Pepperoni is America’s most ordered pizza topping, and Italy had almost nothing to do with it
Italian-American delis made pepperoni easy to slice, store and crisp, helping it outrank sausage and mushrooms in U.S. pizzerias, Pizza Today said.
- Pepperoni ranks as America's most popular pizza topping in 2026, a distinctly Italian-American creation developed by Southern Italian immigrants who adapted cured salami traditions in the United States.
- Originally a deli product in New York and other eastern cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pepperoni spent decades sliced for sandwiches before gaining prominence as returning American GIs sought pizza they discovered in Italy.
- Pizza Hut and Domino's favored pepperoni because it was shelf-stable and consistent in size. Unlike fresh toppings, it crisped, cupped, and colored under a broiler, providing the finished look essential for high-volume commercial production.
- Oregano sales in the United States rose more than 5,000% between 1948 and 1956, capturing how rapidly Italian food moved from ethnic neighborhood staple to national mainstream alongside chains like Shakey's and Little Caesars.
- Hormel Foods identifies the triple-pepperoni pie as an emerging 2026 menu trend, combining traditional slices, cup-and-char, and Hot Calabrian Chili varieties to reflect operator interest in premium pepperoni formats and increased heat.
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It's National Pepperoni Pizza Day!
CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Sunday is National Pepperoni Pizza Day! Pepperoni is one of America’s favorite pizza toppings, known for those crispy, spicy little slices that curl up when they hit the heat. And fun fact: pepperoni is an Italian-American creation, not a traditional Italian topping. So, grab a slice — and yes, extra pepperoni is encouraged!
Pacific Daily News
Pepperoni is America’s most ordered pizza topping, and Italy had almost nothing to do with it
Pepperoni is America’s most popular pizza topping, and Italy had less to do with it than most people think. It spent decades as a deli ... Read moreThe post Pepperoni is America’s most ordered pizza topping, and Italy had almost…
Pepperoni is America’s most ordered pizza topping, and Italy had almost nothing to do with it | National News - Dining and Cooking
Pepperoni is America’s most popular pizza topping, and Italy had less to do with it than most people think. It spent decades as a deli meat, sliced for sandwiches, long before it ever showed up on a pizza. That history is what makes National Pepperoni Pizza Day, Sept. 20, worth more than just another excuse [...]
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