/r/trailmeals

Photograph via snooOG

A community devoted to recipes you can cook while backpacking. A home for easy to make delicious meals in the wilderness.

Welcome Fellow Outdoor Enthusiasts!

Thanks for visiting Trail Meals, a community devoted to outdoor eats of all kinds. Post your favorite meal recipes, trail mix combinations, coffee methods...whatever!

We only politely ask that you distinguish your content by using flairs!

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Related Subreddits

  1. r/MountainMen

  2. r/Ultralight

  3. r/Outdoors

  4. r/MYOG (Make Your Own Gear)

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  8. r/Alpinism

  9. r/JoshuaTree

  10. r/GearTrade

  11. r/Foraging

  12. r/Shoestring

  13. r/Dehydrating

  14. r/WildernessBackpacking

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/r/trailmeals

246,462 Subscribers

80

Cheap and Light Pad-ish Thai

I know this can’t be new but hadn’t seen it. Wanted something Asian and lightweight and cheap. 1/4th a bag of thin vermicelli noodles Chicken Creations packet of choice Soy sauce Sriracha Two lime packets Smashed up peanuts and some peanut butter Some coconut oil Dashes of lemon pepper, salt, garlic and onion powder. Just boiled some water, poured it in the bag, put it in a cozy for 15 min with everything but the chicken. Then put in the chicken and let it sit another 5. Was DELISH!!!! Gonna look for some dehydrated green onions next time.

10 Comments
2024/12/01
06:01 UTC

6

Minute Rice cups?

Can I prepare Minute Rice cups by just adding hot water (e.g hot water I get from a gas station) and letting it sit for longer than the typical cooking time? I know it won't be gourmet but will it be much worse than the microwave method? Can hot water also work for Knorr rice cups that have added seasonings and ingredients? For example: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/knorr-rice-cups/s%3Fk%3Dknorr%2Brice%2Bcups&ved=2ahUKEwj509yCrYKKAxUDHNAFHTZWFk8QFnoECHwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2wHpBq0XKFlbFBYjJdJIQJ

15 Comments
2024/11/29
20:13 UTC

4

Freeze dried/quick cook rice options for curries and keema aloo

So I want to make meals that are different from the regular, and though it might be fun to make some curries or something like keema aloo and set them up so I can pour in hot water and like a packet of chicken for a trail meal.

I've found a few options, but it seems to be mostly brown rice, or a quantity that's way too much for what I want. So I wanted to tap into the group and see if anyone had a good recommendation for em.

Thank you!

9 Comments
2024/11/15
16:31 UTC

8

Shelf stable sliced cheese?

So I'm thinking about taking street taco tortillas and spam singles and making sandwiches, and wondered what I can use for cheese? I plan on using mustard packets because mustard goes with spam so well.

Also open to other tortilla sandwich ideas. Lazier the better!

20 Comments
2024/11/14
05:23 UTC

22

BrucePac Chicken Recall Update. Certain Peak Refuel and Readywise products containing freeze dried chicken have been recalled due to possible listeria contamination.

Freeze Dried Product Brands Affected:​

*American Reserves

*HarvestRight

*Nutristore

*Peak Refuel

*ReadyWise

*Thrive Life

*Valley Food Storage

The USDA list was last updated 10/29/24 and could be updated again. Freeze dried chicken products are listed in the first 60 pages. This is a large PDF file currently at 409 pages with many pictures, so you might have trouble viewing it.

Link:

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-10/Recall-028-2024-Labels.pdf

0 Comments
2024/11/11
05:41 UTC

12

Cool Mint Chocolate Clif bar alternative?

I eat a cool mint chocolate clif bar for breakfast everyday for the past 3 years. But I need to quit caffeine, so I am looking for an alternative that has no caffeine in it! Clif bars are just too much sugar to be eating anyways as well.

12 Comments
2024/11/01
12:38 UTC

12

Advice Needed: Dehydrating food vs. Mountain Time Costco meals

Hey guys, I’ve been backpacking for a couple years now and for all my longer trips I have stocked up on premade dehydrated meals, because Costco has a pretty good deal on them. With that being said as I get more into the world of backpacking it seems a lot of people are dehydrating food instead.

