19 Tasty and Compact Backpacking Food Ideas in 2024
Going on a hike doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious food, especially with these backpacking food ideas. When it comes to a hiking or backpacking trip, you have to be strategic about what you carry. With a little planning, you can have the best meals on the trails.Â
So, what are the best foods to bring backpacking? Foods that are easy to carry, won’t add too much weight and won’t take up too much room in your backpack are ideal. For longer trips, opt for non-perishable foods that won’t go back on your trip.Â
It’s also important to follow food safety procedures like keeping raw meat and ready-to-eat foods separate when packed and using different plates to prepare them, according to Eat Right. Use ice packs in an insulated cooler to prevent spoilage.Â
Planning in advance is also essential for backpacking trips, whether you’re going on a one-day hike or need a 3-day backpacking meal plan. You’ll want to plan out breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks for each day of your backpacking trip.Â
Eat the more perishable of your backpacking food ideas earlier in the trip to avoid them going bad. Get inspired by these 19 backpacking food ideas for delicious meals on the trails.
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Easy Backpacking Food Ideas
1. Instant Noodles
This backpacking food idea is a simple meal that will be satisfying on the trail. For dinner, you can make instant noodles or pasta by adding boiling water to a pre-made instant package.Â
You can also purchase instant noodles and make your own mixture by adding dehydrated vegetables and powdered seasonings to the noodles and sealing it all in a plastic container. This backpacking food idea is ideal for dinners made around a fire or when you’re taking a longer break for the day’s hike.
2. Freeze-Dried Yogurt Parfait
If you’re looking for a breakfast option on your backpacking trip, freeze-dried yogurt parfait is the best option. This backpacking food idea is easy to source and to make when out in the wilderness. For this backpacking food, use yogurt bites found in the baby food aisle.Â
Then, before your hike, blend the yogurt bites into a fine powder. While on the trail, you can add cold water to rehydrate it. Add fruits, granola or nuts for texture. This food works well for a 7-day backpacking meal plan because the yogurt powder will keep throughout the trip.
3. Instant Soup Packets
Food that cooks in an instant will always be one of the easiest backpacking food ideas. That’s why instant soup packets would be a great option for cooking on the trails. You can purchase packages or make your own, adding dehydrated vegetables and meats.Â
When you break to eat, you simply add boiling water to turn it into soup. Wondering how much food to take for 5 days backpacking? You’ll want to include breakfast, lunch and dinner options for all five days, plus snacks to help keep your energy up. Soup is a good light meal to have for lunch since it won’t weigh you down or make you sluggish from an overly full stomach.
4. Powdered Hummus with Vegetables and Pretzels
For an easy backpacking food idea, carry along powdered hummus. Since regular hummus needs to be refrigerated, powdered hummus is a great, non-perishable alternative to keep in your pack for a trail trip.Â
All you have to do is add water, stir and let it sit for five minutes. You can also pack fresh or dehydrated vegetables and pretzels to eat along with the hummus. This simple backpacking food idea will make for a yummy snack while hiking.
5. Dehydrated Quinoa Porridge
Dehydrated quinoa porridge is another backpacking food idea that would make a great breakfast. With this recipe, you prepare quinoa beforehand with apples, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup and vanilla extract.Â
Then, spread the quinoa mixture onto a dehydrator tray and let it dehydrate for eight to 12 hours. Then, add it to resealable. On the trail, add eight ounces of boiling water to rehydrate it. If you know someone who likes to backpack, you may want to consider giving them a dehydrator, which can be one of the most useful travel gifts.
6. Instant Mashed Potatoes
Easy backpacking food ideas are usually instant. If you’re looking for a side or a dinner option to add to your 7-day backpacking meal plan, consider instant mashed potatoes.Â
Instant mashed potato packets are easily bought at the grocery store and come in a variety of flavors. To prepare them on the trail, you simply have to add boiling water. Combine this food with beans and dehydrated meats for a filling dinner.
No-Cook Backpacking Meal Ideas
7. Chicken, Tuna or SPAM Foil Packets
You may have a certain number of miles to complete that day or just don’t like cooking on the trails. Whatever the reason, no-cook backpacking food ideas are the way to go. Chicken, tuna or SPAM packets are great no-cook lunch ideas for adults.Â
The foil packets are best for hiking as they’re lightweight and take up less room. They come in a variety of flavors or you can add your own seasoning. Be sure the packages have fully cooked meats you can eat right out of the package.
8. Oat Bars
You have to include snacks in your 3 day backpacking meal plan. You’ll want to eat snacks in between meals to help keep your energy up and to hold you over until larger meal times.
Oat bars make great backpacking food ideas for snacks since they’re lightweight and easy to eat on the trails. Make your own oat bars with cinnamon, brown sugar, nut butter, dried fruits and chocolate chips.
