Italian Sausage vs Pepperoni: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Italian sausage, 149 calories, has lower calories than pepperoni, 504 calories. Pepperoni has more protein, 19.3 g, compared to Italian sausage, 16.1 g.

Italian sausage and pepperoni are popular meats often used in various dishes. This comparison highlights their nutritional differences, focusing on calories, protein, and fat content.

What Is the Difference Between Italian Sausage and Pepperoni?

Italian sausage is a seasoned pork sausage that is often used in pasta dishes, sandwiches, and pizzas. It typically contains a blend of spices and herbs. Pepperoni is a type of salami made from cured pork and beef, seasoned with paprika and other spices. It is commonly used as a pizza topping.

Italian Sausage vs Pepperoni: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional content of Italian sausage and pepperoni.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Italian sausage	Pepperoni
Calories	149 kcal	504 kcal
Protein	16.1 g	19.3 g
Carbs	2.1 g	1.2 g
Sugar	0 g	0 g
Fat	8.4 g	46.3 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	570 mg	1582 mg

Which Is Better, Italian Sausage or Pepperoni?

For weight loss: Italian sausage is lower in calories, providing 149 calories compared to pepperoni's 504 calories.

For muscle and protein: Pepperoni contains more protein, with 19.3 g, while Italian sausage has 16.1 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Both meats are low in carbohydrates, with Italian sausage at 2.1 g and pepperoni at 1.2 g. Both contain no sugar.

How to Track Italian sausage and Pepperoni Accurately

Portion sizes and macros can be easy to misjudge, impacting dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Pepperoni has more protein at 19.3 g compared to Italian sausage, which has 16.1 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Italian sausage has fewer calories, providing 149 calories, while pepperoni has 504 calories.

What is the fat content of Italian sausage?

Italian sausage contains 8.4 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in pepperoni?

Pepperoni has a sodium content of 1582 mg per 100 g.

How many carbs are in Italian sausage?

Italian sausage contains 2.1 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

Does either meat contain sugar?

Neither Italian sausage nor pepperoni contains sugar, both have 0 g.

Key Takeaways

• Italian sausage has 149 calories per 100 g.
• Pepperoni has 504 calories per 100 g.
• Italian sausage contains 16.1 g of protein.
• Pepperoni contains 19.3 g of protein.
• Italian sausage has 8.4 g of fat.
• Pepperoni has 46.3 g of fat.