Cooking

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.

No oven? No problem. Make cookies, muffins, bread, and more with these backcountry techniques.

Upgrade traditional no-bake cheesecake with a cascade of Oreos.

It only tastes fancy.

This doughy dessert could also be great for breakfast.

Chocolate bars are easily packable and versatile.

From trail mix to trout, upgrade every meal with this guide to recipes, cooking skills, and nutrition.

Check out Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.

Check out Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan's author page.

Mix up your oatmeal for a savory and delicious twist.

How to stay organizied and prepared for your backcountry cooking.

Almonds are a super backpacking snack and this cocoa-dusted recipe makes for a satisfying desert.

This dish is packed with protein and vitamins A & C.

Fast and easy food for your hike.

Paleo snacks pack a nutritional punch.

Bars are an easy way to fuel your body.

Cooking trout over a campfire is amazing with this great recipe.

How many day's before you food becomes a bio hazard while hiking?

This dish is salty and crunchy and full of anti inflammatory properties.

Tuna can be served in so many ways, check out these three amazing meals.

This super-easy, pudding-based treat just might ease your day-three ice cream craving.

This fun treat is no-bake, dead easy, and oh-so addictive.

Great food doesn’t have to mean slaving away over the camp stove. Here are four delectable dishes that slash cleanup from the to-do list.

Attention ultra-lazy cooks: This no-mess meal raises the bar on instant mashed potatoes.

Upgrade this no-mess pasta dish by roasting the olives and sausage ahead of time. Or don't--it'll still be delicious.

Consider this list merely a starting point for this fun take on Spanish small plates. Raid your pantry for other ideas, and don’t forget to bring some sherry to sip on the side.

Even without a stove, there's no need to skip your coffee; mint tea adds depth to this cold brew.

This simple, no-mess meal is hearty, tasty, and oh-so-easy.

Skip the camp clean-up by letting plastic bags do all the work.

Here's the gear we used to make the next-level camp food in our story Hike Hard, Eat Well.

Whip up this easy trail meal for luxurious fine dining under the stars.

Good old raisins and peanuts feeling…well…old? Mix it up with one of these innovative combos. Jealous friends guaranteed.

Take your camp food to the next level with these essential items.

Add a bit of fresh flair to your camp meals with this healthy side.

This decadent, creamy dessert will make you feel like you're at a fancy bakery, but requires no cooking and is super-easy to make.

These juicy, saucy, super-simple mini sandwiches bring hearty home cooking to camp.

Yes, we’re recommending a bacon-marshmallow combo. Trust us. Bonus: They make a great quick breakfast when paired with a trail shake.

What's more American than apple pie? Baking apple pie over a campfire of course.

Enhance your next hiking trip with these local craft brews that (handily) come in cans.

Up your game with this gourmet, one-pan breakfast.

Treat yourself to kid-style cereal in this blend that'll actually get you through a grownup day.

Bread pudding is the ultimate way to end your day. Bonus: This decadent treat requires almost no cleanup.

Four recipes for camp cocktails on different occasions.

A great ending to a good day on the trail? A tasty cocktail in camp. We consulted trail-savvy bartenders for their top recipes and tested more than 100 varieties of beer, wine, and liquor to find the most pack-friendly picks.

Protein-packed and calorie-dense, nuts are a classic backpackers' superfood. We taste-tested 96 spreads, mixes, and bars to bring you the healthiest (and tastiest) options for the trail.

Salts and other electrolytes help regulate cell function and nerve impulses, so when you sweat them out, you need to replace them. From Grand Gulch to the Grand Canyon, we tested 27 different gels, powders, and chews - and found the best ways to stay charged this summer.