Cooking

Carboload for a full day of hiking with these delicious pasta recipes.

Chewing is overrated. Meet your new favorite, slurpable hiking snacks.

Can't decide on just one cocktail for your adventure? Put together a mobile backcountry bar kit.

Warm weather + short trip = a perfect chance to save time and hassle by leaving your cooking gear at home.

No need to skip your coffee just because you didn't bring your stove.

Warm summer nights were made for grilling. Ditch the backyard for the backcountry with this gear and advice.

When we're burned out on sugary bars and jonesing for some quick calories to help us replenish our stores and re-up our motivation, we reach for one food above all others. Get your daily allotment with Backpacker's favorite cheesy recipes for everything from breakfast through dessert.

Backcountry meals can be boring. Spice them up—literally—with these handy add-ins.

This remixed pancake recipe is the breakfast of your dreams.

Create a foraged spread worthy of the most sophisticated garden party with this fragrant wildflower.

What happens when you introduce condiments to your dehydrator? We head to the kitchen to see if molecular gastronomy can work for hikers, too.

One of our favorite backpacking snacks gets a bagel-themed makeover.

Put a backcountry spin on a fast food cult favorite.

Warm up with this recipe for apple cider with a kick.

In winter, consuming hearty, nutrient-dense foods goes a long way toward keeping you warm. Stoke your inner furnace with these three energy-packed recipes.

We all need a little something to munch on while we wait for the chili to rehydrate. These tasty, easy-prep apps might just be the most memorable part of the meal.

Cold soaking is a popular no-cook method among weight-conscious hikers. But ditching your stove doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor.

Power your thru-hike with the right food, snacks, and resupplies for the long haul.

Who says you need water in your food? Dehydrate your vittles and you'll carry less weight, save money, and eat better.

Just because you're packing in dinner shouldn't mean you have to skip the best course. These sweet treats are well worth the extra ounces.

Get toasty from the inside out with these hot beverages.

Going meatless shouldn’t mean going hungry. These protein-packed vegan recipes will satisfy any hiker.

This backpacking staple can do more than make sandwiches.

Cook and imbibe better by learning how to shop, transport, and use your spirits, wine, and beer.

Leave the freeze-dried meals at home and treat yourself to a gourmet trail meal with our most popular recipes.

Prepare the first meal of the day at home and you'll start hiking sooner—and have on-the-go snacks.

Make these flavorful dishes and you won't need to dump Tabasco on your dinner.

Nothing provides comfort like chocolate—whether it's in a savory soup or a warm mug on a cold night.

Stuck in a ramen rut? Are your camp recipes ultralight but ultra boring? Does your food bag weigh more than you do? Our expert chefs solve these problems and more, with tips, recipes, and gear picks for 9 flood-flummoxed hikers.

Sometimes you just want a little more than a flask of whiskey. Wow your hiking partners with these 13 recipes.

Banish the goosebumps on cold nights with these three belly-warming one-pot recipes.

The challenge: Make a dozen cupcakes with an ultralight stove.

We'll show you how to be ready for the the trail in 20 minutes, guaranteed. Now gear up.

Find water anywhere, make a fire in five minutes, learn secrets for battling mosquitoes, and master more essential skills.

Pack in sweet, creamy flavor with these fall-inspired recipes.

Put a dent in your hunger—not your trip budget—with three tasty meals for less than $2.50 per serving.

Maximize fun and minimize hassle with these essential tips on comfort, safety, cooking, and finding solitude during the high season.

There's calorie density, nutritional profile, and bulk to consider. But when it comes to packing food for a thru-hike, one thing will always hold true: it has to taste good enough to eat.

Turn up the fun factor with stuffed fruits and veggies. Best part? No dishes required.

Developed by a college outdoor program, this may be the best bar you’ll ever eat.

Precipitation on the menu? Use these tips to cook comfortably in a dry backcountry kitchen.

Tennessee or not, here are our testers’ picks for the best flask-fillers found in most liquor stores.

