What is the name for the spicy Italian sausage often used in pizza?

The correct answer, pepperoni, is a type of spicy Italian sausage that is particularly popular as a topping on pizzas in the United States. Its defining characteristics include being made from a mix of pork and beef, seasoned with a variety of spices, including paprika, which gives it a distinctive red color and spicy flavor profile. Pepperoni is known for its ability to crisp up at the edges when cooked, creating an appealing texture and taste contrast on pizzas.

Other options represent different types of cured or cooked meats that may have different flavor profiles or uses. Salami, for example, is a general term for various types of cured sausage that can be made from different meats and typically have a more complex flavor with a variety of seasonings but lacks the same spicy kick associated with pepperoni. Chorizo, while also a spiced sausage, is typically made from pork and has a Spanish or Mexican origin with a different flavor and ingredient profile, often featuring garlic and smoked paprika. Soprassata is an Italian dry salami that does not have the spiciness or specific flavoring of pepperoni, making it less common as a pizza topping.