The Best Backpacking Meals of 2024

They say you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Well, folks — we’re here to tell ya — you certainly can with this backcountry banquet. Boasting the best calorie-to-weight ratio of anything on this list, without skimping on taste or nutrition, Peak Refuel’s Chicken Pesto ($13) is hands down our favorite backpacking meal for taxing ultralight missions that require maximum energy.

Thumbing through the freeze-dried selections at an REI during a resupply on his thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail, one of our authors had to do a double take when he glanced at the specs of this meal. 920 calories in a 5.7-ounce package?! What wizardry Peak Refuel employs, we know not — but most other companies don’t have it.

Skeptical, he picked one up and had it that night for dinner. Not only did it fill him to the brim, but it was one of the better-tasting meals he’d had on trail to date. Peak Refuel has since become our go-to brand for featherlight backpacking trips that are calorically demanding. These aren’t just empty calories either. Packed with 43 grams of protein, with plenty of carbs and fats for long-term energy, this meal is a powerhouse for endurance activities.

And it doesn’t stop there. While many other meals with this high of a calorie count require well over 2 cups of water, they have somehow been able to rehydrate their entire meal with a scant 2/3 cup. This is a godsend for dry camps or when you’re running low on fuel to boil large amounts of water.

It’s difficult to ding this delicious dinner. But if we had to point out some cons; the relatively high price tag, and the difficulty in getting all the ingredients to rehydrate in the recommended 10 minutes aren’t ideal. Small prices to pay for such a stalwart meal.

For an even heartier option, check out its Beef Pasta Marinara, which is loaded with 1,040 calories and 49 g of protein. We tend to favor the taste of the Chicken Pesto, but this is another hardworking option.

Rising from roots in emergency preparedness, Readywise has burst onto the backpacking scene with a whole slew of delicious dishes for each meal of the day. We’ve tested just about every one of them, as they quickly became our meal-of-choice for thru-hikes of the CDT and AT in 2021. Their approachable price point, solid ingredients, and respectable calorie-to-weight ratio made them shoo-ins for a financially strapped aspiring thru-hiker.

Hands down our favorite concoction from the brand is the Still Lake Lasagna with Sausage ($7.50). One of the more hearty options in its lineup, the lasagna has an incredible taste that fills in all the corners of a starving backpacker’s belly after a brutal day. We’ve sampled several different “lasagnas” from other brands, and this one strikes pretty darn close to that traditional bake-at-home flavor we’ve all grown to love. Pro-tip: chuck a handful of croutons on top for more of a crunchy, “baked” texture.

While this is an efficient meal to bring along, it does take a good amount of water (2 cups) to make, which isn’t awesome at dry camps. We also found it harder to rehydrate all ingredients in the meal when compared to other options.

Aside from that, you really can’t go wrong with these high-energy backpacking picks. They deliver adequate, long-lasting energy, cook up fast, and are downright tasty to boot.

Hoooboy, do we love the taste of Pad Thai on trail! We don’t even care that it’s on the heavy side, it’s quickly become our all-time favorite flavor for any adventure. Want to feel like a bonafide backcountry chef as well? Do we have the meal for you. Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai ($10) not only tastes amazing, but also has you add several ingredients throughout the cooking process, making it feel like much more of a home-cooked meal than just pulling an oxygen absorber from the pouch and dumping water in.

Boil 2 cups of water (yeah … a bit much) and pour it in, squeeze a pouch of peanut butter into the noodles and let them sit, and then sprinkle actual peanuts and flavorful sriracha lime powder over the final product. We’ve got Chef Boyardee over here! Trust us — after months of mixing nothing but hot water with your meals on a thru-hike, this feels like cooking for royalty.

We’ll often bring some extra sauces and spices to spruce up our freeze-dried meals, but this one needs no additions. The sriracha lime bursts with flavor and the crunchy peanuts seem to bring it all together. The texture is something you’d order at a restaurant.

Our quibbles with this meal lie in the sheer amount of single-use packaging it employs, and the fact that it requires a good deal of water. Aside from that, it packs a calorically dense punch, and is by far one of the best flavors we’ve ever sampled in the wild.