9. Trail Mix
A classic backpacking food idea is trail mix. It’s easy to make, takes up little space and can be a flavorful no-cook snack for a backpacking trip. There are plenty of store-bought trail mixes, but you can also make your own so it has all your favorite ingredients.Â
Combine nuts, granola, pretzels, dried fruits, seeds, chocolate chips, coconut flakes and more. You can prepare a lot in advance to enjoy during a multi-day trip.
10. Meal Bars
If you’re looking for easy backpacking food ideas that you don’t have to cook or pre-prepare, consider meal bars. These bars are made to replace a meal, so they have enough calories to keep you satisfied and sustained while on the trail.Â
You can find meal bars in most grocery stores and pack a few for your hike. They make great on-the-go lunches, so you don’t have to stop. A good option if you’re behind or simply want to hike through lunch.
11. Nut Butter and Tortillas
No-cook backpacking meals are ideal on the trail if you don’t want to spend a ton of time focusing on food. Nut butter keeps well on the trail, so it makes a great no-cook snack. Buy the small packages of nut butter or place some in a resealable bag.Â
Tortillas also are great for backpacking trips because they’re flatter than bread. For an easy backpacking food idea, combine nut butter and tortillas for a quick sandwich snack to enjoy on the go.
12. Jerky and Dried MeatÂ
If you’re craving something savory, jerky and dried meats are great backpacking food ideas. You can purchase jerky or dehydrate some yourself for snack foods on the trail. You can also purchase or make dehydrated pulled pork, beef or bacon.Â
This is also a versatile backpacking food idea because you can eat it alone or add it to other meals.
13. Dried Fruits
For a sweet snack on the trail, pack some dried fruits. Using a dehydrator, you can dehydrate apples, mangos, bananas, peaches, apricots, cherries and more. These make great backpacking food ideas that you won’t have to cook before enjoying on the trail.Â
You can also use dried fruits in other no-cook backpacking meals, like in trail mix and with peanut butter. Dried fruits can also be added to yogurts, cereals and oatmeal, which you can eat while hiking.
Backpacking Food Ideas on a Budget
14. Instant Oatmeal
What is a good breakfast for backpacking? Instant oatmeal is an inexpensive backpacking food idea. You can often purchase instant oatmeal in bulk and take multiple packages along with you on the trail.Â
And with a variety of flavors, you can eat different kinds of oatmeal every morning of your backpacking trip. All you have to do is add boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes to prepare the food before enjoying it.
15. Hard Cheese and Dried Meat Sandwich Crackers
You can bring the comforts of home along with you on the trail with hard cheese and dried meat sandwich crackers. Hard cheeses like pecorino romano and aged gouda can spend a few days out of the refrigerator and still be good to eat.Â
Prepare slices of hard cheese and slices of dried meat to add to sandwiches for a quick backpacking food idea. Bringing kids on the trail with you? These sandwich crackers are one of the best kids lunch ideas because they’re similar to the snacks they’re already used to eating.
16. Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles are known for being a cost-efficient meal, which makes them one of the best backpacking food ideas on a budget. You can purchase packages of ramen noodles that will pack well in your backpack.Â
You can also purchase the seasoning ingredients and noodles and prepare your own ramen noodles with dried vegetables and meats in sealable packs to take on your trip. To prepare on the trail, add boiling water and let it steep before eating.Â
17. Overnight Oats
Overnight oats is a meal many people prepare to enjoy during their busy mornings. Their ease of preparation and inexpensive ingredients make it one of the best backpacking food ideas. Use almond or other nut milks with rolled oats and leave overnight for a flavorful and energizing breakfast.Â
You can use other ingredients like honey, fruits, nuts and granola to add flavor and texture. Overnight oats can last for up to five days in an air-tight container and kept cold, so you can prepare them at home and take them on the hike in a well-insulated bag. Or you can bring the ingredients and make the oats on the trail.
18. Bagel with Cream Cheese or Nut Butter
You don’t only have to eat dehydrated or instant food on the trail. So, how do you pack real food for backpacking? For foods like cream cheese that may perish outside of the fridge, you’ll want to use an insulated pack with plenty of ice.Â
This will allow you to have bagels with cream cheese, which makes a great backpacking food idea for a snack on the trail. For all of your food, it’s a good idea to place portioned-out amounts in smaller packs to save space in your pack.Â
19. Instant Rice and Beans
Another dinner on the trail you can prepare is instant rice and beans. This is one of the best backpacking food ideas on a budget that will help you feel full and give you some energy for your hike.Â
Combine packages of instant rice and a can of beans with boiling water for a quick and budget-friendly hiking meal. Don’t forget to bring a can opener to open your can of beans.
With the right backpacking food ideas, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals on the trails. The traditional trail mix and granola bars make great snacks, but they’re not the only food you can eat during a hike or backpacking trip.
With these backpacking food ideas, you can have meals that taste home cooked without taking up a ton of room in your pack.Â
For even more fun food ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