I’m embarking on the Colorado trail next summer and am wondering if it is worth it to invest in a dehydrator. Also any advice on planning food rations between resupplies would be greatly appreciated as this is my first time going on a trip long enough where resupply will be necessary.

23 Comments
2024/10/30
16:31 UTC

9

What's your go-to trail meal that's both delicious and lightweight?

9 Comments
2024/10/25
03:28 UTC

2

Ready Hour pre packaged freeze dried meals?

Does anyone have experience using these on trail? They're sold through amazon and patriot supply, the cost to nutrition seems much better than the trail specific brands, so I'm wondering what the catch is. What's the weight like and would it be possible to conserve fuel using a thermos to let it cook in? The cooking times do seem to be a bit long

4 Comments
2024/10/20
17:40 UTC

76

Bread honey/butter with rice chicken

The sweetness from the bread combined with some of the spices in this rice with chicken was heavenly. We were cold hungry and tired. So you can imagian this tastest good :)

7 Comments
2024/10/17
05:57 UTC

5

Dehydrated chicken pet treats

I want to add dehydrated chicken to my trail meals. But they don't seem readily available to buy at grocery stores. I know you can buy them online in bulk, but I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to that yet. I saw Trader Joe's has freeze dried chicken (only ingredient is chicken) pet treats. Has anyone tried using pet treat chicken? Is it fit for human consumption?

6 Comments
2024/10/12
17:21 UTC

75

Second dehydrating spree of 2024 (3 recipes and additional info in comments)

10 Comments
2024/10/06
17:21 UTC

15

Are Couscous supposed to release a lot of starchy water? Last time I cooked this the water was really starchy and it made a lot of starch bubbles. Did I get the wrong couscous?

28 Comments
2024/10/06
15:16 UTC

22

Lamb skewer

Diced lamb, onion and capsicum (callled bell peppera in freedom speak I think), all marinated with olive oil and herbs, frozen in a container and then it thawed as we hiked in.

Alternate it all on a skewer, put grill (cheap one from and Asian variety store) on the coals.

Heat up some couscous and serve with red wine.

2 Comments
2024/09/29
14:14 UTC

9

Backpacker Shepard's Pie

I have a recipe for backpacker shepard's pie that is a dehydrated meal. The recipe calls for dried ground beef and powdered worcestershire sauce.

Could I just cook the ground beef with breadcrumbs and worcestershire sauce and then dehydrate it pre-seasoned? I'm new to dehydrating so just don't know if maybe the sauce dries too concentrated or bitter or something.

10 Comments
2024/09/25
17:03 UTC

159

Funniest backpacking foods for the memes

I was on a rather strenuous 3 day backpacking trip the other day. On the second night my friend randomly pulled an apple pie out of his bag for us to share. Although a little crushed by then, it was one of the best things I’d see brought up in awhile. Screw UL what are the most inconvenient or funniest foods you’ve brought on a trip?

Some other examples I’ve seen are red wine & all the ingredients to mull it at camp, the cooking of a birthday cake, and a fresh coconut lmao

128 Comments
2024/09/21
04:30 UTC

160

DIY Electrolyte Mix

44 Comments
2024/09/20
18:50 UTC

24

Home-made "goo"?

I've been making a version of a homemade product that was called Moose Goo online for years. IIRC the original was peanut butter, honey, and corn flour. I've used PB, honey, and masa meal for years and years as a trail food (both snack and often meal substitute), an "soft food only" diet, and a favorite snack (though for snacks I sometimes use Nutella vs. PB).

Anyone else have any recipes? I apologize for not having one right now -- will have to actually measure the amounts I use these days to give a real recipe.

16 Comments
2024/09/10
18:04 UTC

188

[crosspost] My "standard" daily food loadout for backpacking

25 Comments
2024/09/10
14:21 UTC

239

prepping trail meals ain't for the weak

I feel like I've been prepping for 2 weeks for a 4 night backcountry camping trip!

