroit-Style Pizza Day

How to Celebrate Detroit-Style Pizza Day
History of Detroit-Style Pizza
Recipes & Tips for Detroit-Style Success
Fun Facts about Detroit-Style Pizza
National Detroit-Style Pizza Day Calendar

Move over New York and Chicago – Detroit has its own pizza pride, and it’s celebrated on National Detroit-Style Pizza Day every June 23. If you’ve never had Detroit-style pizza, picture this: a rectangular pan pizza with a thick, airy crust that’s delightfully crispy on the bottom, edged with caramelized cheese, and typically layered with toppings under the cheese and racing stripes of tomato sauce on top. It’s a unique and increasingly famous regional pizza that originated in Detroit, Michigan, in the mid-20th century. This food holiday honors not just the pizza itself, but also the story behind it and Detroit’s contributions to America’s pizza landscape.

How to Celebrate Detroit-Style Pizza Day

Taste the Original (or as close as you can get): If you’re in or near Detroit, this is the day to hit up one of the city’s legendary Detroit-pizza establishments. Buddy’s Pizza is the original, but there’s also Loui’s in Hazel Park, Cloverleaf in Eastpointe (opened by Gus Guerra after he sold Buddy’s), Shield’s, Jet’s, and more. Each has its loyalists and slight recipe nuances – some say Loui’s has the best crust, Buddy’s the best sauce, etc. Try a comparison if you’re ambitious (and very hungry). If you’re not in Detroit, fear not: as of the 2020s, many cities have a Detroit-style pizzeria. Look up if there’s one near you. Perhaps a local joint is running a promotion for the day – some did in 2022 and 2023, like offering a free slice or discount for social media check-ins.
Make Your Own Detroit-Style Pizza: Feeling crafty in the kitchen? You can attempt a Detroit pie at home. You’ll need a rectangular pan – if you don’t have a true Detroit pizza steel pan, a 9×13 metal cake pan or a cast iron rectangular pan can work. Key steps: use a high-hydration dough (meaning pretty wet/sticky) to get that airy focaccia-like crumb. Let it rise in the pan with plenty of olive oil underneath so it essentially fries the bottom. Layer cubes or strips of a high-fat cheese all the way to the edges – traditionally Wisconsin brick cheese, but if you can’t find that, a mix of Jack and low-moisture mozzarella can sub. Add pepperoni or whatever toppings you like before the cheese. Bake in a very hot oven (at least 500°F). Once golden and bubbly, pull it out and spoon or stripe hot tomato sauce over it.
Host a Detroit Pizza Party: Gather friends or family to celebrate by sharing a Detroit-style pizza (or several). It’s the perfect party pizza because one large pan can be cut into lots of smaller squares, ideal for sampling. You could make it a potluck where others bring sides or drinks – maybe a Michigan craft beer to stick with theme. As you eat, sprinkle in some trivia you learned (like how it’s baked in a car parts pan – people love that tidbit!).
Spread the Word: Post a photo of your Detroit-style pizza slice on social media with hashtags like #DetroitStylePizzaDay or #DetroitPizza. Not only does it inform those unaware of the style, but it also shows some hometown (or adopted hometown) pride if you have Detroit connections.

History of Detroit-Style Pizza

Detroit-style pizza got its start at a neighborhood bar on Detroit’s east side back in 1946. That bar was Buddy’s Rendezvous (now simply known as Buddy’s Pizza), run by Gus Guerra and his wife Anna. Looking to boost business, Gus decided to try making a new kind of pizza. Anna’s Sicilian family recipe for focaccia-like dough became the foundation. But a few key things made their pizza different: First, they baked it in square blue-steel automotive parts trays – literally pans used for holding small parts in auto factories. Detroit’s auto industry roots thus played a role. Second, they spread Wisconsin brick cheese all the way to the edges of that dough before baking. As a result, when the pizza baked, the cheese would melt down the sides and form a lacy, crispy, almost fried-cheese crust around the edges. Third, instead of the typical American approach of sauce-then-cheese, they laid the toppings and cheese directly on the dough, then ladled stripes of tomato sauce on top after baking. This might have helped keep the crust light and airy despite its thickness, since sauce could make it soggy if baked together.

