8 Cheap, Easy, & Tasty Backpacking Dinner Ideas! (Perfect For Thru-Hikers Too!)

One of the most stressful parts of planning a back country adventure is figuring out what you are going to eat for 5 days in the wilderness. It doesn't matter if you are a weekend backpacker or thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, coming up with a menu of food that is cheap, easy, and you wont get tired of can be overwhelming. And while pre-made meals such as Backpacker's Pantry and Mountain House Meals are certainly convenient, the cost can add up quickly!
Fortunately, there are plenty of other options available to hikers! In this video I go through my tried and true go to dinner options for the trail. These thru hiking dinner ideas are easy to find at most grocery and convenience stores. They also offer variety for those looking for backpacking dinner ideas.
Homemade Pad Tai:
1 Teriyaki Noodle Bowl with veggie and sauce packets
1 Peanut Butter pouch
1 Chicken pouch (optional)
Some chopped peanuts
1 Lemon Juice packet
1 Sriracha packet (optional)
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[@Liberty4Ever]

Peanut powder, coconut milk powder, sesame oil, True Lime dehydrated lime powder, dried garlic or garlic powder, dried ginger root nuggets or ginger powder, dried soy powder and cumin makes ramen noodles (quick cook) or your favorite wheat or rice noodles into a pretty tasty pad Thai. All of the weird powdered foods are on Amazon and not very expensive. It's good enough that I eat this at home.

[@paularthur6456]

Replace the ramen noodles with capellini (thin spaghetti). No hydrogenated oils and cooks just as fast. Falafel mix made into a patty and fried is quick and spicy and filling.

[@nagyferenc969]

1:14 Knorrs rice sides 3:19 Knorrs pasta sides 4:01 Mashed potatoes 5:08 Mac & cheese 6:34 Couscous 7:43 Pasta 9:00 Ramen noodles 10:25 Home made pad thai

[@peteralexander6514]

*knorr

[@DinoH8sU]

Thank you for this

[@DinoH8sU]

Everything taste better on the trail than in regular life

[@taylorchristianson5990]

Instead of taking butter, ghee is a great shelf stable option. It is just clarified butter. Because it is cooked down it has a slightly nuttier flavour.

[@FoodForThought.]

I use ghee all the time at home and on the trail as it has a much better flavour than plain butter. As you say, because it's shelf stable, it's amazing for longer trips.

[@dansklrvids7303]

Great video with lots of options!

[@alexm2404]

I recently discovered shelf stable chorizo sausages (dry aged) which I slice and mix with mashed potatoes. I re-hydrate the potatoes (you can add a spoon of milk powder if you want) and then add the sliced chorizo. The paprika in the chorizo will give a nice colour to the mash, the fat in the chorizo will give it a great taste. This is the camping version of the Hungarian dish - Paprikás krumpli. Enjoy.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

That sounds amazing! I LOVE chorizo and had no idea there is a shelf stable version. Definitely adding that my list of things to buy for this summer. Thanks for sharing!

[@paultruzzi911]

@@TheMostImportantStep Dry aged Chorizo is often called Spanish Chorizo to differentiate it from the fresh ground version which is often called Mexican Chorizo. I did the Camino de Santiago two years ago and ate a lot of Spanish Chorizo.

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Sounds good. Summer sausage is also good.

[@johnderhovansian8733]

A few years ago I made venison sopressata and took some on the JMT. I usually ate it at lunch with hard parmesan and tortillas. I ran out half way through, but I'm sure if I'd had enough to last until the end, it would have been fine.

[@tacrewgirl]

Sounds delicious. Great idea.

[@richardlarson6198]

I recommend exploring ghee butter. It is shelf stable, so you don't have to worry about it going rancid in couple of days and I really like the flavor.

[@TrailToughTrailers]

Great list of options.... keep the tricks and tips coming!!!

[@tjmorrison1909]

Great video. I am an old dog when i comes to hiking food but learned a few things ! Thankyou for making this video.

[@geezerpleasers_OG]

I'm delighted to see you recommend the Knorr's sides. After watching your video in the MSR Pocket Rocket, today I made a Knorr's Alfredo pasta for my first "little old lady strolling up a hill" trail meal.

[@countrygirl63baker64]

Great video with great suggestions, thank you!

