Easy and quick camping food items to keep in the pantry

[SeaDawg]

Some nights, after a long day of adventures,  I don't feel like slicing and dicing.

One of my favorites is Idahoan Red Mashed potatoes, as a side for something on the grill. Two cups of boiling  water in the tea kettle, a big dollop of sour cream and a bit of butter, stir, cover, and stir again,  good to go.  So easy, and tasty.

I also love the microwave rice packets, though I don't have a microwave.  I just add a little water, and heat. 

Both store in the pantry, and require no refrigeration.

  

 

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, SeaDawg said:

One of my favorites is Idahoan Red Mashed potatoes,

And I've thought for the past several years that I was the only one that was/is so plebian.😊

I swore to myself after the time I spent in the Army that I'd never eat anything freeze dried again (especially eggs).  But, these things are actually rather good.

Bill

[SeaDawg]

"No refrigeration " and "quick and easy" is sometimes for the win!

I remember one really cold, rainy, and  windy night in Canada, when we tried repeatedly to start a fire with wet pine. It was a no go situation. Although late summer, it was really cold.

We had dried soup mix, on the stovetop. Satisfying and good. And hot. 

I always have some in the Ollie, and I carry it in my luggage when we fly and camp... Iceland, Scandinavia,  Australia, etc.. There's always water, somewhere.  Stores may not be open. Especially landing on Sunday.  

Made freeze dried chili in Norway, in a dry cabin, one night, after landing in Bergen, and driving an hour and a half toward my cousins. No real stores open, en route.

Good to have, as backup.

Not our usual meals, but they are great in certain circumstances. 

Tonight's camping dinner, everything fresh. Vegetables from my neighbors ' organic garden.

[shhQuiet]

Agree about the potatoes and the microwave rice...  Sometimes I'm just not hungry and I'll have some ramen noodles- reminds me of the hungry school days!

Another favorite of mine is the hot dog, or "tube steak" 🤣 with a slice of cheese melted on there.

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, shhQuiet said:

Agree about the potatoes and the microwave rice...  Sometimes I'm just not hungry and I'll have some ramen noodles- reminds me of the hungry school days!

Another favorite of mine is the hot dog, or "tube steak" 🤣 with a slice of cheese melted on there.

I do like to eat - but - I really do NOT like to cook.  I fully understand that there are those who get into that cooking thing and I really do appreciate it when they feel sorry for me.

My wife found some of THESE (in the chicken flavor) at some discount store.  Throw in some hunks of real cooked chicken and its a quick decent meal fast.

Bill

[Steph and Dud B]

Hormel ComplEats: https://www.hormel.com/Brands/Compleats and Barilla microwave pasta: https://www.barilla.com/en-us/home/ready-pasta-hub?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PastaShapes-ReadyPasta-GenericPasta-Brand-Exact&utm_term=barillareadypasta&ds_rl=1275463&ds_rl=1274610&gclid=Cj0KCQjwldKmBhCCARIsAP-0rfzMGAPP641nZnmYHO-0RD4XqtFZEREUicUtRMCF8aPeLKnE1vl4uc8aAgrXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[SeaDawg]

@Steph and Dud B, the Barilla precooked pasta is a winner. Without a microwave, (like me) you can heat sauce, and heat the pasta in it. 

I also like the Ronzini 3 minute pastas, which usually take more like 5 minutes to cook, but less than half the time of my home favorites,  bronze cut semolina pastas. (I'll take some of those, cooled at home, in flat baggies with a little evoo, but they only keep a week or so in the fridge.)

The Hormel Compleats are a good choice for some, but too much sodium for our diet. I do like their Hormel no salt added canned chicken (as well as the Costco canned chicken) for adding protein to a quick meal.

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, Steph and Dud B said:

Hormel ComplEats: https://www.hormel.com/Brands/Compleats

Again prior to my last trip my wife 😍 got me one of these (meatloaf and gravy with mashed potatoes).  Certainly not the best I've ever eaten, but, surprisingly decent and certainly quick.

Bill

[VBistro]

I like Saffron Road simmer sauces.  I combine the curry or the lemon grass basil with some shelf-stable tofu and whatever fresh/frozen veggies I might have on hand.  Serve it over some pre-cooked rice, and you have a very tasty meal.

https://www.saffronroad.com/products/variety-pack

https://www.lundberg.com/products/organic-white-thai-jasmine-rice

Yum!
 

[Mountainman198]

When in the Southwest I stock up on packets of these from the local Walmart. They are under $3/packet when buying from the store. Very tasty and you can either make as a side or as a soup by adding extra water. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/Mexicali-Rose-Instant-Mexican-Homestyle/dp/B00FD7EFWY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1LHV4DWGY7DOZ&keywords=refried+beans+freeze+dried&qid=1692298981&sprefix=refried+beans+freeze%2Caps%2C1220&sr=8-4

[SeaDawg]

1 hour ago, VBistro said:

I like Saffron Road simmer sauces.  I combine the curry or the lemon grass basil with some shelf-stable tofu and whatever fresh/frozen veggies I might have on hand.  Serve it over some pre-cooked rice, and you have a very tasty meal.

https://www.saffronroad.com/products/variety-pack

https://www.lundberg.com/products/organic-white-thai-jasmine-rice

Yum!
 

My daughter is a huge fan of saffron road products. I have Lundberg wild rice mix in my cupboard at home, all the time. 

As you said, yum.

@Mountainman198, I've never seen the mexicali rose packets in the east. Maybe it's a regional thing. Packets are much easier to deal with than cans.

I could see that as a quick and easy soup dinner. Add a can of Rotel, maybe some fresh chopped jalapeño,  add a can of pinto or chili beans, some water, and voila (I think) a nice, hearty meatfree but high protein caldo for dinner. 

I might even try it tonight, with canned fat free refried beans. I have corn tortillas to cut and fry as garnish,  and there's (almost) always sour cream and hot sauce around.  And canned hatch chili's.:) might even sprinkle in some leftover frozen corn, and fresh cilantro....

[Steve Morris]

4 hours ago, VBistro said:

I like Saffron Road simmer sauces.  I combine the curry or the lemon grass basil with some shelf-stable tofu and whatever fresh/frozen veggies I might have on hand.  Serve it over some pre-cooked rice, and you have a very tasty meal.

https://www.saffronroad.com/products/variety-pack

https://www.lundberg.com/products/organic-white-thai-jasmine-rice

Yum!
 

That sounds scrumptious! We just picked up some Ben’s pre-cooked jasmine rice today for our outing Sunday to Thursday. There’s a local Mediterranean restaurant here that serves filet mignon kabobs on jasmine rice and shredded red cabbage. Mmmm! We’re going to recreate it on the Skottle, but with sautéed onions and mushrooms instead of cabbage.