Of all the things that top a pizza so well, perhaps pepperoni punctuates the pie most perfectly. Those thin slices of seasoned pork are a star in that circular piece of heaven. It’s enough to make anyone weak in the knees to take one whiff of the smokey smell or look at the beautiful piles of grease that form in the middle of them.
Its no secret that Americans love their pepperoni pizza. We love it so much that The Washington Post reported in 2015 that Americans ate more than 250 million pounds of crust every year. It’s no surprise that people in this country love this meat so much—we made it (via Liguria Foods). It’s an American food that has earned a place in our hearts and kitchens, just like cornbread and Buffalo wings. Really, pepperoni isnt even an option, its an expectation. Pepperoni lovers from coast to coast just expect to see their favorite cheese on the menu when they go to a pizzeria.
Thankfully, you dont have to look that hard for a great pepperoni pizza. Papa Johns is a controversial pizza chain that has been delivering good food to our homes and restaurants for a long time. Its pepperoni pizza has won over a lot of fans. Even though Papa Johns pepperoni pizza is a well-known brand, there are some interesting things going on just below the crust of this southern favorite.
Papa John’s is one of the most popular pizza chains in America known for its delicious pizzas topped with high-quality ingredients. One of their signature toppings is pepperoni – thinly sliced circles of spicy, cured meat that provides a hearty, savory flavor to pizza. But if you’ve ever eaten a slice of Papa John’s pepperoni pizza you may have wondered – is their pepperoni made from beef or pork?
As meat lovers here at VeryMeaty, we decided to get to the bottom of this mystery and uncover the truth about Papa John’s famous pepperoni. After thorough research and reaching out to experts, we have the definitive answer.
Papa John’s Uses 100% Beef Pepperoni
We are happy to report that Papa John’s uses 100% beef in their pepperoni topping. Unlike other pizza chains that use a pork and beef blend, or straight pork, Papa John’s sticks to high-quality beef.
This was confirmed through multiple sources, including customer service representatives from Papa John’s itself. It is also backed up by ingredient lists on their website and from reading numerous forums and food sites discussing Papa Johns’ pepperoni.
So for customers avoiding pork for dietary or religious reasons, you can eat Papa John’s pepperoni pizza without worry. It contains no pork whatsoever.
Why Use Beef Over Pork for Pepperoni?
With many pizza places opting for pork, why does Papa John’s specifically use beef in their pepperoni? There are a few potential reasons:
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Flavor – Many people perceive beef as having a heartier, more savory and “beefy” flavor than pork. Papa John’s may prefer this flavor profile.
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Texture – Beef pepperoni can have a pleasantly chewy texture, while pork pepperoni is sometimes criticized as being too soft.
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Halal/Kosher – By using beef, Papa John’s pepperoni can appeal to those looking for Halal or Kosher options.
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Cost – Interestingly, beef is sometimes cheaper than pork, allowing Papa John’s to save on ingredients.
Regardless of the exact motivation, Papa John’s commitment to all-beef pepperoni ensures a tasty topping on all its pizzas.
How Pepperoni is Made
Before becoming those little discs of pizza goodness, pepperoni undergoes a complex process. Here is a quick look at how pepperoni is made:
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Beef and pork trimmings are minced together and mixed with salt and seasonings like paprika, garlic, black pepper, and more.
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The meat mixture is stuffed into casings to form long sticks or logs.
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Logs are then fermented and air dried for 4-6 weeks to cure the meat.
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Once fully cured, the pepperoni logs are sliced into rounds and packaged.
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At pizzerias like Papa John’s, the pre-sliced pepperoni is then placed on pizzas and cooked to perfection.
So while it may look simple, that pepperoni you enjoy on pizza requires multiple steps to craft just right.
Taste Testing Papa John’s Beef Pepperoni
To get the full pepperoni experience, we ordered some Papa John’s pizzas for an in-house taste test. We tried pepperoni by itself and on various pizzas to get the full range of flavors.