[@Oldsparkey]

Taking butter with you take a step and make it into Ghee. It's butter with the milk solids removed and easy to make. Melt some butter and pour it into a V shaped ( wider at the top then the bottom ) container , set aside for a little while till a white foam is on the top. Put it in the frig to cool. When cooled take it out and warm the sides of the container so the butter will slide out. Now take a warm knife and cut off the white foamy top leaving the yellow solid section. You have your Ghee and it will last longer then butter with the milk solids still in it. I use a small Nalgene container and double bag it in zip lock freezer bags.

[@SamLieurance]

Love this! Yay Bailey!

[@qanniqtuq]

Always bring some spices. A small amount of curry make any totally blend meal a gourmet one! and spices add variety during long trek. For Knorr rice, you can cook them directly in the package, just add 1.5 cup of water instead of 2.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Spices are the best! I probably carry a pound worth of spices to make meals more intriguing

[@suzanneng5326]

Ramen noodle idea that my friends and I absolutely love: - 1 pack of Nongshim shin spicy ramen(520 calories/$1.29) - 1 pack of peanut butter(190 calories/$0.69) - 1 pack of Starkist premium white chicken(80 calories/$1.49) Total ends up being: 790 calories for $3.37(this is Target prices). It sounds weird, but it’s absolutely delicious, tastes like an Asian fusion spicy Thai chicken noodles. By far one of my favorite meals since I discovered it a year ago. I crave it off the trail, and it eat it at home regularly with fresh broccoli and chicken!

[@TheMostImportantStep]

I recently learned about those spicy ramen packs! So good, but definitely gets everything cleared out! 🔥

[@simonh6371]

Not at all weird if you're familiar with Indonesian food where satay sauce is a common ingredient, it's basically a peanut sauce so peanut butter with spicy ramen and chicken is basically bami ajam sate. Delicious and nutritious! Sprinkle with raw chopped spring onion (scallion) after cooking for an extra dimension and vitamin C.

[@elynnm3016]

I've made this on trail and also added my honey roasted peanuts for texture. Looks disgusting tastes great lol

[@andyjvale]

Very helpful for hunting season! Thanks.

[@nathanharrod9569]

I've used a simpler bare bones version with Chile lime or picante beef ramen paired with crushed up honey roasted peanuts. Pretty tasty/filling for a sub dollar meal.

[@timothywiener5977]

My favorite trail meal is a Moroccan "tagine" make some couscous, set it aside. put dried fruit (apricot is common but dates, raisins, cranberries, etc are all good) some chicken or other protein, some North African spices (coriander, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, onion powder, salt and pepper), a bit of honey and a little water in the pot and simmer briefly. dump over the couscous and top with chopped or slivered almonds. a shower of fresh scallions, parsley and/or cilantro at the end is a bonus and all pack well on the trail.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

That sounds delicious! I recently found a pre-made Moroccan couscous that I love, but your version sounds even better!

[@timothywiener5977]

@@TheMostImportantStep Thanks! It was quite good, and easily tweaked by adjusting the amounts of spices and fruits. I've only watched this single episode of yours (so far) but you seem to be a person who is able to take a menu idea and run with it, but if you want my recipe, I am willing to share. This is definitely on my canteen cup cooking rotation, but I am also trying to perfect a Keralan Fish Curry or a Jhinga Goa Fish Curry, which are coconut based Indian curries. both would require carrying canned or dehydrated fish/seafood, tho could probably work with chicken, pork or for vegetarian versions use tofu or chickpeas. I made the Keralan curry last year with sardines and it was good, but a tad gritty, i think because the ground coconut flakes did not have enough time to fully hydrate. its a work in progress.

[@timothywiener5977]

another good one is shrimp and grits! 2 packets instant grits, boil water add grits, when almost done, add handful (or more) of shredded cheese and 2 handfuls (or more) chopped fresh spinach. serve topped with a can of tiny shrimp

[@simonh6371]

Brilliant! Creative and tasty, plus very nutritious - the dried fruit is high energy (calories) but also has a lot of macronutrients. Presumably you mean tinned chicken. I'm in the UK where that is practically non-existent, have to substitute for some kind of tinned chicken luncheon meat and fry it up. I love tagines and make them a lot at home, lamb with prunes, chicken with preserved lemon, and lots more. On the trail I sometimes eat packets of couscous with dried veg and seasonings in, with tinned sardines or mackerel.

