Crazy easy backpacking meal recipes!

meals

Crazy easy backpacking meal recipes!

“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”

— W.C. Fields

I have carried eggs on a backpacking trip.  Yes, real eggs.  In a plastic container.  They were delicious, especially when they were scrambled with fresh bell peppers for breakfast.  Sadly, as my interests have changed (i.e. not carrying a 70lb pack), so have my backpacking cooking habits.  While a lot of people like to go “all out” with their backpacking meals – I’ve taken the route of completely simplifying my cooking – namely, I put my meals into a quart sized freezer bag, and I add water.  That’s it.  I rehydrate my meals in a small cozy, eat them with a long-handled spoon, slurp out any remaining liquid, and I’m done.  The freezer bag goes in my trash bag, I drink a cup of  tea, I eat a peanut butter cup for dessert, and it’s time for bed.

The second to last step in the dinner making process - drinking tea.  

The second to last step in the dinner making process – drinking tea.

When I started backpacking, like everybody else, I went through a phase of purchasing pre-freeze dried meals (i.e. Mountain House).  On my very first backpacking trip ever, I ate an entire Mountain House Lasagna – nearly 2 decades later, I think that my body is still purging the sodium that I consumed on that trip.

I’m happy to say that there is an easier, lighter and MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE way to prepare your backpacking food.  I’ve been making my own freezer bag meals for a few years now, and not only do they take mere minutes to prepare – but they taste delicious and they won’t break the bank.  For today’s post, I’m going to share two of my easiest options.  I’m working on a short e-book right now that will hopefully have some more “complicated” recipes in it, but let’s start small.

Feel free to save these images to your phone as a “shopping list” so that you can make your own meals!

For those trips when you don’t have the time to assemble a meal in a freezer bag, there are two brand that I HIGHLY recommend: Packit Gourmet and Good to Go.  Both of these companies are located here in the USA, and they make absolutely delicious and healthy in-the-bag cooking options.  My favorite product from Packit Gourmet is the Austintacious Tortilla Soup, and my favorite product from Good to Go is their Thai Curry (I usually add freeze dried chicken bits to mine).

One note about the Packit Gourmet meals – if you do purchase them, PLEASE promise me that you will unpack then prior to your trip to remove all of the excess packaging.  I typically take out the “soup” and fixings and dump them into the main bag.  Then, I remove the instruction card, and write the instructions on the bag with a sharpie.  There is no reason to carry around extra bags if you don’t need to do so.  The only thing I will leave intact is any liquid items – those get dumped in when it is actually time to eat.

Good to Go Meals - they now have a few additional flavors, including an Indian Korma, a Phad Thai and an Oatmeal.

Good to Go Meals – they now have a few additional flavors, including an Indian Korma, a Phad Thai and an Oatmeal.

Packit Gourmet.  For the love of pete, do not pack these with the instructions - remove them and write the instructions on the outside of the bag.

Packit Gourmet.  For the love of pete, do not pack these with the instructions – remove them and write the instructions on the outside of the bag.

 

Do you have a favorite backpacking meal?  A favorite product?  Comment below and share – I am always looking for new ideas to try!

2 Comments
  • El Mateo
    Posted at 02:43h, 02 March Reply

    Twinkies for the ultimate high route dessert. Hey it’s well earned after multiple passes and a 3000 calorie loss day yes?

    • Anastasia Allison
      Posted at 05:55h, 02 March Reply

      A Twinkie is a totally acceptable form of fuel in any situation ???? also, peanut butter cups and chocolate bars are equally encouraged!

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