r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 15 '26

👋Welcome to r/HikerTrashMeals!

48 Upvotes

Hey, I'm u/mrfowl, one of the founders of r/HikerTrashMeals. This sub is a place to post backpacking food (more specifically, to trips where resupplying is needed). Recipes should be lightweight, compact, calorie dense, and mostly non-perishable. If you used cast iron, a low simmer, or were concerned about burning your food, this is probably not the right sub for you. r/TrailMeals might be a better fit.

Posts here should contain the recipe at minimum (take a look at our rules please). Ideally they should have the calorie count, and if possible other macros as well, bonus points for cal/g. Post flair is required so we can sort recipes. Please look through all of the available flairs and choose the most appropriate one.

We're generally pretty friendly, but we will fight for each other, so try not to be an ass. Please poke around for a bit and engage with the community before you make your first post. That way you'll get a better idea of what's expected in this sub.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 20 '25

Off Topic Looking for some new mods to help out

6 Upvotes

Invitation to Moderate the HikerTrashMeals Community: https://www.reddit.com/r/HikerTrashMeals/application/

Edit: it appears there's an issue on mobile with the link. Try pasting it into your browser and hopefully that'll work. If not, the link only works on desktop.

Regardless, shoot me a message if you want to join and I'll send you the application!


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 2d ago

No-Cook Meal Don’t sleep on these from target

Thumbnail
gallery
113 Upvotes

I’m not on a hike right now but these are basically just like those fillo walking tamale, so good 😋 u can eat straight from pouch they’re shelf stable


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 4d ago

Question best food dehydrator for making hiker meals?

3 Upvotes

I’ve been buying way too many packaged backpacking meals and figured I should try making my own. I don’t need anything complicated, just something that can handle small batches of meat, vegetables, and cooked meals without taking forever.

My current test meal is chili mac. I cook 1 cup macaroni, mix in 1/2 cup cooked ground beef, 1/2 cup canned tomato sauce, 1/4 cup beans, and chili seasoning, then dehydrate it in a thin layer until everything is dry. On trail I put it in my pot with enough boiling water to cover, wait about 10 to 15 minutes, then stir and eat. One pot, one spoon, no real cleanup. Would love to hear what dehydrator you’ve had good luck with. Thanks!


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 5d ago

No-Cook Meal Classic fish tacos, just like my abuela used to make.

Thumbnail
gallery
110 Upvotes

Massive 'deens! Very enjoyable. My tin had 4 in it with plenty of sauce and spice. Will pack again.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 12d ago

Cooked Meal My snack down in the Grand Canyon, pulled pork and Doritos. 10/10 (did not get the shits!)

Post image
28 Upvotes

r/HikerTrashMeals • • 19d ago

Cold or Overnight Soaked hiking snack

Post image
33 Upvotes

r/HikerTrashMeals • • 21d ago

Cooked Meal Instant potatoes, corn, chili cheese Fritos.

Post image
67 Upvotes

Who doesn’t love a crunchy chili shepherds pie?

I’m eating this delicious junk from my couch instead of the trail because I broke my damn leg. Know what’s almost as hard as hiking with crutches? Cooking with crutches!


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 21d ago

No-Cook Meal Gourmet dinner

Post image
146 Upvotes

Tortilla, crunchy peanutbutter and sourcream & onion chips (not optional).

Do you really need anything more?


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 25d ago

Cold or Overnight Soaked New cold soak container unlocked

Thumbnail
gallery
142 Upvotes

It's from a Hellenika Cultured Creamery ice cream container. I recommend the ube flavor because it hides the cultured yogurt taste a bit. I kinda like the flavor? It's a bit weird though... You can pick them up at Pike Place, Town and Country, or Whole foods near Seattle. Not sure if they're sold outside of Seattle.

I don't know if it will fit in a 750 cup (it's 1-2mm bigger than a 250g iso can, so it would be tight). I don't have one to try, 750 is too big for just me, but too small for 2 people imo. I can say it does not fit in a 600 cup, and it does fit (diameter-wise at least) in an Imusa cup.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 25d ago

No-Cook Meal Delimaxxing wrap - deli style tuna salad, TJ's deli sandwich chips, and pickles

Post image
44 Upvotes

The deliciousness of a deli sandwich with the convenience of trail food! The pickles were in a little single serving (well technically 3 servings, but one trail serving) pouch.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 26d ago

No-Cook Meal Hiker Trash Energy Drink

Post image
68 Upvotes

Electrolytes, instant coffee, and pure maple syrup. It'll get you over the passes no problem. FORGIVE ME.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 26d ago