[@timothywiener5977]

@@simonh6371 well, its called canned chicken here in the US, but yes that's what i used, making sure that i used all the stock/broth from the can/tin as well. you could also use any type of jerky or even tinned seafood. or a tin of chickpeas would work in a pinch.

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Outstanding video- subscribed- awesome info

[@usual10suspects]

thanks, glad I found your content

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

Good food for the trail. Take care.

[@ChefTommieG]

Subscribed!!! Stumbled across your channel. Glad I did!!

[@miken7629]

My favorite is Frito Pie: 1/3 Cup Dehydrated Refried Beans, 1/3 Cup Minute Rice, 1/4 Cup Cheese Powder, 1/2 Tbsp Tomato Bullion, 1/2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning. Add 1 cup boiling water, let sit 8 minutes. Add some Fritos

[@MrMagoo-wp7pq]

I tried this recipe and thought it was terrible. I made just a couple of changes, and love it. This is my modified version: 2/3 cup refried beans 2/3 cup minute rice 1 Tbsp cheese powder 1/2 Tbsp tomato bullion 1/2 Tbsp taco seasoning jalapeño flakes (optional) 2 cups boiling water let stand 8 minutes and add fritos Also I add just a bit of inst. potatoes to soak up excess water. Yummy!

[@miken7629]

@@MrMagoo-wp7pq So basically less cheese powder and more rice. I cut down the cheese powder to 2 Tbsp and I think it was sufficient. The instant potatoes is a good way to add more calories. I will give it a try.

[@MrMagoo-wp7pq]

Thanks for the recipe, Mike. I am making up three of them for next week's hike I'm going on with a friend. I also like the spice of the jalapeños.

[@mtadams2009]

I think Jupiter eats a similar meal pretty much every day he hikes. Sounds a little boring day in and day out but he is a hiking machine and it works for him.

[@angelaranda4563]

Thank you! greetings from Mexico. subscribed

[@paulhayes9765]

On short hikes or kayaking, I enjoy Ramon and I add beef jerky to it as the Ramon is cooking. Thanks for your list of quick meals. 👍

[@TheMostImportantStep]

It’s definitely a good go to, just need to make sure to add stuff to it on longer trips since it’s so low in calories

[@tonyabrowninghikes]

Great video. I love and use all these! Stuffing is a great option on trail to. I add it to the mashed potatoes and a gravy packet. One of my favorite meals on trail is "Everything but the kitchen sink pasta salad". Hoping to have a video soon on this.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

I’ve always wondered about both the stuffing and the dehydrated gravy packets, good to hear they pair well with dehydrated potatoes! Will definitely have to check out your pasta salad video!

[@tonyabrowninghikes]

@@TheMostImportantStep they are great! My last trip I even added cheese. So yummy!

[@moclips1]

Excellent post with clever ideas, matched with great comments...am looking for low sodium ideas since we're more campers and not hikers or backpackers...as a kid Our Mum used to make "Hobo Stew" on the campfire: diced potatoes & carrots, uncooked rice, ground beef and some cans of vegetable beef soup with a bunch of water. Yummy!

[@jenniferbarron2317]

I found trailtopua has dehydrated beef and chicken. Love adding the chicken and bacon to pasta roni. Really yummmy!

[@bigsky2081]

My favorite home dried meal is seven layer casserole. Lots of recipes on line. Its very filling and satisfyingly edible.

[@abrahamnorthhampton3327]

This is great! In town,, have bought just regular noodles of various sorts (spaghetti, linguini, capellini, etc) instead of ramen, since I don't like the preservatives in most ramen packs). Smash them into small pieces and bag them in baggies. They stay perfectly fresh until you use them. Even sent them to myself in a supply box, without any issues. Definitely agree about the Twisted sides. They are very tasty! Getting harder to find, unfortunately...

[@daveb572]

Here's an idea for you. I take my own dehydrated vegetables, Lipton chicken or vegetable soup packets, and La Moderna Fideo noodles or something similar and I have have a very hearty and filling soup in individual servings. Start with rehydrating the veggies then add the soup package, and the noodles if using the chicken flavor. If using the packaged vegetable soup add the noodles near the end of the cook to give the veggies time to rehydrate properly. You can even add dehydrated or canned meats if you like. A bowl of this, a few slices of canned brown bread sprinkled with some butter powder or ghee, and you won't go hungry.

