Trail Chef: 8 Tips for Making Perfect Pasta
Plus: Pesto Pasta with a Kick recipe
Cooking
Cooking
Eating the right foods while backpacking fuel you to push farther along the trail to reach that fantastic vista you’re after, making backcountry cooking a key skill. Learn hygiene tips, bear safety, culinary creativeness and kitchen efficiency with Backpacker’s expert advice on how to maintain a top-notch kitchen in the wild.
Eating the right foods while backpacking fuel you to push farther along the trail to reach that fantastic vista you’re after, making backcountry cooking a key skill. Learn hygiene tips, bear safety, culinary creativeness and kitchen efficiency with Backpacker’s expert advice on how to maintain a top-notch kitchen in the wild.
Trail Chef: Peanut Butter Omelet
It tastes delish. (Yes, really.)
Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010: Backcountry Kitchen Accessories
Everything you need to stay sated in the backcountry.
Gear Review: Packit Gourmet Big Easy Gumbo
Bring a taste of New Orleans with you on your next camping trip with this packaged Gumbo.
Drink Recipe: Backcountry Cucumber Mojito
Part rum, part minty-goodness. This one will help you hold on to the last warm days of the year in style.
Dirtbag/Gourmet Recipes: Fondue
Add rich, cheesy flair to your backcountry fare.
Recipe: Savory Gruyere Fondue
Wow your campmates with this restaurant-worthy appetizer.
Recipe: Beer and Pretzel Fondue Dip
Cheese and beer make this a camp favorite.
BACKCOUNTRY BARTENDER: Corralejo Tequila Sangria
Our resident imbibing expert takes on the Spanish staple...and adds a twist.
Drink Recipe: The Perfect Backcountry Manhattan
In this inaugural expert section, the Backcountry Bartender drops some knowledge on crafting the perfect trail cocktail. First up, a timeless classic: the Manhattan.
Trail Chef: Sweet Ramen
In a tip of the hat to this universal noodle, here are two sweet breakfast and dessert ramen recipes.
Trail Chef: America's Next Titanium Chef
Last call for submissions for the 2011 Readers' Choice Contest! Plus: Three easy recipes for flat trail bread, tortilla sunrise, and a fruit smoothie
Recipe: Tuna Salad with Sprouts
A simple tuna salad gets a nutritional punch with the addition of bean sprouts.
Camp Chef Makeover: Scurvy Guy
If your backpacking menu excludes anything fresh, read on for a few helpful tips.
Recipe: Easy Coconut Curry
Bring some spice to backcountry cooking with this easy, flavorful curry recipe.
Camp Chef Makeover: Mr. Lite, Fast, & Drab
Backcountry cooking doesn't have to mean bland.
Camp Chef Makeover: 7-Eleven Shopper
Fast food leads to fast crashes trailside.
Recipe: Smoked Salmon Pasta
A decadent pasta dish built for the backcountry.
Camp Chef Makeover: Mess Sergeant
Cook for a group...with style.
Recipe: Pepper and Pesto Omelet
Breakfast for two, any time of the day.
Camp Chef Makeover: The Foiled Foodie
Prevent fresh food spoilage on the trail with these tips.
Recipe: Apple-Raisin 'No Freeze' Oatmeal Bars
An easy, year-round homemade snack.
Camp Chef Makeover: The Winter Hiker
Staying warm does require extra calories when hiking in the winter.
Camp Chef Makeover: The Sweets Lover
If you have a sweet tooth, you'll love this on-trail Cherry Cobbler.
Recipe: Smoked Trout with White Wine Sauce
A gourmet meal designed for the backcountry.
Camp Chef Makeover: Mr. Heavyweight
Packing the kitchen for a weekend away? We'll help you pare down.
Recipe: Ginger Garlic Soba
Punch up boring noodles with ginger and garlic.
Camp Chef Makeover: Lady Blah-Blah
Break out of the boring one-pot routine.
Recipe: Falafel with Tahini Sauce
Boost your on-trail protein intake with this tasty dish.
Camp Chef Makeover: The Herbivore
Easy ways to take protein on the trail without involving meat or overly fortified energy bars.
Trail Chef: No-Burn Chocolate Fondue
A fast, simple way to make silky fondue that's easy to clean
Gear Review: Sea to Summit Trash Dry Sack
This LNT-inspired Dry Sack helps you keep it clean in large groups.
Trail Chef: Crazy-Easy Craisin Chicken
After a long day on the trail, I am in no mood for gourmet slicing and dicing. Here's a delicious, sweet, and savory dish that lets you leave your cutting boards at home.
Dirtbag/Gourmet Recipes: Tacos
Fill up on these protein-rich meals.
Recipe: Colombian Arepas
This gourmet dish combines dehydrated ground beef, fresh cherry tomatoes, and arepa flour for a protein-filled meal.
