Ode to Backpacker’s Pantry: The Best Dehydrated Backpacking Meals

January 14, 2016

by Drew Zieff
Ode to Backpacker’s Pantry: The Best Dehydrated Backpacking Meals

Following a winter camping trip in Utah’s Wasatch Range, Active Junky gear testers agree that Backpacker’s Pantry supplies some of the best dehydrated backpacking meals in the game.

Dehydrated backpacking meals are hit or miss. At their worst, they’re sawdust sludge—gag-worthy concoctions that are questionably edible and unquestionably evil. At their best, they’re piping hot ambrosia, life-saving delicacies a five-star chef couldn’t hope to replicate for all the stainless steel gizmos and fresh ingredients in the world.

Backpacker’s Pantry falls into the latter category, favoring the delicious over the malicious. A bevy of flavors offers up options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert. Before we delve into the dishes themselves, a quick breakdown of our testing scenario:


Images via Drew Zieff

Testing and Tasting in the Wintery Wasatch:

Over the course of three days, three Active Junky gear testers/tasters explored the Porter Fork of the Wasatch Range. Backpacker’s Pantry, their main source of fuel, kept them alive in the dead of winter. Days of shredding powder turned into nights of sub-freezing temps; survival required high caloric intake and steaming hot meals. Needless to say, Backpacker’s Pantry delivered the goods.

Without further ado, here are three of our testers’ favorite dehydrated backpacking meals from Backpacker’s Pantry.

Best Backpacking Breakfast:

After skinning and snowboarding thousands of vertical feet the day before, then making it through a bitter night that left three millimeters of frost glazing the tent interior, nothing tasted better to our testers than Backpacker’s Pantry Granola with Milk and Bananas.

Backpacker's Pantry Granola with Bananas & Milk Why? First of all, let’s talk calories. One serving packs a walloping 620 calories, with 16g of protein, 25% of daily carbs and enough fat (48% of daily value) to take on a full day in the backcountry.

Secondly, this breakfast is quick. There’s no 20 minute wait; simply add hot (or cold) water, stir and enjoy.

Thirdly, this dish is delicious. The milk tastes real, the bananas taste real, the granola tastes, you guessed it, real. Between taste and nutritional content, this easy-fixer can’t be beat when it comes time for breakfast in the backcountry.

Best Backpacking Dinner:

Backpacker’s Pantry released a few new flavors for 2016. Among them: Chicken Picatta with Tagliatelle Pasta.

The name isn’t the only mouthful, here. Tasty carb-loaded pasta is steeped in a zesty lemon-garlic drizzle, while Parmesan and shredded chicken add subtle texture and protein (24g per serving). The best surprise? The salty zing of capers. If capers haven’t made it onto on your backcountry menu (honestly, why would they have?), we suggest you try the Tagliatelle.

Slurpably delectable, our only complaint about the Tagliatelle is that it’s a little light on the chicken. Boosting the calorie count would be a huge backcountry bonus, as this one contains 350 calories per serving. Of course, most consider a double serving suitable only for one hungry camper.

Best Vegetarian Backpacking Meal:

For the veggies out there (and even the carnivores), the Chana Masala must not be missed. This high-calorie Punjabi dish mixes up chickpeas and rice with a restaurant-style spice blend. If you can’t handle a jalapeno, stay back, the Masala has a little bit of a kick.

Backpacker's Pantry Chana Masala If you do gobble up the full 2 servings, you’re looking at nearly 900 calories and 28 grams of protein. Fuel for the fire, indeed.

Backpacker’s Pantry has a ton of other offerings, so start with these recommendations and then branch out from there. Really, you can’t go wrong. We haven’t yet. 

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