Seriously. Pow. Right to the taste buds.
Two of the things you mentioned were easy to pack snacks for the road and more, savory foods.
Your weesh is my commando.
In fact, I can work with you on this recipe, even if you’re vegetarian, vegan, have food allergies, or all the above. Watching calories and fat? No worries, especially since dehydrators and low-fat are pals.
Look at how colorful and filled with nutrients this is.
When I asked everyone what you’d like to see more of,
Yesterday when I was in the fridge (not literally in the fridge. I mean come on), I saw a ton of peppers in need of use used, along with an onion that was sprouting as if from neglect (okay, I neglected it). I thought to myself, “Self, what would happen if you threw an entire pizza in a dehydrator. ”
OK. Stop. This is me you’re talking to over here. I think this stuff.
What sounds like the beginning of a ridiculous joke ending in a potentially really bad punchline became a crispy, crunchy, chewy, delicious, whole snack.
The fresh basil leaves add a real, pesto sensation.
- You can double and triple this recipe. It depends on the amount of dehydrator trays you have.
- Be sure to use less fatty meat. Fat in a dehydrator makes a huge mess, and when you’re on the go, you don’t need it dripping everywhere. For this tantalizing take-along treat, look for turkey or low-fat pepperoni.
- Other options: Black olives, spinach leaves, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, jalapeño slices, dried artichoke hearts, you name it!
- And because you don’t have to add the pepperoni, you can enjoy a low-carb, vegetarian/vegan (if you also nix the cheese) trail mix that isn’t going to send your blood sugar reeling as a result.
- Serving suggestions: Eat plain or sprinkle over plain yogurt, soups, salads, crumble and add to dips, spreads, or store in the refrigerator in a loosely sealed container to keep moisture out.
Crunchy Pizza Trail Mix
32 slices pepperoni (less fatty produces less mess, so go with turkey or reduced fat)
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded, sliced into thin strips and then cut in half
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded, sliced into thin strips and then cut in half
1/4 cup raw, sweet onion, sliced to 1’/8″ thick
12 green olives, sliced
4 cherry tomatoes, quartered, seeds removed
1/2 cup shredded medium cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (optional, see below in nutritional information)
Place ingredients on dehydrator trays. (Because of the cheese, it’s preferable to use an herb drying mat that won’t let smaller particles fall through.) Dry for 6-8 hours at 135 degrees, rotating the trays every 60-90 minutes. Remove ingredients as they become crispy (I like my peppers a little chewy, so I pulled those off after 6 hours, along with everything else).
Red bell peppers and quartered, seeded tomatoes
Fresh basil leaves and sweet, mature, yellow onion
Some red, yellow and green bell pepper (you can use any kind you have)
Various bell peppers and sliced (giant) green olives
Pepperoni slices and a few strips of chives (the chives crumble up nicely once dried)
This tray in homage to Wisconsin. Medium cheddar and Parmesan
Look at all of this color and flavor
Makes about 4, 1/2 cup servings.
Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 211.5, Carbohydrates: 5 g, Fiber: 1.5 g, Net Carbohydrates: 3.5 g, Protein: 11.5 g, Fat: 16.5 g
Per serving if you skip the pepperoni but add pumpkin seeds: Calories: 281.5, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Fiber: 2.5 g, Net Carbohydrates: 5.5 g, Protein: 16.5 g, Fat: 21 g
Per serving, Vegan, if you skip pepperoni and cheese but add pumpkin seeds: Calories: 171.5, Carbohydrates: 7.5 g, Fiber: 2.5 g, Net Carbohydrates: 5 g, Protein: 8 g, Fat: 12.5 g
Makes me wish I had a dehydrator. Pizza, mmmm.
They’re on craigslist all of the time for so cheap! Check it out. I love my dehydrator. Sometimes you can use the oven, too–especially if you can get the oven temperature low enough and can prop the door open safely with a rolled up towel.
Thanks, Jamie!
Hi Jamie. Thanks for all of your dedication to all of us trying to eat healthier. I do not have a dehydrator. Is there anyway to do this in the oven? Have a blessed day….
Hi, Dar! It is so funny you asked! I just was telling Mary about different things you can do. If your oven temp goes low enough (135ish), you can use an oven with the door carefully propped open with a rolled up towel. Here is a (pretty darned) super-cheap option, too: https://www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/dehydratorstryder.htm
Hi again. Thanks for the info about making my own dehydrator….Great to think about; however, I am 77 yrs old and can barely screw in a light bulb!! heehee (Not the least bit mechanically inclined these days). I will try the oven way and if that is not successful will try to buy a dehydrator, maybe a used one? Thanks again for all of your help….
How many servings are in this recipe? I could’t find that info. Is 1 serving the entire recipe?? Thanks
Hi! I want to say it’s about 4 servings. I put that information way down at the bottom near the nutritional information. I should probably keep it towards the top.
Now I miss my dehydrator. Is there a way to dry things in the oven
You can use your oven if your oven goes that low. If you have a gas oven, the pilot light can keep it fairly decently warm even if the oven is off.
What? No bacon? I am shocked, flabbergasted even!
Please provide info regarding your dehydrator… I have never seen one or used one!
