The History of Pepperoni Pizza

Is there anything more ubiquitous than pepperoni pizza? In honor of National Pepperoni Pizza Day, we are taking a look at the fascinating origins of this iconic food. While pizza itself has its roots in Neapolitan cuisine, pepperoni is a distinctly American addition. The air-dried spicy salami we know as pepperoni first appeared in Italian-American markets after World War I. However, it didn’t make its way onto pizza until sometime in the 1950s. It’s likely that pepperoni pizza began as an experiment, but why it stayed relevant has just as much to do with commerce as it does taste. When chains like Pizza Hut and Domino’s opened in the 1960s, they needed toppings that were inexpensive and traveled well. Pepperoni fit the bill nicely, and the rest is, of course, history!