Recipe: Chicken Guaco-Tacos
Chicken, cheese, and avocado–what more do you need?
Dirtbag/Gourmet Recipes: Curry
Spice up your backcountry menu with this flavorful and satisfying Asian staple.
Recipe: Mango Curry with Rice and Lentils
In 20 minutes, you can have Asian in the backcountry.
Recipe: Thai Red Curry Noodles with Soy Nuts
Spice up ramen noodles with this easy Thai dish.
Camp Chores: Doing Dishes
Just like at home, there's clean-up to do after every meal in the backcountry. Here's how to get your dishes clean.
Gear Review: Packit Gourmet Cheesecakes
Suffer no more: instant cheesecake for the backcountry.
Gear Reviews: Packaged Breakfast, Snacks, & Dinners
Your pre-trip shopping just got a whole lot easier.
Gear Review: Packaged Dinners
Take the hassle out of menu planning with these fast meals.
Gear Review: Fast Camp Breakfasts
Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, don't leave camp without inhaling one of these tasty options.
Gear Review: Herbal Oats Granola Bars
The four Herbal Oats granola bar varieties are all-natural, preservative-free, and delicious.
Toughest Gear: MSR Alpine Cookware and GSI Cascadian Bowls
Pots for the masses–and the ages.
Gear Review: Lunch
This sweet and savory sandwich is a staff favorite.
Gear Review: Coleman's Dirt & Worms
Kids will love this dessert.
Gear Review: PackIt Gourmet Condiments
Dress up any meal with these condiments.
Gear Review: Optimus Terra HE
A great two-pot cookset
Gear Review: Evernew Aluminum Ceramic Non-Stick Deep Pots
A ceramic coated cook pot with a fry pan lid
Wine Review: The Climber, by Clif Family Winery
Clif makes wine? Yup, and good wine at that.
Trail Nutrition: Eat For Recovery
Double your trail miles–or just boost your energy–with protein-rich snacks.
Dirtbag/Gourmet Recipes: Couscous
This satisfying whole grain is filling, fiber-rich, and ready in less than five minutes.
Recipe: White Bean Chili 
with Couscous
With couscous, beans, and veggies this is a complete, and tasty, trail meal.
Recipe: Salmon-Tomato Couscous
Salmon jerky and curry powder are key to this hearty dish.
Editors' Choice 2008: GSI Outdoors Dualist Cookware
Party of two? Your cookware is ready.
Top Chefs: Reader-Submitted Recipes
We taste-tested a stack of your recipe submissions–everything from pasta to pub food. These four winners emerged as the best of the bunch.
Reader Recipe: Cashew Chicken
A spicy Asian dinner with satisfying crunch.
Reader Recipe: Backcountry Thanksgiving
A simple dish from two thru-hikers.
Reader Recipe: Sweeter S'mores
Think the classic campfire treat can't be beat?
Reader Recipe: Queets Valley Shepherd's Pie
Classic, pubworthy flavor for camp.
Reader Recipe: Ravioli au Beurre
Fresh pasta in less than five minutes.
Dirtbag/Gourmet: Thai Food
Bring takeout to the trail with these flavorful Asian noodle dishes.
DIY Fall Trail Snacks
Turn fall's harvest into healthy, energy-packed treats.
Gear Review: Primus Gravity MF II Stove
This reliable camp stove runs on any gas, quick to heat and easy to use.
Winter Camping: Recipes & Menu Planner
These recipes are fortified with extra warmth and calories for winter camping.
BACKPACKER Trail Chef Video Center
From beer pancakes to on-the-go tiramisu, our resident Trail Chef will have your mouth watering in no time.
Dirtbag/Gourmet: Camp Potatoes Recipes
Transform boring old instant potatoes into spicy, hearty meals.
Snacks for the Trail
Need to recharge with something tasty? These savory snacks will do just that.
Dinner Recipes for the Trail
Whip up a four start meal with these trail side recipes.
Breakfast Recipes
Start the day right with these out-of-the-ordinary breakfast treats.
Camp Cooking Tips and Tricks
We'll show you how to be the ultimate trail chef in no time with these tips.
Gear: Backcountry Cookware
Just because you're in the backcountry doesn't mean you don't need cookware. Here, some essentials to make you king of trail kitchen.
Drinks For the Trail
From cocktails to coffee, these recipes and tips will keep you quaffed no matter what.
Dessert Recipes for the Trail
Finish your meal off right with these treats for the trail.
Trail Chef: Pasta with Herbes de Provence
Taste-test one of our Readers' Choice Recipe finalists
Eat for All-Day Energy
On the trail, when you're snacking is just as important as what you're consuming.
Recipe: Sesame-White Bean Potato Cakes
These potato cakes are heavy on the carbs–and taste.
Recipe: Italian-Style Potatoes
Spice up boring potatoes with some summer sausage, brown sugar, and tomatoes in this Italian-inspired dish.