Food makes one of the most crucial components of a backpacking trip. It provides energy to your body, boosts your stamina, and keeps you on the foot day after day. While backpacking is an exciting way of exploring the wilderness, carrying all your possession on your back can make preparing backpacking meals difficult.
Even the hungriest backpacker still has standards, as no one wants to choke down a mediocre dinner after having a tiring day on a trail. Backpackers concerned to avoid such situations will find numerous lightweight, freeze-dried, and dehydrated meals that promise both nutrition and flavor. But the question is, which ones are worth your money in reality? We have selected some great backpacking meals from various renowned brands available on the market today that will nourish and strengthen you while still being tasty.
Take a look!
Some Requirements of Backpacking Meals
Backpacking burns so much of your energy that mealtime becomes an obsession. Before we get into discussing some of the best backpacking meals, here are some food requirements that should be considered when picking food products for your hiking trip:
- Take what you refer to eat: Do not try to change your taste buds into some new kinds of food choices deep in the backcountry. You can always take comfort food that you prefer to eat, and more importantly, will look forward to eating after a tiring, long hike.
- Lightweight: Your backpacking meal should ideally contain little or no water i.e. dehydrated. Water is the main contributor to food weight, and packaging is the next. Prioritize buying dry food. You can repackage it if you feel the bagging and cardboard boxes are excessive. It can all add up to a heavy backpack that can result in a miserable trip.
- Ready to eat: You’ll be hiking during the daytime and will definitely don’t want to set up a stove for cooking, let alone having dishes to wash. Always ensure that your backpacking meals are very simple so you can easily keep moving.
- Nutritious: Hikers are usually known to burn approximately 6000 calories a day. Basically, you are required to consume plenty of macronutrients to balance out the hefty burn rate. High levels of carbs, protein, fats, calories, electrolytes, and fiber are a must.
- Shelf-Stable: While shelf life means how long a food item can stay edible, it also refers to the time the food product can remain flavorful and nutritious. Some freeze-dried foods have the ability to last nearly 30 years when stored in cool, dry areas, while other kinds of dried meat like beef jerky can last good for more than a year, whether they are in cold, hot, muggy, or any form of weather. This renders food items such as dried meats, veggies, fruits, and packaged chicken, tuna (not canned) good, nutrient-dense, and long-lasting choices for backpacking meals. These options can easily adjust from hot to cold temperatures without spoiling and can last for months or longer, without any worry of going bad.
- Packable: There is already less space in a hiker’s backpack, and when it comes to packing any food items, it is vital to ensure those food counts. By this, we mean nutrient-dense, compact choices that can keep you full for longer without occupying much space. Snacks such as nuts, beef jerky, flatbreads, nut butter packs, and trail mix are not much bulky and feature more bang for the buck as compared to ‘poofy’ choices like popcorn, bread, or packaged products preserved with nitrogen such as bags of chips.
Backpacking Breakfast Meal Ideas
A nice day on a trail begins with a hearty, solid breakfast. If you wish to get through your morning with full zeal, getting some calories in your tank is surely a great idea. Luckily, there is a bevy of options than just a regular instant oats bowl. Here are some exciting backpacking breakfast ideas to check:
Mountain House Biscuits & Gravy
For the dietarily unrestricted and calorie indulgent, this biscuits and gravy pouch by Mountain House is one of the most preferred backpacking meals to whet your appetite. Just add some hot water to this pouch, and it is ready to eat in less than ten minutes, with no need for clean-up. This fluffy buttermilk biscuits with creamy sausage gravy pouch contain two servings. Portable, lightweight, and absolutely delicious with every bite. What more do you want!
Wild Zora Instant Grain Free Hot Cereal
A hearty breakfast choice that is mindful of diet and a healthier substitute to traditionally refined grains in oats and cereals is this meal from Wild Zora. Ingredients are all-natural and organic, containing no difficult to pronounce, weird chemicals. Just add milk or hot water and enjoy it as a delicious backpacking meal. The instant grain free cereal by Wild Zora is available in five natural sweet flavors like Apple Pie, Banana Bread, Blueberry Muffin, Tropical Tart, and Carrot Cake.
Mountain House Spicy Southwest Style Skillet
This Spicy Southwest Style Skillet by Mountain House is a great breakfast option for your backpacking food stash. It can keep you full wherever you are. This spicy southwest hash is a delectable combination of hash browns, black beans, shredded beef, corn, green chili peppers, onions, red peppers, and eggs. Simply add hot water, and you can enjoy a hot breakfast straight from the pouch.