[@eddiethehitchhikingmaltipo6754]

Hiker on a budget...the two go hand in hand😊. Butter y’all 😋, Olive oil and hard cheeses can last for a couple days on the trail if conditions are right 👍🏼 another good one Bailey.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

I need to bring cheese with me more often! 🧀

[@albertomedina3933]

Outstanding ..

[@switter1999]

I take a 2lb piece of pork belly. I always camp in the winter so I don’t need to refrigerate it. I just rotisserie a chunk and cut strips off to eat whenever. It’s like eating bacon. Probably as healthy as bacon too, but whatever. It’s good and no need to season if cooking over a fire. It’s good plain.

[@jbhcep1019]

one of our favorites is chili flavored ramen with a thai chili tuna pack...little spicy but lots of flavor...we love mixing the flavored tuna packs with ramen but the thai chili is our favorite!

[@carolynbiester8349]

One of my favorites is the Taste of India Spiced Rice w/raisins. It is packaged in a take-out type container, but I just remove that and pack the contents. It heats up in a flash, and oh so yummy!

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Sounds tasty!

[@coffeemaninsanity8596]

Great video

[@hiddendesertbushcraft2511]

Pro tip lol. For butter... you can pre cut the butter and then freeze it. Same goes if you want to make a compound butter with herbs, garlic etc. It will last a bit longer in you pack.

[@nebc_yukonyeti]

Quinoa is also a great option & a complete protein. 🥾❤️

[@2002mitchell]

Ghee>salted butter>unsalted butter for longevity! For early days on the trail I'll go a bit heavy with things like salami/hard cheese AND prebaked sliced sweet potatoes/arugula/medium boiled eggs (w/salt&pepper). Brats can last quite a few days and are sooo satisfying after a big day. I also often bring a plastic jar of peanut butter along, it's heavy but calorie dense and is easy to add to many meals or just eat on it's own. Love all your suggestions for lighter weight and longer lasting meals. Thanks!

[@TheMostImportantStep]

I’ve definitely hoped on the real food train after over half a year of living out of a backpack. In addition to peanut butter I’ll bring jelly and tortillas to make PB&J wraps. I also recently brought a bell pepper to go with some brats. Pizza rolls, frozen burritos, salads, etc are all great, but every time I wonder why my pack is heavy all I have to do is hold up the food bag 😂 Thanks for sharing!

[@displacedgranitestater2821]

Sometimes I pack out those 40-50 cent Tina’s bean and cheese burritos with some Taco Bell fire sauce packets. They are usually thawed by the time you get where you are going and can be wrapped in foil and warmed by a campfire or in the sun. Cheap and easy!

[@TheMostImportantStep]

This is a great idea!!!! I packed out a burrito on my thru hike last year, but this is a game changer for sure!

[@robertcurrey1929]

I had all of these on my '19 PCT thru. Rice sides mostly.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Rice sides are certainly my go-to. So easy and cheap!

[@greysonphoenix3442]

For Ramen I add ova easy eggs, powdered cheese, freeze dried veggies, a bit of powdered butter, and freeze dried mountain house chopped chicken. You can add extra powdered bullion for more flavor if you want. And if you REALLY need more calories you can put it in a tortillas and make it a burrito.

[@travelclimb]

Ive been making my own dehydrated meals…and they taste amazing! Like real good and pretty much just organic. The only thing is that they have like half the calories than freeze dried ones on the shelf. They are lighter weight so maybe I can double the size but still, that gets me full quikcly

[@TheMostImportantStep]

That’s awesome! I commend people who make their own meals from scratch as I personally don’t have the patience to make meals like that

[@sirsir108]

That has intrigued me quite a bit and one day I'd like to get there one day it seems like dehydrating things high in fat (like curry from the coco milk...)there is some stuff you can add that helps the fats dehydrate right but I forget the name but you would want to play with the rational dial it in before going out with it

[@lwflook45]

For breakfast I love dehydrated apple and instant oat meal with sugar and cinnamon

[@SamwiseOutdoors]

I really do love those Near East brand couscous mixes. They offer a lot of good flavors, the downside is that particularly windy days can blow tge couscous right off your spoon!