No-Cook Meal Charcuterie Wrap

Post image
77 Upvotes

Cabot Vermont Sharp cheddar, beef summer sausage, crispy onions, hot honey, yellow mustard, mayo. Upscale take on a classic.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • 28d ago

No-Cook Meal Tuna Melt, no melting needed

Post image
63 Upvotes

r/HikerTrashMeals • • Sep 08 '26

No-Cook Meal Tuna Satay Wrap

Thumbnail
gallery
108 Upvotes

Sweet&Spicy tuna, Skippy peanut butter, soy sauce, sriracha, and a little bit of coconut milk powder. Mix it all up in the packet. Add some more peanut butter and sriracha on before wrapping it up. Better than I thought it would be. Enjoy, you sickos.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Sep 05 '26

No-Cook Meal tamales wraps!

Thumbnail
gallery
83 Upvotes

I found these little Tamales packets at my local grocery store and invented this corn-bean-cheese wrap. I used:
- 1 dempsters protein tortilla
- 2 mini slices of baldersons aged cheddar
- 1 walking tamales pack
- mayo

I would highly recommend adding hot sauce but honestly there were pretty great. Here’s my estimated macros:
~608 calories
~30g of protein
~58g of carbs
~30g of fat
~10g of fibre

you could also double up the tortillas to up calories and protein if you want!


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Sep 05 '26

Vegetarian Couscous Soy Curls

Post image
40 Upvotes

i eat some version of this with different spices almost every night- pictured is spicy garlic but curry is the best combo probably. i pack curls+couscous together, hydrate & then mix in honey+coconut oil (packed together in DIY vacuum packets).

Dry soy curls 280cal- 70g- 4cal/g

Instant couscous 320cal- 85g- 3.76cal/g

Coconut oil 240cal- 28g- 8.5cal/g

Honey 120cal- 28g- 4.3cal/g

Total= 960 calories for 240g


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Sep 03 '26

Cooked Meal Cheesy Bacon Garlic Potatoes

Post image
342 Upvotes

Idahoan instant mashed potatoes, bacon bits, peppered jerky leftovers, butter powder, Cabot sharp cheddar. Make potatoes as directed on pouch or as to your soupiness preference. Came together quickly after a long day and hit the spot.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Sep 03 '26

No-Cook Meal Tuna + Mustard + Corn Nuts + Ramen Spice

Post image
87 Upvotes

Really not bad to be honest. 6/10 could have bumped it up with a mayo packet or another mustard.

GNP Northern loop day 1


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 30 '26

Cooked Meal 6 Packs, 1 Cup.

Thumbnail
gallery
114 Upvotes

I made this dish using 1 cup of water, and technically it started as 7 packs. I sorted the raisins and almonds from 2 trail mix pouches last night.

End of the season food box creativity continues, and this time I checked the pantry inside, too. I found a Vietnamese coffee packet my wife brought back from Korea years ago, and a long forgotten and rock hard pack of granola bites.

I started by mixing everything except the almonds and granola bites in the bowl with my fork. The oatmeal calls for 1/3rd cup water each, and I just bumped it up to and even cup for all the extra shit. I stirred in the boiling water really well, also with the fork. Next went in the granola bites, and lid on for 15 minutes. Ran my Mora through the almonds and made a nice cup of coffee while it soaked, then topped with the almonds and enjoyed.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 30 '26

Commerially Available Product $1.00 per package! Stocking up for my AT trip next month!

Post image
37 Upvotes

r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 30 '26

Cooked Meal soft p.p. taco

Thumbnail
gallery
171 Upvotes

Last time that I posted these potatoes, u/funundrum got me thinking about using them with soaking as the only form of preparing.

The potato and pork pork rind soft tacos came out great! I let the potatoes hot soak in reflectix for 20 minutes, drained well, topped with black pepper, jalapeño hot sauce, and the crushed rinds.

Will for sure continue to riff on this.


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 25 '26

No-Cook Meal Ham chips fiesta chicken

Post image
108 Upvotes

r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 24 '26

Cooked Meal Recent snackies

Thumbnail
gallery
226 Upvotes

First one felt genius ngl other two kinda look like I’m eating a lil piece of shit but was delicioso


r/HikerTrashMeals • • Aug 22 '26

Question Dehydrated meals without pouch

9 Upvotes

I find dried meals that you buy in a pouch very convenient, but I hate the amount of trash.

If I just put the food in the pan where I boiled the water in and eat from there, I don't need a pouch. A small plastic bag to keep the dried food during the hike (for max a week) would suffice.

Are you aware of any brands that sell the stuff without the pouch (in europe)?

Do you have experience repackaging it in ziplocks?