5 Favorite Fall Backpacking Meals

There are a million reasons to go camping in the fall. On those chillier nights, backcountry travelers need hot, easy meals jam-packed with calories. Leave the pasta in the pantry and pack these convenient camping meals instead. 

Mountain House Chicken and Noodles

• Mountain House Chicken and Noodles 270 calories per serving, 50 calories from fat
• 12 grams protein per serving
• 2 servings*
• 4.73 oz dry 
• Can be made in the bag

“Comfort food” and “chicken noodle soup” are pretty much synonymous. This chicken noodle packet from Mountain House has peppers and onion for flavor and is a welcome source of warmth and nutrition on chilly fall nights. Gobble it out of a mug so you can sip the broth after. If you’ve got a thermos, boil water in the morning and break into this soup as a hot lunch or snack. 

AlpineAire Chicken Gumbo

• AlpineAire Chicken Gumbo 270 calories per serving, 20 calories from fat
• 16g protein per serving
• 2 servings*
• 5.5 oz dry 
• Can be made in the bag

Fact: gumbo heats up both body and soul. AlpineAire’s chicken gumbo has everything you want: spicy chicken, okra, corn, bell peppers, onion and celery. If Tabasco sauce is one necessity you can’t backpack without, we recommend this meal with a Cajun kick. 

Mountain House Hearty Beef Stew

• Mountain House Beef Stew 250 calories per serving, 80 calories from fat
• 17g protein per serving
• 2 servings*
• 4.30 oz
• Can be made in the bag

Few meals fill you up on a cold night like beef stew. This one’s stocked with potatoes, carrots, and peas, not to mention 17 grams of protein per serving to supply long-term energy. Though delicious on its own, we suggest you scoop out bread rolls and sprinkle shredded cheese on top after a long day on the trail. This easy backcountry cooking hack for no-hassle bread bowls will be sure to impress your fellow hikers.

Backpacker’s Pantry Vegetarian Lasagna

• Backpacker’s Pantry Lasagna 380 calories per serving, 80 calories from fat
• 22g protein per serving
• 2 servings*
• 7 oz dry
• Can be made in the bag

You don’t need to be a vegetarian to appreciate this lasagna. Tomato sauce and ricotta cheese melt together for a triumphant explosion of Cooking Channel-worthy Italian cuisine. No home-cooked grub here, though the taste suggests otherwise. Nope, this dish is whipped up by Backpacker’s Pantry, a Boulder-based company that produces high-quality prepackaged meals.

Bonus Breakfast: Backpacker’s Pantry Biscuits and Gravy

• Backpacker’s Pantry Biscuits and Gravy 430 calories per serving, 140 calories from fat
• 9g protein per serving
• 2 servings
• 7.5 oz dry
• Requires pot, skillet

This meal requires more involved preparation than others, but it’s worth it. Buttery biscuits and thick brown gravy are doubly delicious on a chilly fall morning, and they can be made without baking equipment. A great meal for hikers who have a big day ahead. 

*Serving size: When’s the last time 250 calories did you proper for a backcountry dinner? Even for a 2000-calorie diet, that’s pushing it. We recommend one packet per hungry hiker.