The 27 best backpacking food ideas for hiking and camping

These chilaquiles taste like they’re straight from the kitchen. Quite honestly, this was the best backpacking meal our testers have ever tried. Itacate’s take on this traditional Mexican breakfast packs in bold flavors with crunchy tortilla chips, beans and eggs smothered in spicy tomatillo. Topped off with a panela cheese finish, you can’t beat this meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Heads up: You’ll need a separate, lidded container to cook this meal in, like the Hydro Flask 28-ounce Food Jar.

Grab this dehydrated meal if you’re into savory breakfast meals. After a few weeks (or even a few days) on the trail, this meal will fill your stomach — especially if you’re wanting a hearty breakfast before hitting the trail again. These slightly crunchy biscuits soaked in a thick, flavorful gravy with hefty chunks of sausage hit the spot. Our only feedback is it could use a little more jalapeno kick.

Known for its whole, simple and clean ingredients (you’ll actually know everything that’s listed on the back of the pouch) Good To-Go’s take on a healthy take on a breakfast hash does this savory classic justice. It’s packed with hearty vegetables like butternut squash, spinach and carrot, and pairs well with Mountain House Scrambled Eggs with Bacon if you want a little extra protein.?

For a lightly sweet and filling breakfast for one, Trailtopia keeps it simple with only three ingredients: rolled oats, sugar and freeze-dried bananas. With six grams of protein packed into this small pouch, you can hit the trail with your stomach full and taste buds happy. We do wish there were more bananas in each bite, but you can bring your own dehydrated bananas to add.

A yogurt-based meal so fresh, you won’t believe you’re eating it out of a bag. Bursting with blueberry and coconut flavors, our testers loved this yogurt bowl that only takes three minutes and 6 ounces of cold water to whip up. The blueberries tasted fresh and the coconut added a nice crunch. Each pouch includes a full ? pint of blueberries, certified organic oats, real coconut and 100% real maple syrup and yogurt.?

This fruit- and veggie-packed oatmeal is so good, we’d eat it for breakfast at home too. Carrots and all, our testers savored every bite. Morning Glory muffins are known for their healthy ingredients and filling qualities. Heather, the head chef and founder of Heather’s Choice, packed this oatmeal with pineapple, raisins, carrot and flax to keep your stomach full for the long haul. From flavor to texture, these oats are a solid 10 out of 10. Note that this oatmeal isn’t vegan, as it has dehydrated whole milk mixed in for extra creaminess.?

Fill your gut with this true backpacking classic. Mountain House’s Breakfast Skillet is a long-loved meal by outdoor lovers far and wide. This breakfast skillet is full of protein (14 grams) and flavor thanks to the perfect blend of scrambled eggs, crumbled pork sausage, peppers and onions all in one bag. Have it for brunch, eat it for dinner or wake up early and fill up before a day-long trek. If you’re not a fan of dehydrated eggs (we totally get it) this may not be the meal for you. Otherwise, you’re sure to love this tasty breakfast in a bag. Pro tip: Bring some Yellowbird Hot Sauce to add some kick.

Packit Gourmet has figured out how to get you tastes-like-fresh chicken salad in the middle of the woods. This pouch-prepared chicken salad tastes just like the real deal and only requires 2/3 cup of cold water and 10 minutes of time to rehydrate. The result is an onion, peppers and celery-filled chicken salad with a taste of tart apple and spices mixed in too. Pack yourself a wrap and you’re good to go with this meal that’s prefect for lunch or dinner.

Heavy, creamy and filling — just what you need after adventuring all day long. These thick noodles tossed with chicken and coated in a creamy parmesan-romano sauce will fool anyone into thinking you're eating a homemade meal. Packed with 20 grams of protein, this recovery meal is great to rejuvenate, and you’re bound to sleep well after filling your belly with this tasty pasta (we promise).?

Authentic pho? Not quite. Super tasty though? Heck yeah. Good To-Go has prepared what we’d argue is the best Vietnamese you’ll enjoy in the backcountry (unless you plan to lug your own broth, spice rack, rice noodles and high-quality chef into the middle of nowhere with you). This pho in a pouch overflows with cabbage, scallions and aromatic spices and smells, looks and tastes phenomenal. And for being a soup-based entree, this meal still has tons of protein — 27 grams to be exact.?

Consider this chili the perfect way to end a long day in the outdoors, especially in the fall. It’s meaty, filled with beans and chunks of tomato, and it has a strong smoky flavor that pairs well with the sights and sounds of nature around. Make a steaming bowl, or pouch if you prefer to eat straight from the bag (we won’t judge), and fill your stomach. With 44 grams of protein too, you’ll get all the energy you need to keep exploring.

You can’t go wrong with this meal. Pinnacle Food takes marinated and roasted chicken, tosses it with penne, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, and slathers the pasta in a rich garlic-parmesan sauce. You may be in the middle of the woods but you can still transport yourself to the Tuscan backcountry with this dish. It’s super creamy and super filling, which makes for a great dinner dish if you’re really hungry or a good entree to split with your adventure buddy. Our tester said he was just missing a tall glass of Chianti to go with it.

Inspired by the flavors of Austin, Texas, this tortilla soup is the best TexMex you’ll find in a bag. A true chicken tortilla soup, Packit Gourmet’s Austintacious meal features cage-free diced chicken, black beans, roasted corn, fresh tomato, sweet bell peppers and cilantro. You’ll also find chunks of corn tortillas (made locally in an authentic Austin tortilleria) in there too. This soup also comes with all the fixings: freeze-dried Monterrey-Jack cheese, True Lime packets to add citrus flavor and an individual pack of Cholula Hot Sauce.

