The Best Backpacking Recipes of 2026

There are certain foods that you should never bring along on a backpacking trip, even though they’re super lightweight and easy to prepare. These include:

• Nuts - Nuts are a great source of protein, minerals, and healthy fats. Unfortunately, they also have a very high amount of calories. This means that, even if you bring just a little bit, you’ll still have too many calories for your trip.
• Chocolate - Chocolate also has too many calories for a backpacking trip. If you crave it, try eating it before your trip and bringing it with you as a special treat, just for after a long hiking day.
• Hot and oily foods - Hot and oily foods like Ramen, mac and cheese, and other highly processed foods are way too heavy for backpacking trips. They also don’t taste very good when eaten cold, so save them for when you’re in camp and away from the trail.

Backpacking is all about being as efficient as possible in terms of your gear and your food. On top of that, it’s also about being as healthy as possible so that you can make it through the trip in one piece.

Here are 5 easy and healthy backpacking recipes that will make your trip better by both helping you save time and by making you healthier.

Breakfast - Oatmeal is the king of breakfasts and the best choice for a backpacking trip because it’s super easy to prepare, delicious in many different flavors, and full of vitamins and nutrients. You can bring it with you in a Ziploc bag and then mix it with water from a stream or river.

Lunch - For lunch, you can take sandwiches or wraps. They’re super easy to make (all you have to do is slap some peanut butter and jelly between two slices of bread) and they’re a great midday snack. Just make sure you avoid bringing high-calorie and heavy foods like potato chips.

Dinner - For dinner, you can bring a ready-made meal, like a vegetarian chili. Just make sure to choose one that’s low in sodium, high in fiber, and high in protein so that it keeps you full until morning.

Dessert - For dessert, bring something sweet, like a bag of dried fruit or chocolate-covered almonds. These are great for a couple of reasons: one, they’re good for you, and two, they’ll keep you from feeling hungry for hours on end.

Drinks - For drinks, bring water, tea, and coffee. For water, you can just collect it from a stream or river. Tea and coffee can both be easily made by adding hot water to a Ziploc bag containing the tea or coffee.

Quinoa is one of the best vegan backpacking foods out there because it’s so light and easy to cook. This recipe also includes kale, which is a super nutritious food. It’s easy to make and can feed two people, so it makes a great backpacking meal for two.

Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa, 4 cups water, 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 clove garlic, 1 large red bell pepper, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp chipotle chili powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 bunch kale, 1 can red beans, Hot sauce (optional)

Instructions:

1. Rinse and then cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the bag.
2. Chop the kale and add it to a large pan with the olive oil.
3. Add the garlic, bell pepper, and all the spices except for the salt.
4. Once the kale has wilted, add the red beans and the quinoa.
5. Add salt to taste and serve with hot sauce, if desired.

This bowl is amazing for both breakfast and dinner. It’s full of nutrients and flavor, plus it has the added bonus of being very easy to make.

The only downside is that you’ll either need to bring some kind of bowl or use a bowl you already own.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup quinoa, 3/4 cup water, 1/2 cup black beans, 1/2 cup corn, 1 large tomato, 1/2 avocado, Salsa (optional)

Instructions:

1. Rinse and then cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the bag.
2. Chop the tomatoes and avocado and mix them together with the quinoa.
3. Add the black beans and the corn on top and serve with salsa, if desired.

This curried lentil and chickpea meal is both filling and delicious. The spices, like turmeric, are great for helping you stay healthy while hiking and backpacking.

Plus, they add a ton of flavor to the meal, making it easy to get hungry hikers to eat their veggies!

Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 cup dried lentils, 1 cup dried chickpeas, 2 cups water, 1 can diced tomatoes, 4 tbsp curry powder, 1 tsp turmeric, 2 tbsp coconut milk, Salt and pepper, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp coriander, 2 cups chopped spinach, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, Cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
2. Add the onion and the garlic and sauté until softened.
3. Add the lentils, chickpeas, water, tomatoes, and all the spices.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and let it simmer until the lentils are soft.
5. Add the coconut milk and simmer the mixture for another few minutes.
6. Add the spinach, lemon juice, and cinnamon, if desired, and let the mixture simmer for a few more minutes.
7. Serve the lentil and chickpea curry over rice or quinoa.

If you’re going on a backpacking trip and want to enjoy your trip as much as possible, it is important that you bring the right food.

The food you bring must be light, nutritious, and easy to make. The easy and healthy backpacking recipes will help you do just that. Thanks for reading!

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