Discover the Best Food to Bring Camping

The best food to bring camping is easy to transport and nutritious. It stores well and doesn’t weigh you down or take up much space. But it’s not just about the proteins and the nutrients – it also tastes good, whether you enjoy it by the fire or in the cool shade of the tent.

Next, we’ll be reviewing the best foods for campers, bringing together established and trustworthy backpacker brands like Mountain House, AlpineAire, and Backpacker’s Country with a few new and interesting brands. We’ll be focusing on healthy, organic products that you’ll be proud to carry in your backpack.

We’re bringing you a lot of different choices, so whether you’re a vegetarian or a pescatarian, a light snacker or a heavy eater, we got you covered. Are you ready for some quick, delicious flavors? Discover now the best foods you can take camping.

Best Meal Meal: Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles

Review

Cooked beefed, sour cream, mushrooms, nonfat milk, and molasses come together into a savory meal that has an unmistakable home-cooked flavor to it. Packing 11 grams of protein per serving, Mountain House’s freeze-dried meal is easy to prepare — just pour boiling water into the package, stir, and wait a bit. You can then eat it straight from the pouch.

The 260 calorie serving makes for a good entree. The only reason we didn’t give it five stars is because of the few additives it contains, like maltodextrin.

Pros

• An inspired mix of ingredients and a classic recipe that won’t fail to quell your hunger
• Quick preparation makes it suitable for any camping situation, whether you’re in a camping area or in the middle of a wild forest
• Good balance of protein and calories per serving
• Lightweight pouch packaging makes it easier to carry than canned food
• Contains 2.5 full servings, possibly lasting you a whole day

Cons

• Contains a few additives as well as allergens like milk, soy, and eggs
• You have to remember to remove the oxygen absorber before pouring water into the pouch
• Doesn’t include organic ingredients like other products in this category

Product Line

• Biscuits & Gravy
• Breakfast Skillet
• Chili Mac with Beef
• Lasagna with Meat Sauce
• Scrambled Eggs W/Bacon

Type of product

This deep-freeze meal is perfect for any campers or backpackers who want to take a classic beef recipe with them on their adventures. It’s among the easier to prepare meals around.

Materials Analysis

The pouch seems to be the usual synthetic yet safe pouch generally used for products in this category, so you have nothing to worry about. It’s relatively easy to dispose of.

Best Simple Meal: AlpineAire Forever Young Macaroni and Cheese

Review

This practical take on a classic mac and cheese recipe looks great with its mix of pasta, pea, carrot, and corn. It combines the convenience of the pouch meal with a wholesome meal that can be served at any time of day. Providing 400 calories and 19 grams of protein in one serving, it’s one of the most nutritious meat-free camping foods you can put in your backpack. You really get a lot for the 7 oz weight of the package.

Pros

• Offers two servings, making this an ideal choice for couples (or very good friends)
• Zero trans-fat per serving makes this one of the healthier pasta and cheese meals for campers
• Durum semolina pasta is enriched with Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Niacin, and other minerals
• One serving provides 100% of the Vitamin A and 40% of the Calcium daily recommended intake

Cons

• Needs to stand for up to 12 minutes before it’s ready to eat — add to that the time you need to boil the water and this meal could take in all around 20 minutes to prepare
• Includes disodium phosphate, an additive
• You have to remove the oxygen absorber before pouring in the water
• Comes in a package that you can’t burn or leave behind, but have to take with you to the nearest trash can

Product Line

• Standard Gourmet Meal Kit
• Wid Tyme Turkey
• Strawberry Granola with Milk
• Creamy Potato Cheddar Soup
• Black Bart Chili with Beef and Beans

Type of product

Hearty and nutritious, this mac and cheese pouch meal suits most palates. It’s an inspired choice for campers who want to pack protein and good calories into a small package.

Materials Analysis

AlpineAire pouches are safe but not the easiest pouches to dispose of. On the plus side, they’re resistant and you don’t have to worry about fitting them into a tight container or bag.

Backcountry Good To-Go Thai Curry Entree

Best Gourmet Camping Food: Good To-Go Thai Curry Entree

Review

Mixing Jasmine rice with anchovies and vegetables, this spicy coconut curry isn’t your average camping meal, which makes it so interesting. It’s a delicious choice for a quick, all-natural, gluten-free, pescatarian meal. Full of flavor and filling, it packs 10 grams of healthy protein and 380 calories per serving. The great accomplishment of this recipe is that it manages to reduce to a convenient package a gourmet dish that you can usually enjoy only in a Thai restaurant.

