Trail Chef: 8 Dirtbag Dinners

Quite possibly the easiest meals you'll ever make with three ingredients or less

There are two kinds of backpackers: those willing to haul fresh veggies, backpacking ovens, and a French press in service of gourmet cuisine, and those who would rather just rehydrate their peas and be done with it. I'm a card-carrying member of the former group—and not surprisingly, this blog has catered to hikers with foodie tendencies. But not today.

'Cause, let's face it, there are some nights where you're so bone-tired, you can barely work your jaw. You just want food—anything will do, as long as it's hot (and even that's debatable). The easier, the better. For those nights, try these ultrasimple dirtbag meals, all with three ingredients or less. No chopping or filleting required, we promise. And yeah, they still taste good.

1. Tuna Mac
Serves 2-3.
Cook 1 box of macaroni. Stir in cheese powder. Add 1 packet of tuna. (Note: Shells & cheese are encouraged.)

2. Poor Man's Pad Thai
Serves 2.
Cook 1 packet Asian-flavored ramen noodles. Stir in 2 tablespoons peanut butter.

3. Pesto Pasta
Serves 2.
Cook 8 ounces of your pasta of choice. Stir in 2 ounces of pesto and 1 packet of pink salmon. (Note: Do NOT attempt to pack the pesto in a zip-top bag. You will regret it.)

4. Ranch Wraps
Serves 1.
Spread 1 packet of ranch dressing on 1 or 2 tortillas. Add 1 packet of chicken. Roll and eat.

5. Instant Indian
Serves 1.
Place the foil bags that come in 1 box of Tasty Bite Indian cuisine meals (I like Spinach Dahl & Basmati Rice) in boiling water. Heat, then remove the bags and mix the contents together in a bowl.

6. Sweet Wild Rice
Serves 2.
Cook 1 box of instant wild rice with seasoning of choice. Stir in 1 cup dried cranberries and 1 packet chicken.

7. Spuds at Sea
Serves 2.
Boil water and mix with 1 packet of flavored instant mashed potatoes (try Garlic & Parmesan or Southwest from the Idahoan brand). Stir in 1 packet of tuna.

8. Tomato Tortellini
Serves 2.
Cook 8 ounces of cheese-stuffed tortellini. Stir in 2 ounces pesto. Add 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes.

Noticing a pattern here? Start with a quick-cooking carb, stir in a foil packet of meat, and add extra flavoring. It's an enduring formula for a reason. Got a favorite super-dirtbag recipe? Share in the comments section below!

—Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

With thanks to Steve Howe and Kris Wagner.

Image credits: bagaball (top); Steve & Jemma Copely

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READERS COMMENTS

You can make little pizzas! I usually save this till the last night. Get flat bread (you can heat this in a pot with a little olive oil if you want something warm), packets of pizza sauce (I like baboli), and pepperoni. I went to my local pizza hut and picked up some small packets of parm. cheese to add to the top. It was soooo good after my 14 mile hike to the bottom of the Grand canyon! And there were no dishes to boot!
Posted: Mar 01, 2010 Kate

Teriyaki noodles (with veggies), add some foil-packed chicken, top off with a few cashews.
Posted: Jan 13, 2010 Ken

Instant miso does rock and if you know a retailer in Georgia where I can find them, please post! Second, my favorite "dirt bag" gourment meal--cook bowtie pasta, add alfredo sauce mix and proper amount of water, add can o'crab and sundried tomatoes. Awesmome and easy. Want to get extra fancy--steal some parm. packets and/or oregeno from a pizza joint.
Posted: Jan 12, 2010 snoopy

Eat everything on a tortilla. No dishes to carry or wash.
Posted: Jan 11, 2010 MICHAEL

BTW... has anyone used instant miso soup packs? They're TINY, tasty and protein laden. About the size of the "flavor pack" in a pack of ramen.
Posted: Jan 11, 2010 Perkyshai

Dehydrated pineapple, chunks of chicken (turkey, meat jerky or TVP) sundried tomatoes. Bring to boil. Add chinese 5 spice and hot pepper. Add ramen. Remove from heat, let noodles cook, let whole mess thicken. Presto! Sweet and sour noodles+protein. Also...hot water+oatmeal+standard trail mix = really good brekky.
Posted: Jan 11, 2010 Perkyshai

CHX Top Ramen. "just veggies" freeze dried vegetable mix. dried shittake shrooms. pinch of crushed red pepper. 5oz can chunk CHX. splash of sesame seed oil......Home: add everything except CHX & oil in zip top bag. Camp: Cook contents in bag add CHX cook for 1 min, remove from heat and add oil. super easy, light weight & yummy!
Posted: Jan 03, 2010 Mark

cooked ground beef rinsed with boiling water and dried hard, Idahoan loaded MP, just veggies http://www.justtomatoes.com/JV-P.html add extra boiling water to rehydrate everything.
Posted: Dec 22, 2009 Paul

Chicken or beef flavored Ramen noodles and foil package of Bumble Bee salmon. Boil the noodles, add the flavor pack, remove from heat, dump in the contents of the salmon pouch.....(addition of parsley or basil flakes optional)....eat and enjoy
Posted: Dec 22, 2009 David

Whole wheat pasta (good to have a little mini bottle of olive oil) toss in some pink salmon and squeeze some lemon on that bad boy... sacre bleu! If you're feeling extra special cook up ome asparagus or your choice of veggie to go in the pasta too.
Posted: Nov 08, 2009 Rob

Chicken flavored Ramen noodles and package of chicken. I often add a leafy green packed flat in a baggie before draining the Ramen for vitamins.
Posted: Nov 06, 2009 Dasaan

Instant mashed potatoes - throw in your choice of cheese and a few bacon bits - mmmmmm.
Posted: Nov 06, 2009 Joel

Ranch wraps are the best, especially for lunch on the trail. Add a pepper jack cheese stick for some kick!
Posted: Nov 05, 2009 Leigh

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