[@Catspurrlounge]

Butter will last on refrigerated for a good good while you can also pack in ghee which needs no refrigeration as far as milk you can also go with powdered milk. Usually with mac and cheese on the quick I just do it with water boil it with water and throw in the powdered cheese packet. But then again if you want to flavor it up a bit you can these two items.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

I’ll have to check out the ghee, I haven’t heard of that before. Great tips!

[@RogueAero]

I eat ramen bombs off trail on occasion. It's kind of a guilty pleasure meal for me at this point. I use an Idahoan packet with the creamy chicken ramen and usually a packet of tomato basil tuna/salmon.

[@elynnm3016]

Occasionally I crave "trail tuna noodle casserole" creamy chicken ramen, tuna packets and couple packs of mayo. Then I realized it's better as a trail meal 😂

[@drdirtkansas6824]

When we include the mac-n-cheese... we get the "deluxe" version - - which has a sauce packet.. adds some weight - so terrible for a through hike, but the cheese needs no milk or butter and is creamy and really satisfying, especially if it is cold and wet out .Another thing we always include, is some packets of Taco Bell Fire sauce

[@ajw9975]

Couple of hints that work for me: powdered milk (skim or preferably whole) to add to your dishes or drinks; dried mixed veggies (to keep you regular) and add variety to your dinners.

[@GarouLady]

In the process of trying to make low carb dehydrated meals for diabetics and those who are on low carb/keto/paleo. ATM I'm using spaghetti squash with butter and chicken bullion seasoning. now I'll add some PB and worshire sauce to it as well.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Mmmm! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@chaoticswampwitch6339]

Yes!! As a diabetic, I'm learning to dehydrate the food I can eat for an upcoming backpacking thruhike. None of the pre dehydrated food packs fit my requirements. Its frustrating, however making them yourself most definitely taste better!

[@gdub2485]

I love Ghee, shelf stable and good calories. Spread it on crackers, in pasta and rice. Gives your skin a lovely sheen when you sweat.

[@alanrichert8252]

I always bring a wide thermos .to save fuel.anytime rice or pasta meals say to bring to a boil then simmer . Just bring them to a boil then pour the food in to the thermos. It also frees up your stove if you want to cook something to go with your pasta. Also I have found that most knorse meals are to big for one person so I only cook half and save the rest in a ziplock for later

[@graemer3657]

Hi, I take anything with carbs (pasta, ramen, couscous etc) and then make a liquid to hydrate it in that contains peanut butter and lentils. It costs nothing but is a fantastic flavoured boost and weight / calories trade off.

[@aidandawn2717]

get tuna in a pouch instead of a can and and it to mac and cheese. soooooo good

[@stevealcocer4862]

Cut / fry spam and add to noodles, rice, or reman meals. If you fish, barbeque trout and make trout helper.🤤

[@btolson66]

Powdered butter and milk make the creamiest Mac and cheese! Powdered butter added to the knor is also super good 👍

[@shellymilligan2953]

I carry dehydrated vegetables to add to Ramen and other stuff

[@ulperformance4087]

Don't forget freeze dried powdered butter is available - safer than regular butter

[@shalvahmbmacdonald8487]

Great! You can also make ghee - needs no refrigeration.

[@daveevans7151]

These are all great and am fairly new to backpacking. I struggle with the idea of draining and cleaning my pot (have been using an MSR windburner). Not so much on how to do it but trying to follow LNT…would really love to hear ideas on how you or your other viewers handle this. Appreciate the help!

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Great question! Most folks just add a bit of water and drink the remnants (or feed it to the dogs). With cold soaking it’s easy to just leave it and prep the next meal with the leftovers (assuming you’re not doing two really different meals like potatoes and oatmeal)

[@dancechris05]

@@TheMostImportantStep Have the same question! When you say drain the water for Mac and cheese, where are you draining the water?

[@realfingertrouble]

Weirdly I just saw this video from Chief Corso on cleaning up kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJvJf6psoq-Gm6c

[@bobj8611]

Give Stove Top stuffing a try. Combine with instant gravy.