Our staff and writers share their favorite backcountry eats.

Get the flavor of pizza on the trail with a fraction of the effort.

Leaving a cozy sleeping bag takes its own brand of liquid courage. Find the brew style that suits you best, and use these recipes to serve it with a flourish.

Sorry, pasta and rice: Potatoes are the best comfort food. How, you ask? Let us count the ways. They’re packable, versatile, and nutritious. You can cook them in actual fire and use them for any meal. Going light? Bring instant flakes. Basecamping? Treat yourself to the real thing. No matter your style, the potato is right for you.

Skip the spendy pet treats and make your own. But careful: You might end up eating them yourself.

Yes, yogurt. Laurie March, author of A Fork in the Trail: Mouthwatering Meals and Tempting Treats for the Backcountry, serves up her three favorite yogurt-based recipes.

You’re an adult: Eat like one. Upgrade your mac and cheese by swapping fluorescent powder for old-world flavors, veggies, and spices.

Escape crowded summer picnic grounds and head to the backcountry—without having to settle for freeze-dried fare. Follow these tips and recipes for your best BBQ yet

Tasty, fast, easy: What makes tacos great at home also makes them great on a backpacking trip.

We can't promise that they're all good. But these five trail cocktails are all memorable.

Got a camp full of hangry hikers? After years of leading teens, BACKPACKER staffers, and his own family, Editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon has fed more than his share. Here are his favorite easy-prep appetizers.

Fight the sedentary lifestyle and get a move on with these exercises and essential skill.

Upgrade a cold campout with a recipe that warms the insides.

These hiker-friendly meals—with the right ratio of carbs/fat/protein—belong on any trail menu.

Can our PCT thru-hiker give up hot meals for 2,650 miles?

How do you turn cheap packages of instant noodles into priceless backpacking meals? Step 1: Throw away the seasoning packets. Step 2: Follow these recipes from Chef Glenn McAllister.

Put your coals to use—and skip the dirty dishes—with these creations from Marilyn Haugen, author of 150 Best Recipes for Cooking in Foil.

Like spice? Then you'll love this hot-sweet trail snack.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this fiber-packed power-up.

Passing around the flask makes you a good friend. Whipping up one of these wilderness-ready cocktails from top bartenders? That makes you a legend.

Cheese, flatbread, and a bar that looks suspiciously like a Kit-Kat: Eat like a Scandanavian hiker on your next trip.

This classic comfort food is quick to throw together from easy-to-find pantry ingredients.

This Southwest classic will soothe your taco craving.

This Japanese-inspired soup is more filling than the version that’s served in sushi restaurants. Bonus: Miso packs tons of flavor and is a complete protein.

Dehydrated tomato powder makes an incredibly easy, tasty soup that pairs perfectly with gooey grilled cheese.

This version of alfredo sauce is actually closer to the authentic Italian style than the cream-based versions you’re used to.

This pesto is easy to make in the field, and the pasta’s carbs will fuel your next day’s hike.

This simplified classic is a high-calorie, gooey, dream come true.

Love to catch, afraid to cook? This foolproof method is for you. Bring some bread to mop up what’s left of the juices.

This grown-up treat makes an awesome dessert, but also goes well with pancakes or oatmeal.

Yes, it’s heavy, but if your fire is hot enough to fully burn the husks and cobs, this crowd-pleaser is totally worth packing in.

Prep these at home for a delicious first-night treat.

This hot, salty starter would be at home in a bar.

Primal meets gourmet with campfire cooking. Learn the key techniques for success with this Trail Chef primer on campfire cooking basics.

Fresh accessories help upgrade the backcountry version of this classic Middle Eastern meal. Got leftovers? One word: breakfast. 2 servings

East meets South in this filling finger food. Option: Sub in tofu for a vegetarian version of these chicken tacos.

Go beyond ramen to fulfill your noodle cravings. By skipping the fish sauce, this popular Thai treat works even for day seven.