Pepperoni is a spicy, reddish sausage that's sliced thin and often used as a topping on pizza. It's one of America's most popular pizza toppings, with huge numbers of pepperoni pizzas sold every year.

The meat is made from a mixture of pork and beef (or sometimes just pork) that's been seasoned with paprika, garlic, and other spices, then cured and dried. The curing process gives pepperoni its tangy flavor and firm texture. When pepperoni cooks on a hot pizza, the edges of each slice curl up slightly and the fat sizzles, creating those characteristic crispy spots.

Despite its Italian-sounding name, pepperoni is an American invention. Italian immigrants in New York City helped popularize it in the early 1900s, inspired by spicy salamis from southern Italy.

You'll find pepperoni on pizza, in calzones, on sandwiches, and even as a snack on its own. When someone orders “a large pepperoni,” everyone knows exactly what kind of pizza they want.