Favorite Backpacking Recipes

group of people eating food while seated

This group enjoys a warm meal after a long day

You’ve probably done it before, spent your entire backcountry trip eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, oatmeal, and ramen. I get it, all of these meals are light and easy. But, aren’t you tired of eating the same thing? Those meals are mindless and flat. I bet you and your taste buds are ready for something new! I have some of my favorite backpacking recipes that give you the quality we all need on after those long adventures and delicious meals to share with friends!

This first recipe I have is a personal favorite: Pita Pizzas. Personal Pita Pizzas are just as light and easy as ramen. The best part about them is that you can personalize your own pizza. This leaves room for adding those proteins, nutrients, or salts/sugars you are need of on those long days.

Pizza Pita

Servings (1 Person):

1 Package of Naan Bread

2 Cans of Tomato Sauce

1 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1 Jar Olive Oil

Optional:

1 Pepper

1 Onion

1 Can Sundried Tomatoes

1 Jar Pesto

1 Package of Pepperoni

  1. Drizzle olive oil on pan. Allow oil to heat up.
  2. Place 1 naan bread onto the pan. Heat up bottom side.
  3. Flip the bread and spread tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese onto bread
  4. Choose optional toppings and place on top
  5. Serve!

If pizza isn’t satisfying enough for your taste buds, maybe this next dish is. Additionally, this backpacking recipe is perfect for fulfilling those comfort food cravings. This is fancy mac and cheese.

Fancy Mac and Cheese

pot of food and lid

This crew pours in a healthy dose of pine nuts to their portions

Servings (2 People):

1 Package of Brie Cheese

1 Package of Blue Cheese

1 Box of Penne Pasta

1 Box of Cherry Tomatoes

1 Small Bag of Pine Nuts

1 Box of Basil

  1. Bring a large amount of water to boil
  2. Cut cherry tomatoes into quarter pieces and basil into small pieces
  3. Add pasta to water. Cover and allow pasta to be made. Approximately 8 minutes, add adjusted time when at higher altitudes.
  4. Drain water
  5. Add brie and blue cheese. Mix.
  6. Roast pine nuts in a separate pan
  7. Add pine nuts and basil
  8. Serve!

Finally, this next favorite backpacking recipe will make you as stuffed as you would be on Thanksgiving day. With its complex but easy to create flavors, this Jambalaya recipe will blow your mind and soothe the soul. This one is perfect for the end of a cold and rainy day.

Jambalaya

Servings (4 People):

2 Peppers

2 Onions

2 Cans of Diced Tomatoes

1 Can of Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies

3 Cloves of Garlic

1 Link of Reindeer Sausage

2 Cubes of Chicken Stock

½ Cup of rice per person

4 Tablespoons of Butter

1 Bottle of Cajun

1 Bottle of Garlic Powder

Optional:

Shrimp

Kidney Beans (Drained)

Red Beans (Drained)

  1. Heat up butter in skillet or fry bake
  2. Dice peppers, onions and garlic
  3. Cut link of reindeer sausage into dice size pieces
  4.  Sauté vegetables for 5 minutes (Add beans if desired)
  5. Add reindeer sausage and rice to skillet or fry bake. Allow heating and frying of rice (About 8 minutes). Add seasoning.
  6. Add diced tomatoes, Ro-Tel, chicken stock, and water. Stir ingredients together.
  7. Cover skillet and simmer until rice is tender.
  8. Serve!

Try these backpacking recipes out on your next trip and see how much it can add to your whole adventure. There is nothing like sharing a hot meal with friends in the wilderness. So pack those pots and stoves, it’s time to bring the chef in you to the outdoors.

Written By: Lindsay Valero