[@ashleya3731]

Whey Protein Isolate is a good Protein powder you can try on the trail. I can't eat a lot of sugar or carbs so I lean on Protein more and those shakes are solid snacks 👌

[@getlostgary9380]

Bake store-bought biscuits (homemade may work, but might crumble too much) Cut 4 biscuits into small squares and dehydrate in low oven. Place in baggie with one cup biscuit gravy mix (if you get a two cup packet- use half) Optionally, add some shredded jerky, beef stick, etc. Add 1/2 cup hot water. (gravy packet will call for one cup water, but is made to thicken as it boils - so use half the water)

[@joemama22]

I am a terrible cook... Thanks for the great ideas...

[@robsmith2956]

Lots of stuff can be made at home for penny on the head . Made BBQ rice ,gravy hamburger rice and noodles. Wild rice and meat with sauce. chili mac your own instant rice chicken beef whatever you can cook on your stove and keep low-fat or no-fat you can dry it out. Made dry spaghetti several different dishes. A simple rummage sale $3 dehydrator is your best friend. Just remember no fat no oil it will store for years. Did dear meat 3 years plus ago is still good now as it was the day I put in the jar.

[@SmokeytheJeep]

Add a pouch of vacuum-sealed chicken or other protein to either Knorr or Ramen to kick them up a notch. Makes for a tasty, filling meal.

[@richardjohnson4052]

I buy Ghee and transfer a trip's amount to a tupperware container and carry in a silicon bag to prevent leaks.

[@williamgoethe7298]

Zaterains jumbolia with either a one person serving pack of chicken or some dehydrated chicken

[@jodimiller7931]

Mine is Tyson pre cooked chicken, Idahoan roasted garlic mashed potatoes, cooked together to make a chicken mashed potato bowl.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Mmmmm!

[@rhodeislandhiker4745]

Thanksgiving dinner , one part mash one part stuffing , powdered turkey gravy or brown gravy dried cranberries pecans if u have them and some of that package chicken .thank me later hahaha

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Sounds great! I’ll probably still be on the CDT at thanksgiving, so I’ll definitely use this then!

[@rhodeislandhiker4745]

@@TheMostImportantStep I'm trying out the pad Thai recipe this weekend on a 5 day hike . Thanks for the tip

[@robertward2888]

Kraft mac and cheese pretty much consists of elbow macaroni and a cheese pouch. No butter or milk. Also, you can just eat the package of cheese and use the macaroni later in another way.

[@auntdayskitchen6315]

I just found out that you can buy dehydrated refried beans which are easy to cold soak Which would be great to add to your rice sides and make burritos to carry with you

[@TheMostImportantStep]

This reminds me that I should carry rice and beans more. Good to know about the refried beans!

[@trentblender3318]

this is how taco bells beans are made lmao

[@realfingertrouble]

@@TheMostImportantStep dehydrating rice might sound like a crazy step but saves so much fuel, and means you can add your own stock and mushrooms or meat to it, to make your own custom sides.

[@kerrylanders3219]

Get Mac Yourself cheddar cheese sauce mix. Add to couscous, instant grits or potatoes. Cheese it up.

[@autumnsimms4556]

I was sold on your channel when you used a fire starting rod.

[@abingdonpresbyterianchurch4069]

Ghee (clarified butter) is shelf stable at room temp

[@Saltfly]

1/2 package Idahoan taters,dehydrated mixed veggies, I pack Sunkist chicken 1/2 pack chicken gravy. And blackpepper. Mmmm good

[@ras0220]

Stove top stuffing and Idahoan mashed potatoes.

[@Just1Guy1000]

Polenta or grits is versatile.

[@Xrayblazer3595]

Baked potatoes! With salt and pepper and garlic powder and BUTTER

[@TheMostImportantStep]

That sounds like a great meal for the first night on trail!

[@chuckhenderson4765]

Canadian here i wish we had the selection of knorr rice sides that you do , i add dehyrdated meat and veggies to mine

[@TheMostImportantStep]

It’s a bummer for sure, but at least you have ketchup flavored potato chips!

[@chuckhenderson4765]

@@TheMostImportantStep ewwwwww!!! i will give them ALL to you gladly!

