Good Backpacking Dinners

[Brad Gaddis]

One of my favorites dinners is:
Spam in the single foil pack
Minute rice
Molly McButter
freeze dried corn
Wrap it up in Tortillas.

Or:
Instant potatoes
chicken in a foil pack
freeze dried corn
Molly McButter
Mix it all together.

 

[balzaccom]

I hear you Andy---but we don't like carrying the extra fuel for cooking every pot an extra ten minutes, either.

Still no perfect solution...

 

[Brad Gaddis]

Have you tried this website yet? http://www.trailcooking.com/

 

[slc_dan]

I've been using Rice Sides, and add a few things. Package of Tuna or Salmon, some fresh cheese goes a long way.

 

[uintahiker]

If you've got a meal idea- add it to the menu resources area! Some variation of this thread pops up frequently enough that if you all took the time and added a meal or two to the resource section, there'd be a nice little library of ideas up there in no time!

 

[Ben]

hang on.

 

[Nick]

Thanks for posting those, @ben cowan!

 

[Chuck the Mauler]

I'm a big fan of http://www.packitgourmet.com/ I have always liked the trail side burrito, the all american burger, Texas state fair chili and for desert or breakfast a trailside smoothie.

I take tortilla's to make wraps for lunch and also take cheese sticks for the first couple of days.

 

[slc_dan]

I'm a big fan of http://www.packitgourmet.com/ I have always liked the trail side burrito, the all american burger, Texas state fair chili and for desert or breakfast a trailside smoothie.

I take tortilla's to make wraps for lunch and also take cheese sticks for the first couple of days.

That website has a bunch of stuff I wish I could find in stores. That is going to greatly add to my food this year. I love all of the freeze dried veggies, stocks, and cheese!

 

[andyjaggy]

I hear you Andy---but we don't like carrying the extra fuel for cooking every pot an extra ten minutes, either.

Still no perfect solution...

For sure, that seems to be why most people avoid those meals. I'm not a lightweight packer though, and if it's only a night or two one canister is still more than enough, so it doesn't really add any weight for me.

Agreed, no perfect solution. You either sacrifice cost, weight, or convenience. Pick your poison I guess.

 

[Hurakan]

I make a small fire and boil water and cook with it if im in an area that allows it. Aluminum foil baked fish, frozen burritos if it's a short trip always are a fave. I'm starting to hate freeze dried foods. Unless it's a long trip I'm willing to add a few pounds spread around the party.

 

[Mike K]

I'm a big fan of http://www.packitgourmet.com/ I have always liked the trail side burrito, the all american burger, Texas state fair chili and for desert or breakfast a trailside smoothie.

I take tortilla's to make wraps for lunch and also take cheese sticks for the first couple of days.

I just ordered some stuff on packitgourmet per your suggestion. Looks like I picked some of your favs. Burrito, Chili, and a cheesecake dessert. I'm excited to try something new.

 

[gnwatts]

I try to keep things simple and easy, mainly because I am lazy, and usually exhausted at the end of the day, and the last thing I want to do is cook. I like the MaryJanes Organic, any of their products are great. I usually have a hunk of cheese, some good bread, salami (keeps well) for lunch.
Breakfast is granola, maybe some yogurt on my first morning.

 

[andyjaggy]

I tried some backcountry pantry the last few times I have been out. Awful. Even the best one didn't compare to the worst Mountain House I've had. I got the Mountain House pack from Costco and it's a pretty good deal, 13 packs for 45 bucks I think, I can't beat that, even making my own stuff.

 

[Mike K]

Wow...that's dirt cheap! I had to mix it up for once though. Getting a little burned out on Mountain House. I'll report back on the packitgourmet stuff. Definitely a little pricier.

 

[Opi]

This year I discovered spam in foil pouches. I bring along a piece of foil, wrap real good, put a good flat rock in the middle of your fire and when hot place foiled spam on rock or in coals. Cook until a little crispy add some cheese, cook a bit longer. Put it between a flat bagel top with mustard and mayo packets. Seriously... it's to die for when your backpacking. I wouldn't touch the stuff at home.

 

[regehr]

Love all the ideas! But I almost always just go Mountain House just because it requires no prep and it's foolproof when the weather is crappy or I'm really tired. Car camping is a whole different deal, we almost always have fajitas and stuff like that.

 

[jentzschman]

I found this resource to be very helpful. I plan on building my meals based off this guide: http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/16547/ultralight-backpacking-meal-plan/

I think it seems like a lot of food, but high caloric intake is important from what I gather, so a hearty breakfast, multiple snacks, and good dinners help replenish calories last during 10-15 mile starches.

 

[DrNed]

I tried some backcountry pantry the last few times I have been out. Awful. Even the best one didn't compare to the worst Mountain House I've had. I got the Mountain House pack from Costco and it's a pretty good deal, 13 packs for 45 bucks I think, I can't beat that, even making my own stuff.

If you're going to do Mountain Houses (that's what I do) you'll get the best deal by buying the #10 cans. They come with 10 cups of dehydrated food. We do 2 cups in a freezer bag, which means we get 5 meals out of one can. When on sale they'll go for as low as 14.99. The more pricey ones are as much as $33. I haven't been able to beat this method for cost. If you're just feeding yourself cost may not be your #1 priority so ignore this. When I go I'm usually outfitting a gaggle of teenagers as well.

 

[andyjaggy]

I found this resource to be very helpful. I plan on building my meals based off this guide: http://blackwoodspress.com/blog/16547/ultralight-backpacking-meal-plan/

I think it seems like a lot of food, but high caloric intake is important from what I gather, so a hearty breakfast, multiple snacks, and good dinners help replenish calories last during 10-15 mile starches.

Way to much food for me, but I'm not consistently putting down 15 mile days either.