Gourmet Grub on the Trail: How to Eat Like a Chef While Backpacking

Because who says you can’t have pizza in the wilderness?

Ah, backpacking—where you're supposed to embrace nature, challenge yourself, and… eat questionable dehydrated meals that look like they’ve already been digested once? Nah, we’re not doing that anymore.

With a little planning, you can leave the sad, sodium-packed mush behind and step into the realm of gourmet trail dining. Yes, even out in the wilderness, you can cook up fresh, mouthwatering meals that make the other hikers question their life choices. And best of all? You can make pizza from scratch. In the wild. No dehydrated disasters here.

But before we dive into the from-scratch pizza extravaganza, let’s keep it real: sometimes, you’ll need a good, quick, dehydrated meal. So we’ll give you a few solid options at the end for when you’re too tired to channel your inner backcountry chef.

Trail Pizza: From Scratch, Because You’re Fancy Like That

Forget frozen pizza and store-bought dough. You’re a hardcore adventurer, and you deserve pizza made with your own two hands—even if you’re 50 miles from the nearest Domino’s. So let’s talk about how to whip up a pizza from scratch on the trail, without weighing down your pack (or your soul).

Ingredients:

• Flour (1 cup—because you’re making this dough like a pro)

• Instant yeast (a small packet—lightweight and magic in a packet)

• A pinch of sugar (to get the yeast going)

• A pinch of salt (for flavor, obviously)

• Water (about ½ cup—this is backpacking, after all)

• Olive oil (in a tiny squeeze bottle—versatile and delicious)

• Pre-cooked bacon (because you’re classy like that)

• Onions (fresh or dehydrated—depends on how fancy you feel)

• Tomato paste (small tube or can—light and packed with flavor)

• Dried herbs (oregano, basil, thyme—because you’re better than plain sauce)

• Cheese (Parmesan or a block of mozzarella—your pizza deserves it)

Instructions:

1. Dough Time
   In a resealable bag, mix the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add water slowly and knead it in the bag until it forms a dough. You’ve just made pizza dough. In the wilderness. Let that sink in while the dough rests for a few minutes (because it needs time to puff up a bit and so do you).

2. DIY Pizza Sauce, Trail Style
   No need to haul a heavy can of tomato sauce. Bring a tube of tomato paste—lightweight and concentrated. Mix a bit of water into the paste until you get a saucy consistency. Add olive oil, a pinch of salt, and your dried herbs for a flavor explosion. Heat it up briefly, and boom, you’ve got pizza sauce without the weight.

3. The Toppings (Bacon and Onions, Oh My!)
   Pre-cooked bacon is your new best friend. It’s lightweight, it doesn’t need refrigeration, and it’s bacon, so… win. Fry it up in your pan to warm it, then toss in your onions (rehydrate them if necessary). Sauté until the onions are golden and your campsite smells like a gourmet bistro.

4. Cooking the Pizza
   Heat some olive oil in your pan (or go ultra-wild and use a flat rock you cleaned off). Flatten out your dough and toss it in the pan. Let it cook for a few minutes on one side until it’s golden brown. Flip it over, and get ready for the magic.

5. Assemble the Pizza of Your Dreams
   Spread your sauce on the cooked side of the dough. Sprinkle on the cheese like you’re starring in your own cooking show, and then add your glorious bacon and onion topping. Cover the pan with foil (or use a lid) to help melt the cheese. Sit back, look around, and realize you’ve just made pizza, from scratch, while backpacking. You’re officially a backcountry legend.

Pizza Variations to Try:

• Trail Margarita: Top with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella.

• Spicy Wilderness Pie: Add some pepperoni, red chili flakes, and a bit of garlic powder for a little kick.

• Veggie Delight: Toss on some rehydrated bell peppers, mushrooms, and spinach for a fresh twist. Yes, even backpackers can eat their veggies.

Scones: Because You’re Classy, Even on the Trail

Who says you can’t have a little tea time in the backcountry? Whip up some scones and wow your hiking buddies.

Campfire Scones Recipe: Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 tbsp powdered milk (easy to carry)

• 1/4 cup dried fruit (raisins, dried berries—whatever floats your pack)

• 2 tbsp butter or ghee (in a small container)

• Water (about 1/4 cup)

Instructions:

1. At home, mix all dry ingredients in a Ziploc bag.

2. At camp, add water and butter/ghee to the bag and squish it around until it forms a dough. You’re scone-ing it up, baby.

3. Fold in your dried fruit.

4. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a hot pan or flat rock by the fire.

5. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, until golden brown and delicious.

6. Serve with your morning coffee and pretend you’re at an upscale café.

Pancakes: Flapjacks to Flip For

There’s nothing better than waking up in the wilderness and making pancakes. You can bring a mix, sure, but why not make your own? Here’s how to whip up fluffy backcountry pancakes that’ll make you feel like a breakfast champion.

DIY Pancakes Recipe: Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of salt

• 2 tbsp powdered milk

• 1 tbsp powdered egg (this stuff is a game changer)

• Water (to mix)

• Butter or oil (to cook)

• Maple syrup (because you’re not a savage)

Instructions:

1. Pre-mix the dry ingredients in a bag at home.

2. Add water to the mix until it’s a smooth batter. No lumps, no problems.

3. Heat your butter or oil in a pan. Pour in the batter and cook until you see bubbles. Flip, because you’re fancy like that.

4. Smother in maple syrup and enjoy the luxury of fluffy pancakes in the wilderness.

Other Gourmet Trail Foods You Didn’t Know You Needed

Now that you’re mastering backcountry baking and pizza-making, here are some more quick gourmet trail meal ideas that are easy to pack but taste way fancier than they should:

1. Deconstructed Burrito Bowl
   Instant rice, black beans, salsa, cheese, and pre-cooked bacon all mixed up in one bowl of glory. Add hot sauce if you want to get wild.

2. Instant Ramen Gone Fancy
   Add some dried veggies, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a soft-boiled egg to your instant ramen. Elevate your trail ramen to fine dining.

3. Breakfast Tacos
   Pack powdered eggs, tortillas, and pre-cooked sausage or bacon. Heat the tortillas, scramble the eggs, and boom—gourmet breakfast in a taco shell.

The Actually Worth It Dehydrated Meals

Alright, so sometimes you’re too tired to make pizza dough from scratch after a grueling hike. I get it. Here are a couple of dehydrated meal brands that are actually worth your money when you just need to add water and eat:

1. Farm to Summit
   With fresh, locally sourced ingredients and small-batch production, these meals taste like something you’d actually eat at home. Try the Green Chile Mac & Cheese or the Sweet Potato Hash for a legit meal that isn’t packed with preservatives.

2. Good To-Go
   Their Bibimbap and Smoked Three Bean Chili are flavor-packed, clean-ingredient options that don’t taste like a sodium bomb went off. They’re a little more expensive, but totally worth it for the quality.

3. Backpacker’s Pantry
   They’ve been around forever, but their Pad Thai and Cuban Coconut Rice dishes are solid choices when you want something quick but tasty. No weird additives—just good food.

Final Word: DIY or Dehydrated?

Let’s be honest—dehydrated meals have their place. Sometimes you just need to boil water and eat. But if you’ve got a little extra energy (and the right ingredients), nothing beats a fresh, from-scratch meal in the backcountry. From gourmet pizza to fluffy scones, you can elevate your backpacking grub and make your fellow hikers jealous. Whether you’re DIY-ing your food or packing some premium dehydrated meals, one thing’s for sure: no more sad, mystery meal pouches. Your taste buds will thank you.