As Italian American pizza shops and butchers become popular, pepperoni became popular. But, like chicken parmesan, pepperoni is strictly an American invention. ... Pepperoni offers a slightly spicy, meaty flavor to the dough, sauce, cheese combination. The spice often balances the sweetness in the tomato sauce.

Why is pepperoni so popular?

Pepperoni has remained a staple on pizza because it's fairly universal, says Rick Schaper, owner of Dogtown Pizza in St. Louis, Missouri. "It has huge flavor and spice, but is not too spicy for the non-spicy fans out there," Schaper says.

When did pepperoni become popular?

Although it is hard to say exactly when it was created, it probably popped up in the early 1900s when Italian butcher shops and pizzerias began to flourish on the streets of a burgeoning Italian-American society.