Buddy’s Detroit-style square pizza was a hit. In fact, it became so iconic that in 2011 the city of Detroit declared June 23 (Buddy’s anniversary) as Buddy’s Pizza Day, which later evolved into the broader National Detroit-Style Pizza Day in 2021. By then Detroit-style pizza wasn’t just a local secret; it was surging in popularity nationwide. Chains like Jet’s Pizza (founded in Detroit’s suburbs in 1978) had already been spreading the gospel of square pizza in multiple states. But the 2010s saw an even bigger boom: foodie magazines, TV shows, and new pizzerias from Austin to Los Angeles started offering Detroit-style pies, capitalizing on its crave-worthy texture. In 2021, even Pizza Hut jumped on the trend, releasing a limited-time “Detroit-Style” pizza, which reportedly sold out in some markets because of high demand – not bad for something that started in a bar 75 years prior.

National Detroit-Style Pizza Day in 2021 was spearheaded by Buddy’s Pizza to mark their 75th anniversary. They weren’t shy about claiming their slice of history: press releases and media around that time credit Buddy’s as the progenitor and champion of Detroit-style pizza. The holiday, observed every June 23, is now an annual tribute where pizza fans are encouraged to enjoy Detroit-style pie and recognize its place in the diverse tapestry of American pizza styles. It’s also an excuse for pizzerias – especially those in Detroit or those specializing in this style elsewhere – to run specials and tell the story of how an auto-parts pan and a generous helping of cheese gave birth to a pizza phenomenon.

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Digiorno, Detroit style crust double pepperoni pizza

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Recipes & Tips for Detroit-Style Success

Dough Tips: A classic Detroit dough has a high hydration (around 70% water to flour ratio) and often includes bread flour or a bit of sugar or dry milk for browning. Don’t skimp on the oil in the pan – that’s what gives the fried, almost focaccia-like bottom. Push the dough up the sides slightly to help create that high edge that the cheese can cling to and form a crisp.
Cheese Edge Technique: To achieve that signature cheese wall, scatter small cubes or thin slices of cheese all the way to the edges. As it bakes, it will melt and bubble into the corners for that classic caramelized crust.
Toppings and Variations: Traditionally, pepperoni is key. Try putting some under the cheese and some on top for crispy curls. Use sturdy veggies or pre-cooked toppings so they don’t burn during the long bake.
Sauce Finish: The sauce is added after baking in bold stripes. Use a simple, bright tomato sauce, and serve extra on the side if desired.

One hack: if you don’t have a Detroit-style pan, a rimmed baking sheet can make a passable version for a crowd. Detroit pizza also reheats well – order extra or try a mail-order service to stock your freezer.

Fun Facts about Detroit-Style Pizza

Baked in Auto Parts Pans: The original pans for Detroit pizza were blue steel trays from auto factories – used for holding nuts and bolts. That auto heritage is baked into every slice.

Political Pie: During his 2019 campaign, President Joe Biden visited Buddy’s Pizza in Detroit and even tossed dough in the kitchen – a nod to the cultural weight this pizza holds locally.

Charity and Community: Buddy’s and others have tied pizza sales to charity, donating proceeds to organizations like Capuchin Soup Kitchen. So, it’s a pizza with a philanthropic side too.

Pizzapedia: Detroit’s pizza style rose to fame later than others, only hitting the national spotlight in the 2010s. It’s now considered a major player in the U.S. pizza pantheon, with some even dreaming of UNESCO recognition.

World Record Slice: The world’s largest rectangular pizza (not Detroit-specific) was made in Italy in 2012. But maybe Detroit should aim for its own world record in the future – it would be a fitting celebration of this Motor City masterpiece.