Backpacking Meals Ranked (Vegan + GF)
Dehydrated prepackaged meals are not something that I would choose to eat if I was not backpacking or camping, but they taste pretty good when you have hiked all day long up a mountain and have not ate anything else besides protein bars and dried fruit. Being plant-based, I am super grateful that so many plant-based backpacking meals now exist. Most that I have found are made by Backpacker’s Pantry or Patagonia Provisions. The ones I will be ranking also happen to be gluten free, which is something else that I avoid. I will be ranking them from the best tasting (in my opinion), to the least desirable. I also suggest always bringing along some packets of spices and hot sauce (if you like some heat). I did not include any of the oatmeals in the ranking, as most of them are naturally plant-based and GF and there are a huge variety of brands out there. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai - This one is so good, I actually would eat it outside of backpacking. I bring this one with me every time I backpack, and sometimes when I am car camping in more remote locations and want to do some quick cooking at the campsite. It has rice noodles, vegetables, peanuts, sriracha, and lime. It is super flavorful and even my husband (who is not plant-based or GF), loves it. It also has 20g of protein and 8g of fiber per serving (2 servings per bag). This meal is more expensive than most of the meals on this list, but is so worth it. You can find it here.
Patagonia Organic Red Bean Chili - You can buy this in original or spicy (I prefer the spicy). Most backpacking meals do not have enough flavor to me, and I have to add seasonings or hot sauce, but not to this one. I actually like it better than most chilis I have had. The Patagonia soups are cheaper than most brands, are at least two servings, are organic, and are made by a company that values sustainability. The only downside? The bags are not vacuum sealed, so we have noticed a lot of air gets in when we are in high elevations, so we end up making a small slit in the packaging to let the air out. The other downside (which may not be a big deal), is you can not rehydrate in the Patagonia bag, like you can most meals. The bag does not reseal and so you end up dirtying your pot. I am guessing this was done to make the packaging more sustainable. The chili has 14g of protein and 12g of fiber per serving (2.5 servings per package). Find it here.
Patagonia Organic Black Bean Soup - This one is almost as good at the chili, although I have not seen a spicy option. It also has corn, tomatoes, and red bell peppers. It has 17g of protein and 13g of fiber per serving (2 servings per bag). Because the Patagonia meals are not vacuum sealed, they also do not last as long as the other meals and expire sooner. Some of the backpacker’s pantry meals have a 10 year shelf life. Find the black bean soup here.
Backpacker’s Pantry Kathmandu Curry - This curry is also packed with a lot of spices, although I did not find it as flavorful as the three listed above. It consists of lentils, potatoes, rice, peas, and carrots. Because I like a bit more spice, I just add some hot sauce to the meal. It has 16g of protein and 14g of fiber per serving (2 servings). This meal is also more affordable than other backpacker pantry meals ($6.95). Purchase it here.
Backpacker’s Pantry Chana Masala - I found this meal pretty flavorful and satisfying, with a bit of a kick, which is nice to see in a backpacking meal (most do not have enough spice for my liking). It has rice, chickpeas, coconut milk, tomato, and a variety of spices. It also is one of the more affordable of the meals ($6.50), has 14 g of protein and 7g of fiber per serving (2 servings). Find it here.
Backpacker’s Pantry Three Sisters Stew - Backpacker’s Pantry makes a Three Sisters Stew and a Three Amigos Veggies Stew. In my opinion, this one is the better of the two, as it has more flavor. This one has brown rice, quinoa, corn, black beans, zucchini, and hatch green chili. It is a bit more bland than the meals listed above, but if you bring some salt, pepper, and hot sauce, it is a pretty solid meal. It has 14g of protein and 13g of fiber per serving (2 servings). Find it here.
Backpacker’s Pantry Three Amigos Veggie Stew - Although not the worse thing that I have ever eaten, it was just too bland for me. It has pinto beans, red beans, chickpeas, veggies, and hemp hearts. I ended up having to add a lot of pepper and hot sauce just to give it some spice and flavor. It has 16g of protein and 13g of fiber per serving (2 servings). Find it here.
Backpacker’s Pantry Cuban Coconut Rice & Black Beans - We tried this one evening and were both very disappointed in how bland it was. It has good reviews online, but we both were just bored by it. Also it was runny with the amount of water it suggested, so I would recommend less water if you try it. It has black beans, rice, coconut, banana, and cilantro. We tasted the coconut, but did not notice any flavors of banana or the cilantro. I would consider trying it again with some rehydrated tropical fruit, lime, and mango hot sauce. It has 14g of protein and 14g of fiber per serving (2 servings). Find it here.
Mango Sticky Rice - Although more of a dessert than a meal, you could easily eat it as a meal for one person. It consists of sticky rice with black seed, mango, and coconut. We had this for dessert one evening and found it bland, with just a hint of mango. It has 5g of protein and 2g of fiber per serving (2 servings). You can find it here.