34 Comments
2024/09/08
21:41 UTC

52

Rehydrated breakfast burritos and hash with coffee in the BWCA

6 Comments
2024/09/06
15:53 UTC

428

Highlake wild crawfish and mushrooms at my campsite

17 Comments
2024/09/06
11:31 UTC

15

Mountain House Fajita Chicken Bowl.

Has anyone ever had a mountain house meal that didn't taste right? I'm asking to check my sanity.

We had 2 chicken fajita bowl meals. One of them tasted good, had all the ingredients. The other one tasted metallic/acrid, it was inedible. There was lots of rice, some beans (not alot), corn. There was NO: Chicken, Spice, Peppers, Onion, Flavor.

Does anyone know what can cause a bad meal lacking ingredients or the flavor being off?

8 Comments
2024/09/05
23:38 UTC

80

When you mail yourself food/supplies in a 10 gallon bucket, what happens to the bucket?

I'm genuinely curious.

Do you mail it back to yourself? Do random gas stations and motels along trails have overflowing storerooms of empty buckets?

26 Comments
2024/09/01
13:29 UTC

5

Dehydrating meal question

Hi there, I recently got a dehydrator from a friend, an Elite Gourmet five-tier and am trying it out for an upcoming backpacking trip. I’ve been slotted to make breakfast for some people on the trip so I don’t want to poison them. I noticed that when I would go in to inspect my dehydrating food (so far in this I’ve done ground beef, beans, rice, and today quinoa apple porridge https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/apple-quinoa-porridge-backpacking-recipe.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqIUeYfDiU9vVxDU9mMe0agwpcGh0Y6oN7sN9lVkysZPAibH8cI (this is originally from a website I don’t necessarily trust anymore…)), I noticed that some parts were not warm. Should I be worried about my food growing dangerous toxin carrying bacteria during this time, and thus creating an unsafe meal once rehydrated? Ive been studying tips here (too late I’ll admit) but any suggestions are welcome:)

6 Comments
2024/08/29
07:59 UTC

17

Pre-making tortillas or making them on the fly?

Hello! I'm a newer backpacker (I've done a few trips this summer (a 4 day, 3 night trip and 2 overnight trips). Needless to say, I'm obsessed! I'm going on another 4 day, 3 night trip) and I'm trying to be very mindful about saving space on food in our bear bin (in the Rocky Mountain West/grizzly country). There are two of us, with my boyfriend being over double my weight and over a foot taller than me. I'm wondering if I should pre-make or pb&j tortillas or take PB, jelly, and tortillas? I am really focused on weight and space. I'm in good shape but pretty small so again, any guidance on how to cut weight and save space is appreciated! Thanks all!

20 Comments
2024/08/28
21:36 UTC

14

Kimchi backpacking food?

I was thinking of making a Korean army stew backpacking dinner for a 2 night trip and was wondering if it would last. It looks like kimchi is good for ~1 week outside of the fridge, so I'm not so worried about that part. I was also hoping to add SPAM, mushrooms, and tofu to the mix (along with ramen). I was wondering if I chopped these up ahead of time and added them to the kimchi if it would preserve them long enough? If not, does anyone know where to buy dehydrated mushrooms or tofu?

UPDATE: I got dried tofu (koyadofu), dried mushrooms, a 6oz packet of kimchi, 2 small cans of Vienna sausage, and 1 shin ramen from an Asian grocery store. It was delicious! The first night I soaked the mushrooms and tofu in hot water, then I broke up the ramen and cooked half of it with the Vienna sausage. Added the mushrooms, tofu, and half the kimchi packet. Did the same thing with the rest the second night. The kimchi was the best part; great way to get vegetables in on the trail, and it seemed to keep just fine, even with the packet opened.

Room for improvement: I would leave the Vienna sausage behind next time. I didn't have enough space in my lil cookpot for everything, and the sausage was my least favorite part, what with the cans being heavy and the look of the sausage being off putting.

18 Comments
2024/08/28
17:10 UTC

0

Chinese Hot Pot of Doom - It Melted my Face!!!

4 Comments
2024/08/28
01:25 UTC

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