[@Drifter6942]

Real Canadian Superstore and Walmart usually have a great selection of Knorr brands. I live in B.C, and Save On has a decent selection also

[@Drifter6942]

@@TheMostImportantStep Umm, ya, Yuck !! I am with Chuck on this one, those are gross lol

[@michelleburt4198]

Back country satay, soy sauce flavoured ramen, peanut butter, coconut milk powder and a hot sauce sachet, for extra crunch add salted peanuts and for extra protein add a pouch of cooked chicken

[@tracykooken2606]

hi. JUST came across ur channel. sounds like youve spent some time on trail !!!! i live in th S.W desert ( Arizona ) area. and butter ( and chese ) grts mega messy ;( BUT, i found that if i melt the butter ahead of time and add a wee bit if olive oil i have used it on trail up to a 5 day trip ( so far ) with no isuue. up ur way i imagine getting hot enuf to spoil butter is not a concern ???? some day i would loke to check out ur area ,,,, NO PARKS tho !!!!!!! but im afraid of skeetters !!! lol. they love me, what can i say !! im sure u have a season , other than winter ??? where bugs r ALMOST down to nothing. very nice video . i signed up aand i'll check some of ur other stuff. happy trails n stay safe 8)

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Sweet tip! Alaska is a gigantic state, so there’s a lot of variation in terrain, climate, etc! Shoulder seasons are short, but certainly exist and there are less bugs during that time. I found September to be pleasant in south central Alaska, though it certainly can snow.

[@PBGuacamole]

Somewhat related - What I've started doing is carrying a green bell pepper on the trail. You can add it to anything to get a fresh crisp crunch and it will keep / not get squished in your pack. I usually pair that with a tortilla and some salami and it's so satisfying and refreshing.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Great suggestion! I am taking an avocado with me this week to do something similar!

[@DesireKlingensmith]

You can buy dehydrated veggies in bulk to meal prep a bunch of Pad Tai for even cheaper. Skip the plastic bowls.

[@tobyjamison6801]

Chilli Mac!!

[@georgemcdaniel8625]

Angel Hair Pasta cooks very quickly

[@FredrikKurtson]

good video! Oh, yes, the brand Knorr ("with a twist" - in Swedish ) is pronounced with a hard k, like c in coca-cola

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Good to know! Thinking back, I guess I’ve never heard anyone else say the name out loud! 🤦‍♀️

[@FredrikKurtson]

@@TheMostImportantStep :-) Also the R's are rolling like a pirate would say it knorrrrrrr

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Oh no! I’m not very good at rolling my r’s! I’ll have to practice while hiking alone...

[@HoneyBadger7590]

Exactly what I was looking for lol. I gotta let the wife know. The apple smoked bacon is pretty gross 😝 but I love the garlic mashed potatoes. Were at the (recipe building stage)….putting her gear together now so she can get on the AT in Feb. She’s getting pretty excited and I’m so happy for her. #lifechanging. Great vid! 👍

[@realfingertrouble]

Some good tips - sadly it seems nearly all the YT hiker folx are US-based, so for instance we can't get the Knorr rice packets in the UK, or mac and cheese, instant rice etc. Even Nido milk powder is hard to find (but we have Marvel which is almost just as good, just skimmed) Actually it seems those kind (the dehydrated ones rather than microwaveable heavy ones) are getting rare here - when I see dehydrated rissoto - one of my staples - as a special in ALDI I buy loads. We can get some packet rice or pasta or Pot Noodles here but usually has stuff I ca't eat in it - I am gluten intolerant which makes all these meals a lot harder, and I have to take a lot of GF stuff with me, or as I have been doing now, making and dehydrating my own meals. Also my own jerky - and mushrooms - you can dehydrate mushrooms or more expensively get those porcini packets - and then throw them into meals, or made a mushroom powder to add to anything by blending some in a coffee grinder! My advice re: pasta is carry olive oil - which can also double up as for risotto or even a butter replacement if you use extra virgin - even as cooking oil, although extra virgin isn't great for that, it will work. I use it in sandwiches cos otherwise they are a bit dry. And also doesn't go off, unlike butter (even with UK's fabled bad weather, cheese and butter goes off really fast in the summer). And also carry some parmesan shavings, or hard cheese powder....the latter lasts ages, parmesan doesn't really go off, it can go dry or maybe mouldy if very damp, but it's pretty stable especially grated. It makes really bland pasta and risotto amazing! Those hard cheese powder packets taste foul if you eat it directly, like wood shavings, but if you mix it in with olive oil, it's really nice. Dol Mio in the UK do these small plastic tubs of pasta sauce - no heavy bottles - those are great. Also beef/bacon/meat jerky is great for cooking - add it at the start of your pasta if you're cooking from scratch, or I guess pre-soak it...and it adds extra flavour, even to pre-made stuff. Seconded about taking spices - I did that at first and didn't use them, so narrowed it down to salt and pepper, and use those a lot.

