Pepperoni is a totally underappreciated food! Are you still thinking about what to do with pepperoni? Everybody knows it's great atop a big cheesy, classic slice of pizza. And when you taste a slice, it immediately brings to mind your favorite childhood meal. But there's so much more to make with pepperoni than that! From gooey sandwiches to bite-sized appetizers to savory waffles, the spicy sliced sausage really is a versatile star.

Even the fancier stuff is usually a lot cheaper than its cured cousin, salami, though you can use them interchangeably if you want to mix around your flavors a bit. Here are some excellent things to do with pepperoni and uses for pepperoni, everything from pizza-inspired treats to slightly more unexpected delights (Try all 7 recipes with pepperoni):

1. Cheesy Pepperoni Bites

 This is sort of like a thick, dense pepperoni bread, and it's just amazing. The batter will come together in just a few minutes if you chop your leftover pepperoni and cheese the day before. You can totally sneak some spinach, mushrooms or cooked zucchini in there too!

2. Pepperoni Pops ​

3. Roasted Red Pepper, Pepper Jack and Pepperoni Sandwiches

 I don't know why nobody called this thing a Triple Pepper sandwich, but please let's make this catch on. The melty Triple P is so easy when you bake it in the oven, although you can absolutely use a panini press if you have one.

4. Pepperoni Pizza Waffles

 Are you one of those people who just loves savory breakfasts? If so, you can't do much better than this super easy pizza waffle. It's delicious, and you can top it with anything you want -- parmesan cheese, marinara sauce and a fried egg, maybe?

5. Pepperoni Pizza Lasagna Roll Ups

Can't pick between your two faves, pepperoni pizza and lasagna? You don't have to! They are absolutely wonderful when combined into this cheesy casserole dish. This is so good that the kids probably won't even mind if you sneak a bunch of chopped spinach into the bottom.

6. Mini Cauliflower Pizzas

No gluten? No problem. If you're cutting down on calories, carbs or flour, this is a very sensible but super tasty, crispy way to get your pizza fix. Even if you could care less about calories, you'll still love these -- they are that good!

7. Pepperoni Roll Ups