Gluten-free? No problem. This beefy dish is overloaded with protein and whole chunks of zucchini, which make this meal super filling and healthy. This pasta-free dish focuses on meat, veggies and cheese over less-nutritious noodles. You’ll just want to make sure you cook this meal for the full 10 minutes (and maybe leave it in an extra few minutes longer) to rehydrate the beef and veggies all the way through.

This bison-filled dish is full of rich flavors that taste just like your grandmother’s cooking in a bag. We loved the pairing of this meal (which serves one person) with Backpacker Pantry’s Hatch Green Chile Mac & Cheese. The alternating bites of meat and cheese were a perfect combo. Our testers said it was super filling after a full day riding on a bikepacking trip in northwest Michigan. This dish is not spicy but would be great with some hot sauce too.

Plain and simple: Gastro Gnome’s Mushroom Ragu Farfalle knocks it out of the park. With its a bold pesto flavor that coats the perfectly al dente noodles, our testers would absolutely opt to enjoy this vegetarian meal at home or in the backcountry. We loved the light crunch of the almonds and fresh basil and parsley flavors that come through in the sauce. The cremini mushrooms add a bit of earthiness too. With a whopping 35 grams of protein, this is a great dish to share with your hiking partner or fill up on after a really strenuous day on the trail.??

One of our all-time favorites, Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai brings homecooked flavor no matter where you adventure. Inside the bag, you’ll find a fresh peanut butter packet for a fresh and nutty flavor as well as chopped peanuts to add some crunch to your meal. Our outdoor gear tester and seasoned backpacker Emily Pennington says, “I’m never not obsessed with Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai — it comes in a fun kit that feels like a little backcountry craft project.”?

Cheesy, spicy and flavorful sound good to you? Then you might want to opt for the Farm to Summit Green Chile Mac & Cheese for your next lunch or dinner on the trail. Our testers specifically love the bite of the fire-roasted green chile (medium spice) mixed with the creaminess of the cheese sauce. Dehydrated tomatoes mixed in also bring out a nice color and an added kick of flavor. This crave-able comfort food pairs nicely with a smoky campfire and some backcountry whiskey,?too.

Itacate does it again with their Campsite Lentejas. A favorite cultural dish of chef and brand founder Martha Díaz, an immigrant from Central Mexico, the Itacate sopa de lentejas is a delicious and hearty lentil soup made for the backcountry. The lentils are covered in a savory and bold tomato and cilantro base and are 100% vegan. Eat it as a side if you’re camping with a group or fill up on the whole packet yourself if you’re hiking solo. It only takes five minutes to rehydrate this dish too, which is a plus. We’d also recommend bringing some hot sauce or a fresh jalapeno (if you’re really feeling fancy) to add a little extra spice.?

Mushroom fans will love this widely praised favorite by Good To-Go Meals. This made-from-scratch dish is made in-house by caramelizing onions in olive oil and deglazing the pan with white wine, and finally, adding veggie stock to bring and out and compliment the rich flavors of the arborio rice and cremini mushrooms. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to be a chef to make this dish. All it takes is adding hot water to the pouch and waiting for the risotto to rehydrate 20 minutes later. Bon appetite!?

Mary Jane’s Farm Bare Burrito is packed with creamy pinto beans, white cheddar cheese, sweet corn and red bell peppers, plus a bit of jalapeno. We loved the consistency of the beans and highly recommend packing some flour tortillas for the trail so you can enjoy them exactly how they were intended to be. In addition to a 5.4-ounce serving, you can also buy this meal in a 3-pound bulk bag, which makes 13 servings — perfect for a group.?

This vegan take on a meaty classic is loved by carnivores and veg-heads alike. “RightOnTrek, a smaller company, has pretty incredible two-person portion bags that actually feed two people,” says Pennington. “Their shepherd's pie is to die for.”

With just the right amount of spice, this red curry tastes like takeout in the backcountry. You can taste a subtle hint of coconut and we loved the hearty veggies packed in this rice-based dish. The kale had a farm-fresh texture and the carrots and beans held a nice crunch (but not too crunchy). Can’t recommend this healthy, hearty Thai dish enough.?

Mark our words: This is the best banana pudding in a bag you’ll ever eat. Packit Gourmet’s sweet and crunchy goodness hits the spot, especially after a long day outdoors. Whether it’s a treat on a special occasion or something you bring with you on every trip, you won’t regret buying this banana-forward classic. We love the creamy flavor of vanilla custard topped with sweet vanilla cake croutons that add a nice consistency, and the toasted unsweetened coconut really makes this dessert shine.

Trailtopia is sure to fool you into thinking that you’re eating apple crisp from a bag. In a matter of minutes, transport yourself to your grandmother’s kitchen with this warm and steamy apple dessert that tastes just like the real thing. We did struggle to open the topping bag and it could use a little more tart flavor, but honestly, we can’t complain. It’s delicious.?

Ice cream you don’t have to worry about melting. Backpacker’s Pantry freeze-dried the classic we all can love, no matter if you’re a chocolate, strawberry or vanilla fan (or all three). While much crunchier than your traditional creamy dessert, it’s packed with the same classic flavors of a true Neopolitan ice cream. Take this on your day hike for a fun treat or bring it to the backcountry with you. A bonus: at only 1 ounce, you won’t sacrifice weight in the slightest.??

These healthy dehydrated cookies are the perfect small snack or a sweet treat at the end of a meal. They're made with whole ingredients, no artificial flavors and no preservatives, so you don’t have to worry about the bad stuff you typically find in desserts. They’re also sure to give you a boost of energy since they’re packed with 170 calories per ounce. Choose from a whole lineup of yummy flavors, like lemon lavender, sweet coconut and our favorite, cherry almond.