Backpacker’s Pantry: Pad Thai Chicken, Beef Bolognese, Blueberry Peach Crisp

Packable, easy-to-prepare camping meals.

Dehydrated, freeze-dried food drops packed food weight by 70-90%, squeezing out 98% of the water content. When I’m camping in the mountains saving the weight is essential, so I was happy to test Backpacker’s Pantry meals on a recent overnight camping trip in the Toiyabe National Forest above Lake Tahoe. 

I wondered how Backpacker’s Pantry meals would work for me. Would the lightweight space-age packaging withstand storage and travel inside a backpack? Would meal prep be simple? Would the two-person portions fill me up? What about taste? 

I’m happy to report that the packages arrived at my campsite intact. Meal prep was simple. Per instructions (for sea level cooking), I removed the desiccant packet, then added boiling water to the package. The package opened wide and remained stable as I poured the water. I resealed the package and gave it a shake, then let it sit for eight minutes. Next, I stirred the mixture and resealed the package, waiting for an additional seven minutes. 

However, I had to adjust my prep a bit to account for elevation. At 9000 feet water boils at a lower temperature due to lower atmospheric pressure (195 degrees instead of 212 degrees). I ended up pouring the contents of the package into my cook pot and heating it on my stove for another 15 minutes to fully rehydrate the meal. If you are preparing meals during winter or at higher elevations, plan on bringing a little extra fuel and allowing extra time for heating and stirring. If you camp with a group you could also use a small pressure cooker. 

Regarding serving size, I was glad that I packed two dinners and a breakfast/dessert. My smart watch measured 10 miles of hiking at 800 calories, so a single entree worked out to be about half the food I would need after that level of activity. Those with smaller appetites would likely do fine with one meal.

Taste Test

Although I started with the Beef Bolognsese, I’ll write about the Pad Thai with Chicken first since I enjoyed it the most. It was an excellent dinner. The gluten-free meal contains: rice noodles, peanut butter, peanuts, chicken, tomato powder, red bell pepper, vinegar, green onion, garlic, lime juice, paprika, sea salt, green jalapeno, cilantro, red pepper. I thought the dish was flavorful, with a nice balance among the peppers, lime, and cilantro. I added extra almond butter when I poured in the recommended cup and half of boiling water, as well as some extra basil leaves I brought from my garden. I still needed an additional 10 minutes past the sea level 15-minute cook time to soften the noodles up in my cook pot due to the altitude, but the wait was totally worth it to have crunchy peanuts, cooked noodles, and delicious Thai seasoning. Details: 410 calories/per serving, 41g protein, 6.7 oz package, $12.99/2 serving package

The Beef Bolognsese was…interesting. The durum wheat pasta cooked out to a chewy, slightly firm texture, maybe a little more towards crunchy than al dente even with the extra cooking time. I was hungry, though, and the blend of beef, tomato, carrot, red wine, cream, celery, sea salt, garlic, garlic, and pepper was hotter, spicier, and more peppery than I would have expected. Those unaccustomed to hotter flavors might want to add dehydrated milk and cheese and a little more water to mellow things down a bit. I liked it because I was hungry, although, while I add hot sauce to pretty much everything, the flavor skewed a little too far towards vinegar and pepper. While the Beef Bolognese wasn’t my favorite dish, it worked as a first course and kept me in recovery mode while dinner number two was still heating up. Details: 480 calories/per serving, 28g protein, 4.4oz package, $12.99/2 serving package

I was tempted to have the Blueberry Peach Crisp for dessert, but I was glad I saved it for the next morning’s breakfast. This dish contains: Granola with whole grain oats, butter, pasteurized cream, salt, brown sugar, coconut, almonds, blueberries, cane sugar, peaches, brown sugar, lemon, ground cinnamon, and sea salt. I usually skip adding butter, cream, sugar, but Backpacker’s Pantry Blueberry Peach Crisp made for a sweet, buttery breakfast balanced with tart blueberries and peaches. Details: 540 calories, 9g protein, 4.6 oz, $8.99/2 serving package

Variety and Diet-Friendly

Backpacker’s Pantry offers a variety of meals to suit all palettes. There are several pasta dishes, including Mac Cheese, Lasagna, and Pesto Pasta with Chicken, as well as rice and quinoa dishes like Chana Masala, Kathmandu Curry, and Cuban Coconut Black Beans and Rice. There are options for several different diets, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, and more. 

With a shelf lives ranging from three to 10 years, Backpacker’s Pantry meals offers a rage of great-tasting choices that save weight and prep time. They can easily be supplemented with fresh ingredients from home or when car camping. 

Sustainable Focus

Based in Boulder, Co, Backpacker’s Pantry is family-run and uses quality ingredients. Their manufacturing is 100% solar-powered, they’re developing sustainable packing, and they contribute to 1% For the Planet, the Conservation Alliance, Cal-Wood, and SOIL.

Meals are sold separately and in bundles of six. 

Available at backpackers pantry.com and at the Backpacker’s Pantry store on Amazon.

Check out our review of Hydro Flask’s Utensil set.