Cooking

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.

These breakfast sammies are grab-and-go perfection. Croissants are actually very rugged when flattened a bit, and they elevate every filling.

This delicious snack is quick enough to whip up mid-hike, and doubles as a sandwich spread.

Once you make your own real honey mustard, you'll never go back—addiction guaranteed.

Yes, you can have this living room luxury in the wilderness.

Start your day off right with these hearty, filling meals that still leave you plenty of time to hit the trail early.

There’s no mess with this easy-to-eat treat (unless you let a photographer make it)—the toppings are inside.

Kale provides a nutritional boost and fiber, while cheese adds a salty kick and a bit of protein.

This lazy breakfast is ideal for a cold morning when hands and tummies need warming.

The classic yogurt and granola breakfast bowl goes hot.

Mind the inedibles when you’re snacking at the backcountry buffet.

BACKPACKER Trail Chef Jennifer Bowen has 20 years of culinary experience, including cooking for trail crews in the high country of Yosemite. Follow her tips for better meals on every trip.

It's easier than you'd think to eat paleo on the trail. These 9 paleo snack and meal recipes will have you focusing on the scenery, not your food.

Did you know these little conveniences existed? Use them to create the best backpacking meals ever.

You've heard of food and wine pairings, but what about drink and place pairings? Match your morning brew to your campsite for a gourmet trailside treat.

Add these versatile, lightweight ingredients to your pack to upgrade your backpacking meals.

Do the hard work at home, then carry this luxurious meal base for a fun, easy first-night treat. We’ve given you four variations, but the trail potatoes possibilities are endless.

This easy, three-ingredient dessert is perfect for a backcountry birthday. Sub in dried cherries or blueberries for a different twist.

Quick-and-easy trail food doesn’t have to be bland. Mix up some flavor-packed spice blends at home to kick your cooking to a new level of yum.

Toasting spices is a time-honored way to guarantee an even bigger flavor burst. Bonus: Hearty quinoa is a complete protein.

People are always impressed with this authentic-tasting Indian dish. Don’t tell ’em how easy it is.

This Buckeye favorite has rich mole flavors without being especially hot. It’s thinner than normal chili, and usually served over hot dogs or spaghetti.

On expeditions, the scent of fresh-baked bread is an unimaginable luxury. Here’s how to whip up a loaf.

Yes, you have to forego boil-in-a-bag convenience. But you won't regret the effort after eating this five-star spread.

This gourmet entree is high-end eatery good, but easy to make over a campfire.

This easy-prep appetizer is frontcountry fine, but easy enough to make at your campsite.

Adapt this classic dessert for the backcountry.

Don’t settle for chocolate. With a little work and planning, your backcountry dessert can be as grand as the scenery.

Bold flavors for the backcountry.

Jerky as an inspired way to treat meat and a great conduit for flavors.

Light and easy to carry, but with gourmet flavors.

Quick-prep, three-ingredient dinners.