Here is what we discovered during our thorough tasting session:
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Smoky and salty – Initial flavors are a light smokyness from curing, blended with salt and spices.
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Subtle heat – While not spicy hot, you get a bit of heat from the natural black pepper and chili pepper flakes used.
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Chewy texture – The sliced pepperoni has a nice chew and density, while also being easy to bite through.
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Works on any pizza – We tried on cheese, veggie and meat pizzas, and the beef pepperoni enhanced every pie without overpowering.
Our taste test confirmed that Papa John’s pepperoni, while simple in appearance, delivers serious flavor and satisfies even the most discerning meat lovers.
Pepperoni Lovers Rejoice in the Beef
For all of us pepperoni devotees, it is nice to know Papa John’s doesn’t cut any corners when it comes to their legendary pepperoni. Using 100% natural beef, their pepperoni packs some major meaty flavor in each bite.
The pizza maker celebrates National Pepperoni Pizza Day
The publics adoration of pepperoni pizza isnt lost on the national chain. After all, September 20th marks the somewhat obscure, yet fun, National Pepperoni Pizza Day. National Today describes the day, of course, as a celebration of the already beloved pizza topping. As the site says, there’s good reason to celebrate a topping that was made in the United States and now lives on in American food.
Its understandable, of course, that pizza chains would hop on the opportunity to celebrate the beloved topping. In 2022, Papa Johns offered two special deals to celebrate the holiday, as outlined by Mass Live. For one, the chain sold large pepperoni pizzas at a modest discount. More adventurously, and hedonistically, the chain also sold a pepperoni stuffed-crust pizza. Of course, the chain probably didnt need to convince anyone they needed to buy more pepperoni: As well see, people are already eating quite a lot of the stuff.
Papa John’s capitalized on Simone Biles’s love of pepperoni pizza
The pepperoni pizza chain really went for the gold with one pizza lover. Pepperoni pizza has fans across the board, and sometimes on the mat too. In 2016, acclaimed gymnast Simone Biles said that after every gymnastics meet, she liked to treat herself, regardless of the outcome, to celebrate the work she had done. Her preferred treat might not be what you would expect from an Olympic athlete. As per ABC News, in 2016 at least, the Olympians favorite way to treat herself was with pizza — pepperoni, of course.
Now, in case youre rolling your eyes thinking this is a pure marketing gimmick to make Biles seem relatable, the gymnast was telling the truth. Per First We Feast, theres a long-recorded social media trail of the Olympian and her teammates chowing down on slices of pepperoni pizza. So big, and evident, was Biless love for pizza, that Slate theorized which brand would score an endorsement from her, saying Papa Johns was the leading contender. While the pizza chain never was able to get support from the gymnast, it was quick to offer 50% off pizza deals on to Biles fans on Twitter when the gymnast had to miss prom for practice meets.
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Does Papa John’s pepperoni have pork?
The answer is simple: Papa John’s pepperoni is made with 100% real beef. That’s right, no pork in sight. In the United States, pepperoni can be made with a combination of beef and pork or pork only. However, Papa John’s has chosen to use only beef in their pepperoni.
Does Papa John’s use beef in pepperoni?
In the United States, pepperoni can be made with a combination of beef and pork or pork only. However, Papa John’s has chosen to use only beef in their pepperoni. This decision may be due to dietary restrictions or simply a preference for the taste of beef.
Is pepperoni made from pork?
No, pepperoni is not made exclusively from pork. While some manufacturers may use only pork in their recipe, it is more common for pepperoni to be made from a combination of beef and pork. This is because the combination of both meats helps to give pepperoni its distinctive flavor and texture. Is pepperoni beef?
Is pepperoni a sausage?
Pepperoni in the United States is a raw sausage made of beef and pork or pork only. Products made of 100% beef must be called beef pepperoni. What is pepperoni called in italy? Which pizza hut flavor is the best? What pizza is the hottest?