Backcountry Recipes

I eat my meals stoveless almost exclusively when traveling for long in the backcountry in three-season conditions.  This definitely takes a mindset change.  But I prefer stoveless for these reasons:

  1. Faster meal prep and cleanup.

  2. Less weight (backpacking) and less volume (bikepacking). 

  3. It’s a simpler system.  No need to look for specific fuels when resupplying or replacing parts.

  4. Eating nearly instantaneously (if you cold-soak early!).

All of these meals are for stoveless use but can easily be used with a stove.  I like to have a rotation throughout a week to keep my palate refreshed and fend off taste boredom/habituation on long hikes.  Plus, most of these items can be purchased in convenience stores.  
I also carry a spice kit using small Nalgene containers (they fend off smell/taste contamination).  

  • Salt

  • Hot Sauce

  • Taco Seasoning

  • Curry

I always presoak my food at least 2 hours before I intend to eat dinner.  That takes care of any food rehydration time concerns.  Never add spices for the presoak.  Only add spices when you are ready to eat.
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DINNERS
Crunchy Hummus Wraps 

  • Flour Tortilla

  • Hummus Mix (dehydrated hummus)

  • Plantain Chips or Potato Chips

  • Raisins 

  • Curry Cashews (or just Cashews with Curry Powder thrown on)

Refried Bean Wraps

  • Flour Tortilla

  • Refried Beans

  • Hot Sauce or Salsa 

  • Instant Rice

  • Nutritional Yeast

Lentil Wrap 

  • Flour Tortilla

  • Dehydrated Lentils

  • Curry Powder

  • Peanuts

  • Raisins 

  • Instant Rice

Hashbrowns

  • Dehydrated Hashbrowns

  • Dehydrated Black Beans

  • Nutritional Yeast

  • Hot sauce

  • Salt 

  • Vegetarian Bacon Bits

Mashed Potatoes with Lentils 

  • Instant Potatoes

  • Nutritional Yeast

  • Dried Cranberries 

  • Dehydrated Lentils 

  • Hot Sauce 

Tacos 

  • Dehydrated Black or Pinto Beans

  • Instant Rice

  • Fritos (crush these up and mix them in)

  • Taco Seasoning 

  • Salt (as needed)

Couscous and Beans  

  • Couscous

  • Curry Powder

  • Dehydrated Pinto Beans 

  • Vegan Bacon Bits

Pesto Egg Noodles 

  • Egg Noodles

  • Sun Dried Tomatoes 

  • Packaged Powdered (vegan) Pesto

  • Pine Nuts or Peanuts​

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BREAKFASTS
Muesli 

  • Muesli

  • Dried Bananas

Oatmeal

  • Oatmeal

  • Dried Fruits (dates, bananas)

  • Whole Nuts (almonds, peanuts)

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LUNCHES
I don’t eat specific lunches at a preset “lunchtime.“  I eat all day.  This was a lesson I learned from NOLS that has transformed my nutrition process. 
I have bags of various snacks and foods of a large variety that I keep on hand.  I eat fairly constantly as I hike or ride.  I might take a break to eat here and there, but I pretty much eat as I go.  Eating all day keeps me fueled. 
Snacks are all packed in plastic bags (6 x 3 x 15 inch bags 2 ply/or 2 mil).  These are knotted lightly for easy opening and closing.  

  • Chocolate Trail Mix (Peanuts, Chocolate Chips or M&Ms)

  • Hot Summer Trail Mix (Mixed Nuts + Tart Dried Cherries + Goldenberries)

  • Cold Winter Trail Mix (Mixed Nuts + Raisins)

  • Dried Fruit (no sugar added --> Dried Apples, Dried Bananas, etc.)

  • Fava Beans

  • Triscuits

  • Peanut Butter Pretzels

  • Plantain Chips

  • Dates

  • Pretzels

  • ​Fritos Bean Dip

  • Chips (the less processed the better - keep it simple with ingredients)

  • Pita Chips

  • Sesame Sticks


Honestly, I tend to pack what I come upon in stores.  I don’t plan these snacks ahead.  I buy as my mouth and stomach want.  I usually walk up and down aisles on resupplies, just letting my desire dictate what to buy.  Inevitably I’ll get sick of something, buy something new, and cycle items in and out over and over throughout the length of a trip.