[@greysonphoenix3442]

Get a #10 can of both dried butter and dried milk foe the Mac n cheese!! :)

[@ryanwilliams3916]

I use the Knorr's sides and Idahoan potatoes a lot on the trail. I enjoy supplementing my meals with what I can forage or catch from nature, depending on the season and what is legal to harvest. Fish, frogs and berries have all been on the menu. Using pasta is also dependent on the availability of potable water, whether you are packing it in or treating water from the trail.

[@TheMostImportantStep]

I’m hoping to start foraging more this summer. My berry knowledge has gotten much better the last few years and now I’m working on mushrooms. Have also considered bringing a sling shot to get birds (where legal), but not quite there yet. I’ve never met anyone who has had frog on trail! That’s super cool!

[@lisasdayoff503]

I get dehydrated chicken. Rehydrate.... Add taco mix. Put in wrap. Eat

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Mmmmm! Sounds tasty!

[@richardjohnson4052]

The problem with the Knorr bags is the bags are NOT waterproof. I find they leak when I add hot water so I bring a silicon bag. I can put the knorr meal and the instructions only in the silicon bag to reduce weight and waste. Plus, I can add whatever I want to the knorr-in-my-silicon-bag.

[@rickjones5774]

Chili mac!!!!

[@robertweldon7909]

Knorr's rice and pasta sides are one of the best "quick and easy" meal options I know. These dry ingredients packs will store for long periods and COOKS up in about 20 minutes. Depending upon which FLAVOR you choose to prepare, you can add canned chicken, tuna, frozen mixed vegies (at home) or small canned diced at the end of the cooking time, pieces of any flavor jerky, and other meats, to create a one dish dinner that is filling and nourishing for as many as 3 people (smaller portions). I actually prepare several of these at least twice a week. Whether for home use, backpacking and trekking, and even emergency prepping, Knorr's sides are great.. Now the other stuff is great too, but I usually don't cook that stuff. If you don't mind a bit of weight, here is a rather nice dinner 1 one small pack of yellow rice, cooked and drained 2 one small jar of pasta sauce 3 one drained can of salad shrimp. Cook rice and drain, heat pasta sauce and add the drained shrimp combine or pour sauce over the rice. Season to taste and you have quick shrimp creole. Great video. ;-)

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Good points! One of my favorite meals last year was Spanish rice with fiesta chicken and taco sauce. Just adding a bit of flavor and protein took it to the next level. I’ll definitely have to try out your recommendation!

[@denniskielton2447]

Serious question about mountain house here. How does ANYONE think those are sustainable when there is only 1/4 of the calories you need (on a regular day not hiking) in a pack? You'd have to eat 4-5 of those a day on a hike to sustain, at $10 a piece that's $50/day for food alone. You may as well order Uber Eats to the trail at that price haha. Those are just a luxury, a treat after a cold day, but hardly a meal unless you eat snacks all day.

[@jonathanmoore8325]

I pre-prep my ramen bombs with a pack of ramen, a little Idahoan mashed potatos, and some minute rice. The secret is adding a couple packets of Texas Pete Hot sauce!

[@TheMostImportantStep]

Oooo! I haven’t heard of adding rice to ramen bombs before, will have to try that! Also hot sauce makes everything better

[@johnchaney9932]

Try adding t v p to all of the things you have mentioned for a protein boost and more calories

[@ky-gearguy1742]

I would appreciate your comments on my recipes and "ky-gear guy" My thing is home cooking with very few items and cheap in the time of freeze dried . Glad to see you use butter, it seems that people think it will make them sick? Regards

[@billprice6458]

Or for the price of a good meal in a restaurant you can get half full on pinnacle foods.

[@51666rmf]

I tried the knor noodles and they were way to watery. Did i do something wrong?