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.
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.
- 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).
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
Mary Schenten says
Makes me wish I had a dehydrator. Pizza, mmmm.
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Mary Schenten says
Thanks, Jamie!
Dar Parnell says
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….
Jamie VanEaton says
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
Dar says
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….
belenda says
How many servings are in this recipe? I could’t find that info. Is 1 serving the entire recipe?? Thanks
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Linda Amann says
Now I miss my dehydrator. Is there a way to dry things in the oven
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Gladys says
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
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Wendy says
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.
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Wendy says
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. 🙂
Tina says
Did the pepperoni stay “greasy” or did it dry out completely?
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Lee Ann says
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?
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Bonnie says
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.
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Michele ºÜº says
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. 😉
Jamie VanEaton says
I am a rotator. Does that count as exercise?
Shelley Belcourt says
Wonderful! I am going to blog about this – all credit to you, where credit is well due!! Thanks Candace 🙂
Jamie VanEaton says
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.
Shelley Belcourt says
Thanks – I really appreciate you!
Is this ok? https://shelleybelcourt.com/dried-pizza-trail-mix/
Jamie VanEaton says
Ermagerd! I love you! Thanks so much. You are positively a sweetheart. I love your signature, too. That is super cute.
Lisa says
Just purchased a dehydrator on Amazon for $30 and change and free shipping. Can’t wait to try this!!!
Jamie VanEaton says
I love my dehydrator! It paid for itself in its first use with this jerky: https://yourlighterside.com/beef-jerky-recipes-2/
Michele ºÜº says
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!
Jamie VanEaton says
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!
Michele ºÜº says
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?
Jamie VanEaton says
Hi there! I store in a Ziploc bag left slightly open for air circulation.
Michele ºÜº says
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.
Jamie VanEaton says
That is great to know! I really like the zippy flavors, too, so I love even crumbled Feta cheese as an option.
Jannis Brown says
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?
Jamie VanEaton says
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!
Jannis Brown says
Oh carrots cut in medallions, of course! Thank you! Have you ever tried zucchini in the dehydrator?
Jamie VanEaton says
Ha ha! I am going to do that in the morning! I will let you know.
Jannis Brown says
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
Mellisa says
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
KalynsKitchen says
Intrigued! I bet the pepperoni chips are especially good!