The most beloved of Heather’s flavors of buckwheat breakfasts, the Apple Pie ($9) is said to be a bit tart and not too sweet. We like that these meals are cognizant of many folks’ dietary needs and they’re not overwhelmed with sugar and sodium.

530 calories in a 4-ounce package passes the 100 calorie/ounce rule we try to go off of for backpacking, so it’s a win in our books. We wish there was a bit more protein for a breakfast meal, but the taste is great, and we feel it gives us adequate energy for the day ahead.

We do love how little water this meal requires (4 ounces), as we don’t have to be too mindful of saving a bunch for the morning at dry camps. The anticipation of this tasty treat is bound to raise you from the dead in the wee hours of the morning on trail!

Perhaps one of the best lunches we’ve had from a bag, Pinnacle Foods tops our personal list with its Herb Roasted Chicken and White Cheddar Dumplings ($15).

With one of the better calorie-to-weight ratios out there and packed with healthy energy, this is a top pick for the ultralight cult — if the price isn’t too much of a deterrent.

We’d eat this every day without a problem. It’s comfort in a bowl. A mix of marinated chicken, delicious dumplings, green beans, carrots, and parsley in a fabulous sauce, and you pretty much forget you’re eating a backpacking meal. You pay a bit more, but it’s worth it.

In the timeless words of Tom Haverford, “Treat yourself.”

The clear favorite among the paleo options, this meat-eaters’ curry ($13) is a pile of meat, veggies, spices, and pineapple. That’s it.

It’s described both as “fabulous” and “the best backpacking meal I’ve had.” However, this is another meal that folks suggest waiting a bit more time for the meal to get fully rehydrated.

It also doesn’t have the best calorie-to-weight ratio, so isn’t optimal for ultralight missions.

As a child of Ohio, one of our authors was a frequent field-tripper to the Neil Armstrong Museum, where her family would all get astronaut ice cream sandwiches.

Neil Armstrong is cool and all, but those ice cream sandwiches were legendary. And thanks to Backpacker’s Pantry ($4) and NASA, we can now take them backpacking. They’re so good, you guys. And the sentimental soul within is excited each time we have one of these in our pack.

These are simply incredible for rounding out a hearty meal around the fire, or even rewarding yourself after you’ve conquered a tough section of trail. We can’t recommend these enough for their barely there weight and incredible taste. Just make sure you bring enough to share — you could quickly make some enemies if you’re the only one snacking on one in your trail family.

We hate to say that Mountain House has the eggy breakfast side of camping cornered, but we’re personally obsessed with every egg-based breakfast in their arsenal. The packs of eggs and bacon are super light and just the right size for breakfast.

But our favorite — and another fan favorite — is this breakfast hash ($10). Chiles, shredded beef, beans, taters, and eggs! It’s so good, and we always have enough left over for lunch. Win-win.

This offers plenty of calories to confidently charge into a long day on trail. Plus, it boasts a solid calorie-to-weight ratio.

Another hearty breakfast option that’s mindful of diet is this organic meal from Backpackers Pantry ($13). Ingredients are all organic and natural; there are no weird, difficult-to-pronounce chemicals listed.

One reviewer remarked that this meal is “hella tasty” — a phrase you rarely see in these freeze-dried parts. The meal hydrates somewhat fast, but takes a bit more water than other breakfasts, and the dry weight isn’t the lightest for only 360 calories.

Good To-Go has been an absolute staple of our backpacking loadout for thousands of miles — the brand just doesn’t miss. The lightweight, smaller packages disappear easier in your pack, and the taste is consistently satisfying.

The Thai Curry ($10) is simply a standout. It looks terrible after it’s absorbed water, but don’t be dismayed. This is one of the few meals I don’t add anything to once it’s hot and ready for action. It’s a hunting camp go-to after a long day on the mountain.

This meal in particular does take more water than we generally like, and you have to sit for 20 minutes while you wait in agonizing hunger. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.

For the calorically indulgent and dietarily unrestricted, this hearty morning feast ($10) is one of the most popular backpacking meals of all time.