Thanks,
Regards,
Glad
This is my dehydrator (3rd appliance down). I love it! https://yourlighterside.com/kitchen-must-haves/
They can be found on craigslist, too. A lot of people buy them and then sell theirs.
Hi. This looks good. However, I’ve never heard of an herb drying mat. Is this something that is made for dehydrators? I tried to find one online but without success. Thanks for posting.
Hi, Wendy! This is mine (I’m not an affiliate or anything–it’s just a link: https://www.nesco.com/products/Dehydrators/Clean-a-Screens/Small-Round-Mesh-Clean-A-Screens-Set-of-2/session_c616b02f5c7c/ )
They’re plastic, fine mesh and they allow you to dry smaller things that might fall through the cracks of the regular drying trays.
Wonderful. Thank you very much. I’ve looked at dehydrators before but have never bought one. May look into the second hand items link you posted. 🙂
Did the pepperoni stay “greasy” or did it dry out completely?
The pepperoni came out really nice, crispy, and dry–albeit slightly greasy–BUT that was because I used regular pepperoni like a dummy, without even realizing that experience has always shown me that the less fatty the meat, the better the dehydration. I think lower-fat or turkey pepperoni would net even better results.
Looks yummy! am lacking a dehydrator as well. If I try the oven, would I spread the ingredients on a cookie sheet, turn oven on as low as possible, keep door open, and use
approximately the same amount of time?
Lee Ann– If your oven can go as low as 135 degrees, for sure! If your oven can’t hit that low a number, I’d either use the lowest temp yours can go and check far more frequently for finished foods, or make your own food dehydrator box. Some sites even say you can dry using a microwave oven.
Thought about buying a dehydrator but needing to rotate the trays every 90 minutes is an issue for me unless I bring it to the office. 🙂 Looks yummy thought.
Good point! You might be able to get away with rotating less often, but I’m a control freak, so I want to touch the stuff all the time.
I only rotated 3 times in 7 hours but since I didn’t really know what I was doing, didn’t do much. For as little as I did, I think I could’ve gotten by without rotating at all. 😉
I am a rotator. Does that count as exercise?
Wonderful! I am going to blog about this – all credit to you, where credit is well due!! Thanks Candace 🙂
Hi, Shelley! I would like the recipe to stay on my site with a link on your site, but absolutely! I would be honored. All of my kids are on the autism spectrum.
Thanks – I really appreciate you!
Is this ok? https://shelleybelcourt.com/dried-pizza-trail-mix/
Ermagerd! I love you! Thanks so much. You are positively a sweetheart. I love your signature, too. That is super cute.
Just purchased a dehydrator on Amazon for $30 and change and free shipping. Can’t wait to try this!!!
I love my dehydrator! It paid for itself in its first use with this jerky: https://yourlighterside.com/beef-jerky-recipes-2/
Oh My Goodness Gracious!!! This stuff is amazing!!!! I don’t really care for olives so I didn’t use them. I used grape tomatoes, cut in half, instead of cherry tomatoes. I didn’t have basil or chives but will sprinkle with a little basil or oregano from my spice rack.
The only problem I had was not know if I should make a pile out of my cheese or spread it thin, because I’m a dehydrator novice. 😉 So I piled it, but that, apparently was the wrong thing to do because I have melted piles of cheese. I’ve broken them up into smaller clumps and mixed in. Again, amazing stuff!!!
(I wonder if mushrooms would be good added. And how about some sausage or turkey ham?)
Thank you for this incredible recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed this! I know it is really addicting. Everything is so crunchy, chewy and wonderful. It was like savory granola!
How do you store it? I stored, what little I had left after sampling it, in a ziplock baggie and it softened. I’m guessing a jar? with lid off for a bit?
Hi there! I store in a Ziploc bag left slightly open for air circulation.
I made another batch today adding mushrooms, turkey ham, and mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar. I really liked the mushrooms, the ham was ok, but the mozzarella is bland. I’ll use cheddar in future batches.
That is great to know! I really like the zippy flavors, too, so I love even crumbled Feta cheese as an option.
Jamie, this looks fantastic!!! I just gave my food dehydrator to my sister a couple of years ago. Now I have to see if I can get a new one!
Question: My best friend is a vegan, so do you think a fake sausage (soy) would do alright in a dehydrator? Or is there something else you can recommend that would be a good substitute for the pepperoni?
Hi, there! I know right? I have so many ideas for mixes now since the pizza one…
What is the sausage made of? I would think it would be fine! In place of the pepperoni, how about carrots? They should crisp up nicely and would be about the same shape as the pepperoni. Or I’d try vegan pepperoni if it exists!
Oh carrots cut in medallions, of course! Thank you! Have you ever tried zucchini in the dehydrator?
Ha ha! I am going to do that in the morning! I will let you know.
Oh thank you! I can’t wait to hear how they do :). Jicama was also something else I was going to ask about. To put on your “future” list. LOL
I am so making this when I get off of work! By the time I have to get u for work, I’ll just scoop everything right on top of a salad! Crumbling everything and adding it to sour cream for a dip with the Daikon fries or kale chips also sounds a good way to go! Jamie – you are truly one of the magnificent people! Thank you for taking the time to tinker with and post everything that you do! <3
Intrigued! I bet the pepperoni chips are especially good!