PROBAR- Meal Bar 12 Flavor Variety Pack
If you prefer non-cook breakfasts, then these meal bars by PROBAR are an excellent grab-and-go pick for anyone wanting to streamline their morning schedule during backpacking. It also provides healthy energy to those who do not wake up hungry and like to wait for a while before eating. This nutrient-dense, clever mix of natural ingredients by PROBAR comes in 12 different flavors, a perfect variety that most backpackers like for backpacking breakfasts.
Backpacking Lunch, Dinner, and Snack Ideas
The main goal of a backpacker should be to consume a persistent stream of calories in the whole day. This slow-drip delivers a stable and consistent fuel source to your body that prevents the blood sugar from falling. So we like to consider hiking as one moveable, long feast. It involves lots of small snacks here and there, a bigger snack like lunch in between the day, more snacking in the afternoon, and lastly dinner at the end. The idea is not to burn out consuming the same thing again and again.
Patagonia Provisions Black Bean Soup
If you think Patagonia only makes pants and puffies, then be ready to get surprised. Patagonia Provisions is recognized for creating a viable food chain while offering affordable choices for the trail-savvy. This pouch of black bean soup is no different at all. It is both tasty and hearty and one great pick for the backpacking food arsenal.
Mountain House Fetuccine Alfredo with Chicken
Perhaps, this is going to be one of the best meals for your dinner. Mountain House has served as the OG of backpacking meals for years. And this Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken is no exception in taste, nutrition, and freshness. It rehydrates well, contains two servings, and is chock full of tender pasta tossed in chicken and parmesan. Our favorite part of this delicious meal? It’s the need for hot water only, and you can enjoy a tasty meal in less than ten minutes.
StarKist Chicken Creations, Chicken Salad
For all those who are looking for some no-cook backpacking meals, then this delicious Chicken Salad by StarKist Chicken Creation is a wholesome choice to satisfy your hunger. The pouch packs a delectable punch of fresh flavors of chicken, savory dill relish, red peppers, crisp celery, and seasoning. This salad recipe requires no can opening or draining you can eat simply straight from the pouch.
Backpacker’s Pantry Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
The Louisiana Red Beans and Rice by Backpacker’s Pantry is another favorite among backpackers. A terrific choice for vegans and as well as everyone else. Add some water and let it sit for some extra 5-10 minutes for the beans to rehydrate completely. And you get a hearty meal. With a reasonable price tag, this pack makes a good option, particularly for long-distance backpackers.
StarKist Chicken Creations BOLD Buffalo Style
This spicy deliciousness by StarKist makes one of the best backpacking meals when it comes to providing protein together with taste deep in the backcountry. While not being the best weight-efficient item, this pack performs an excellent job as a good protein source. StarKist Chicken Creations BOLD Buffalo Style packs 80 calories and requires no big hassle for eating. Just tear the pouch, eat and go! Basically, the ideal meal backpackers need during their hiking.
Nomad Nutrition Caribbean Curry
Nomad Nutrition offers a complete plant-based range of dehydrated backpacking meals. And this healthy and nutritious Caribbean Curry is a pile of flavorful root vegetables like yams, potatoes, and butternut squash, along with the island heat of cayenne pepper and fresh ginger. Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, or simply looking to lower your meat consumption while on the trail, this pack can be your go-to option after a hectic day on the mountain.
EPIC Bars –Variety Pack (Chicken, Beef, Venison)
Jerky and meat bars can be somewhat low on calories but high on protein, which makes them crucial for muscle repair. And let’s not forget to say, they are a great snack as well. We recommend the EPIC Bars by Epic Provisions for long, multi-day hiking. This protein-filled snack that comes in three different protein flavors (chicken, beef, venison) is good to enjoy on the go and at the end of the day to give you an extra energy boost and help in body repair.
Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter Squeeze Packs
Whether straight from the packet or on fruit, toast, or tortilla, nut butter is an excellent addition to trail snacks or lunches. Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter Squeeze Packs offer convenient and quick nutrition while on the go. Made from one-of-a-kind grinding techniques, this vanilla almond butter by Justin’s is a perfect snacking choice to fuel your adventures.
Barnana Organic Chewy Banana Bites, Coconut Banana Flavor
We all have had dehydrated banana chips before, but these aren’t those. Chewy and soft like a marshmallow, these Organic Chewy Bites by Barnana are a great paleo-friendly snack for hiking or traveling. Simply enjoy these on their own or add them to your breakfast oatmeal.
Kar’s Nuts Cranberry Almond Deligth Trail Mix Snacks
Packing a variety of trail mix is a good way of having some energy boosts on hand to eat during hiking. Our favorite is the Kar’s Nuts Cranberry Almond Delight Trail Mix Snacks that makes an excellent meal substitute on the go. The pack contains a delicious blend of lightly salted and gently roasted peanuts and almonds mixed with cranberries.
