Review: Backpacker’s Pantry Backpacking Meals
Backpacker’s Pantry offers a solid lineup of freeze-dried meals that strike a good balance between taste, convenience, and price.
Backpacker’s Pantry has been a staple in freeze-dried meals for outdoor adventurers since 1971. With meals that are focused on providing healthy and sustainable ingredients, they currently offer 26 different entrees, 8 breakfast options, and 8 dessert options, including their line of Astronaut Ice Cream Sandwiches. The company is also focused on sustainability – they are 100% solar powered and offset all carbon emissions from shipping, with plans to produce sustainable packaging in the near future.
My Experience with Backpacker’s Pantry Meals
I recently tried four of the newest dinners from Backpacker’s Pantry:
- Beef Bolognese
- Drunken Noodles with Chicken
- White Bean, Chicken & Green Chile Stew
- Pad Thai
While the packaging lists these as two-person meals, the calorie counts make them better suited as a single meal for most backpackers — especially if you’re burning serious energy on the trail. Since I look for meals in the calorie range of 500-800 per meal when I’m backpacking, I consumed each package as one meal. They’re widely available at REI and other outdoor retailers, which makes them a reliable source for trips.
Across the board, the recommended water amounts and rehydration times were spot on. None of the meals turned out soupy or underdone, and everything rehydrated evenly, which isn’t always a given with freeze-dried meals. They also avoid the unpleasant chemical aftertaste that some other brands suffer from, and they contain no preservatives.
Overall, I found these four meals to be healthier options than others I’ve tried since they focus more on a balanced ratio of ingredients, with noticeable herbs and vegetables.
Individual Meal Impressions
Beef Bolognese
The Beef Bolognese has a nice Italian flavor with small bits of veggies throughout. It has a mild kick — enough to notice but not overwhelming at all. I liked the balance of beef with the vegetables and pasta, all of which rehydrated well. Overall, a satisfying dinner option that I would choose again.
- 480 calories | 28g protein
- My rating: 4.2 out of 5
- Price: $12.99
View at Backpacker’s Pantry View at REI
Drunken Noodles with Chicken
Drunken Noodles with Chicken leans veggie-heavy, with a nicely balanced sauce that’s not too salty or sweet. It’s a lighter meal, good for when you want something less rich, yet contains plenty of chicken for protein. It rehydrated well and felt fresh thanks to all the vegetables.
- 490 calories | 27g protein
- My rating: 3.9 out of 5
- Price: $12.99
View at Backpacker’s Pantry View at REI
White Bean, Chicken & Hatch Green Chile Stew
The White Bean, Chicken & Green Chile Stew tastes like a mild chicken chili with a subtle green chile flavor. It’s mildly spicy and might be on the edge if you are sensitive to heat in a meal, which I tend to be when I’m backpacking but it wasn’t too spicy for me. The beans and chicken rehydrated well, and the flavor was hearty and filling. This meal would pair well with tortilla chips, Fritos, or would be good wrapped in a tortilla.
- 540 calories | 46g protein
- My rating: 4 out of 5
- Price: $12.99
View at Backpacker’s Pantry View at REI
Pad Thai (vegan)
Pad Thai was one of the more calorie-dense options with a flavor that is tangy and lightly spicy, with noticeable lime flavor. I especially liked the packet of peanuts that added a satisfying crunch. The rehydration was perfect, and it had lots of red bell peppers and herbs throughout. It’s not the easiest to split in advance if you want to make this two separate servings due to the included peanut butter packet, but it’s a solid, filling vegan option.
- 760 calories | 24g protein
- My rating: 4.2 out of 5
- Price: $9.99
View at Backpacker’s Pantry View at REI
Disclosure: these meals were donated for the purpose of a review.