When you want to enjoy hot meals while backpacking, you’ve got to get creative. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to complete the backpacking meal prep.
While you’re out on the trails, some of the best foods you can take along with you are freeze-dried items that only require you to add boiling water. Aside from taking some military-style MREs, which can become heavy when you have to take several along with you, freeze-dried meals can be the best choice for your backpacking adventures.
Here are some great choices for your backpacking meal prep to give you some simple and enjoyable foods to eat while on the trail.
Thai Chicken and Coconut Rice
The chicken part of this meal gives you the protein you need, and the rice helps fill you up. This recipe makes for a sweet and acidic meal that can hit the spot after a long day of hiking. The addition of peanuts helps give this meal the extra flavor that you want to enjoy during your time in the wilderness. The Thai Chicken and Coconut Rice could become a staple of your hiking adventures.
Southwestern Backpacker Burrito
When you want minimal spice but still want to enjoy some wonderful flavors, this could be the right choice for you. There is a little bit of assembly to this meal. Once you add the boiling water, you’ll have the filling that comes to life and should be added to the wraps that you’ve taken along for these burritos. This Southwestern Backpacker Burrito recipe can be the perfect feast for your trail meals, giving you the energy you need for a full day on the trails.
Penne Pasta “Lasagna”
Making lasagna on the trails is nearly impossible, but if you make this recipe during your backpacking meal prep time, you’ll have something that nobody else gets to enjoy while out in the wilderness. This Penne Pasta “Lasagna” recipe is a great choice, and all you have to do is add water to make it an excellent meal with the flavors that you want to experience during your time on the trails. If you are a vegetarian, you’ll be glad to enjoy the flavors included in this meal.
Persian Couscous
Another amazing vegetarian meal for the trails is this delicious Persian Couscous. Even if you’re not a vegetarian you might enjoy this dish. Of course, if you must have some meat in your meals, just add some chicken and have a great dinner. This amazing dish only requires boiling water to allow it to become a meal that anyone can enjoy. This is a fantastic choice when you want something tasty on the trails when you’re ready or a meal in the middle of your hiking day.
Peanut Noodle “Pad Thai”
Pad Thai is a favorite dish at many Thai restaurants, giving people an amazing meal. You can take this wonderful dish out on the trails after you handle the backpacking meal prep, which allows this dish to be heated to become an incredible dish with nothing but some water. The noodles used in this trail dish aren’t exactly the same as what you’ll find in a restaurant, but this Peanut Noodle “Pad Thai” can still be tasty and wonderful when you warm it up on the trails.
Teriyaki Chicken & Pineapple Rice
If you’re looking for something that will hit the spot, check out this Teriyaki Chicken & Pineapple Rice recipe. This meal has wonderful chunks of pineapple and soy-ginger sauce to give you the flavors you want to enjoy while camping or hiking in the wilderness. This meal is also lower in sodium than most prepackaged meals, making it much better while on the trails. You can customize this recipe to fit your desired flavors, giving you an excellent meal that you’ll want to take every time you go hiking.
Backpacker Breakfast Burrito
You’ve got to have something for breakfast, and the regular pop-tarts or granola bars might not do the trick every day. This Backpacker Breakfast Burrito can be made during your backpacking meal prep time before you head out on the trails for your hiking enjoyment. This will quickly become one of the staples of your camping and hiking excursions, where you’ll enjoy this meal out in the wilderness. You can make this recipe without the tortilla and have a breakfast burrito bowl instead.
These seven recipes could make your next backpacking adventure more enjoyable. Spend some time during your backpacking meal prep to get these meals together and ready to go out on the trails with you.