Pros

• All-natural gourmet meal tantalizes your taste buds without additives
• Contains healthy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and peas
• Contains turmeric powder, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties
• Vibrant packaging makes this product fun to take with you and may stir other’s envy
• Includes two servings per package, for a total of 760 calories

Cons

• Takes over 20 minutes to prepare, meaning you have to start pouring in the water before hunger gets the better of you
• It’s neither organic nor vegetarian
• Even though it’s a delicious meal, if you’re a frequent Thai restaurant eater you may still feel a bit of the freeze-dried flavor of this pouch meal

Product Line

• Mushroom Risotto Entree
• Indian Vegetable Korma
• Korean Bibimbap Double Serving Entree
• Mexican Quinoa Bowl Double Serving Entree
• Oatmeal Single Serving Breakfast Entree

Type of product

This Thai meal camper’s pouch is for those who want to enjoy a more refined meal around the campfire. If you’re tired of the regular oats and marshmallows, it’s definitely for you.

Materials Analysis

Good To-Go packaging is safe and easy to use, though it cannot be burned or disposed of organically. This is your average pouch bag packaging.

The Runner-Up: Backpacker’s Pantry Organic Blueberry Walnut Oats & Quinoa

Review

Oats and walnuts are both dependable foods when camping, and with this recipe, you can enjoy them alongside protein-packed quinoa and delicious blueberries. This breakfast recipe brings you 11 grams of protein and 350 calories in a simple and convenient package. Best of all, it’s organic and vegetarian-friendly. All you need to make it is one cup of boiling water, which you can add straight into the package.

Pros

• Offers an inspired mix of organic ingredients that are perfect for an energy-packed breakfast
• Free-dried blueberries and cane juice add a sweet touch to this nutritious day starter meal
• Has to sit only five minutes, making it one of the fastest to prepare pouch meals on our list
• With its 58 grams of carbohydrates, it’s quite a substantial meal

Cons

• Contains gluten, which makes it not suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance
• Offers only one serving, unlike other pouch meals, and even though it’s filling, it may leave you craving for more
• The evaporated sugarcane juice it contains is actually a fancy word for sugar syrup which adds up to the sugar content of this meal

Product Line

• Mocha Mousse Pie
• Creme Brulee
• Vegetable Medley (Peas, Carrots, Corn)
• Southwestern Corn Chowder
• Three Sisters Stew

Type of product

This quick breakfast pouch meal suits most palates and can be safely enjoyed by vegetarians. It’s a simple and healthy solution for a nutritious camping breakfast for all occasions.

Materials Analysis

The lightweight pouch does not appear to pose any threat to health but is not as easy to dispose of as pouches that can be burned in the fire.

Backpacker’s Pantry Organic Blueberry Walnut Oats & Quinoa

The Winner: Mary Janes Farm Organic Curried Lentil Bisque

Review

A thick lentil soup is a dependable meal for campers, and this quick organic recipe makes it really easy to prepare. Featuring all-natural ingredients, this curried lentil bisque combines the hearty taste of protein-packed lentils with the sharp flavor of cheddar cheese, onion, and garlic. A fine mix of herbs and spices rounds it up its flavor nicely.

It packs 260 calories, 17 grams of protein, and 12 grams of dietary fiber. To make it, you only have to add water into the pouch. This simple organic lentil soup is arguably the best food to bring camping.

Pros

• Organic ingredients make this one of the healthiest camping meals around
• Delicious combination of lentils, sharp cheddar cheese, and pinto bean flakes
• The package can be burned in the campfire, making disposal really easy
• Low in saturated fat compared to other camping foods in the same calorie range
• Good for vegetarians and free from allergens

Cons

• Only 1.5 servings per package means that you will really be getting only one hearty meal out of it
• Relatively high sodium content because of the added salt, but not big enough to worry
• Vegetarian but not vegan

Product Line

• Organic Chili Mac
• Organic Spuds W/ Spinach and Cheese
• Organic Velvety Black Bean Soup
• Organic Kettle Chili
• Organic Santa Fe Pasta

Type of product

This organic, eco-friendly pouch bag meal is ideal for vegetarians who want a quick meal when camping. Also great for any camper who wants to enjoy the warmth of a hearty soup in colder climates.

Materials Analysis

In terms of packaging, the non-aluminum eco pouch is among the best pouches out there. It’s convenient and doesn’t feature any harmful substances. You can also burn the package after your meal.

Wrap Up

Because of their convenience, easy storage, and quick preparation time, pouch bag meals are the best foods you can take with you when you go camping. Among the many recipes available, Good To-Go Thai Curry Entree and Backpacker’s Pantry Organic Blueberry Walnut Oats & Quinoa stand out.

But the best food you can take with you next time you go camping is the organic curried lentil bisque from Mary Janes Farm. Full of proteins and nutrients, this simple soup will warm you up and make you feel like you’re in a special place. Discover now the healthy flavor of the Mary Janes’s Farm Organic Curried Lentil Bisque.

Get more camping meals you can try here.