One reviewer said, “After opening the pouch, I could have sworn someone dumped my mom’s biscuits and gravy in place of the once crouton-looking mound. Absolutely delicious.”

This was one of our author’s staples on several of his thru-hikes, and he has to confess that he ate this meal at all times of the day — not just for breakfast. It makes a great “corner-filler” after a lighter dinner meal or even a celebratory snack after reaching the top of a climb. It has a solid calorie-to-weight ratio, making it a no-brainer for the weight-conscious ultralight crowd.

It’s without a doubt delicious and moral-boosting if you’ve been trotting around in the backcountry for any number of days, but isn’t great for those with dietary restrictions. If you need a quick pick-me-up that will fuel you on particularly grueling days, this is one of our favorite breakfasts for the job.

The first time we ate this incredible meal ($10) was fireside, and we hadn’t even hiked yet. We made our camping partner try it because we were so blown away by how good it was. Our new favorite backpacking dinner is creamy, sausagey, delicious, cheesy goodness.

It’s not the best for folks with dietary restrictions and takes a while to hydrate. Still, it has a passable calorie-to-weight ratio and doesn’t require a ton of water.

Diet be darned, this is worth the full indulgent leap into dairy, gluten, and meaty excellence.

The Backpacker’s Pantry Louisiana Red Beans and Rice ($8) is another fan favorite — so much so that it’s Amazon’s Choice (when in stock)! Vegans love it, and so does everyone else. Tips include adding a little less water and letting it sit for an extra 5-10 minutes to allow the beans to fully rehydrate.

We’re loving the price tag as well, especially for long-distance backpackers. It has a pretty bad calorie-to-weight ratio, and a long prep time, but aside from that is a great-tasting, hearty option for vegans or lovers of the classic red beans and rice combo.

Trailtopia got extra creative with its entreé backpacking meals. The Sweet Potato Chili Mac ($12) rehydrates amazingly well, serves two, and is chock full of elbow mac noodles, beans, onions, and chunks of sweet potato. Our favorite part of this meal? It’s the homemade spicy chili sauce and five-year shelf life for us.

This packs a serious caloric punch, and is great for the hungry thru-hiker on the verge of despair. While it’s designed for two, this is easily gobbled up by a famished dirtbag at the end of a long day on trail. The whole enchilada is heavy, but it still has a passable calorie-to-weight ratio, and provides the hiker with loads of long-lasting energy for the long haul.

Pro tip from our staff: This meal pairs great with grilled tortillas or chips. There’s also a beef version for meat lovers.

We’ve given Pinnacle Foods some love in this roundup already, but we felt it important to mention another one of our favorite recipes. The Thai Peanut Curry with Roasted Vegetables and Rice Noodles ($16) slaps you in the face with flavor — in the best possible way.

We took this meal on a recent demanding backpacking trip along the Cumberland Trail, and it was a welcome treat at the end of a brutally hot day. This packs an absurd amount of ingredients into a small batch. Roasted bell peppers, onions, broccoli, zucchini, sweet potatoes, edamame, and garlic join forces with rice noodles and a rich coconut-curry peanut sauce to deliver quite the complicated concoction. It’s topped off with cilantro, lime, and scallions to give it even more of a flair. Is your mouth watering yet?

The loud, exotic flavor was a pleasant shock to our tastebuds after consuming the other relatively dull freeze-dried meals we schlepped along. If this brand wasn’t quite so expensive, these would probably be staples in our backpacking loadout. $16 a pouch gets pricey, and if you tack on shipping and tax from their website, it’s comparable to a steak dinner out on the town.

There were almost no cons that surfaced, but we did find it a bit difficult to fully stir our meal after pouring the water into the omnidegradable package. The tall profile also makes it difficult to scrape every morsel of food out of the corners. You have the option of choosing a wide, low “retort pouch” option at checkout, but the omnidegradable packs are fully compostable — which we think is rad.

Qualms aside, this is (aside from Pad Thai) perhaps one of the best flavors we’ve run across in our sampling of backpacking meals. It’s enough to make you want to pack up and move to Thailand simply for the cuisine.