Freeze-dried meals are convenient, lightweight, calorie-dense, and can be very delicious!
This is why they’ve become so popular as a go-to meal option for camping and backpacking.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best freeze-dried meals for camping (from breakfast to dessert), the best brands to choose from, plus answer some important FAQs!
Best Freeze-Dried Meals for Camping
The best freeze-dried meals for camping are pre-cooked and made with real ingredients, provide the calories you need and are ready in minutes. And, of course, they taste delicious!
Important: The “best” freeze-dried meal is subjective. It really comes down to personal taste. But below are some of our favorites, along with our favorite brands, to help you pick out some convenient and great tasting options for your next camping trip!
Freeze-Dried Breakfast Meals
| Description | Servings | Calories Per Serving | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak Refuel Breakfast Skillet | 2 | 320 |
| Peak Refuel Biscuits & Sausage Gravy | 2 | 570 |
 | Backpacker’s Pantry Granola with Blueberries, Almonds & Milk | 1 | 620 |
| Mountain House Breakfast Skillet | 2 | 260 |
| Mountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries | 2 | 260 |
 | Alpine Bandito Egg Scramble | 1 | 460 |
| ReadyWise Breakfast Variety Pack | 120 | 190-250 |
Freeze-Dried Lunch & Dinner Entrees
| Description | Servings | Calories Per Serving | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Peak Refuel Chicken Alfredo Pasta | 2 | 430 |
 | Peak Refuel Beef Stroganoff | 2 | 400 |
 | Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef | 2 | 230 |
 | Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice | 2 | 240 |
 | Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai | 2 | 370 |
 | Backpacker’s Pantry Lasagna | 2 | 310 |
 | AlpineAire Foods Spicy Sausage Pasta | 1 | 600 |
 | AlpineAire Himalayan Lentils & Rice (Vegetarian) | 1 | 640 |
 | ReadyWise Entree Variety Bucket | 60 | Varies |
Freeze-Dried Desserts
| Description | Servings | Calories Per Serving | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Peak Refuel Dessert Bites | 2 | 320 |
 | Mountain House Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich | 1 | 140 |
 | Backpacker’s Pantry Creme Brulee | 2 | 310 |
 | Backpacker’s Pantry Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Mix | 2 | 300 |
 | AlpineAire Chocolate Mudslide | 1 | 580 |
Freeze-Dried Snacks
| Description | Servings | Calories Per Serving | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mountain House Peanut Butter Bites – Apples & Cinnamon | 3 | 140 |
 | Mountain House Peanut Butter Bites – Cocoa | 3 | 140 |
 | ReadyWise Simple Kitchen Freeze-Dried Strawberries and Bananas | 1 | 100 |
 | ReadyWise Cookie Dough Trail Treats | 2 | 240 |
 | Thousand Lakes Freeze Dried Sweet Corn | 3 | 100 |
Tip: Add your favorite freeze-dried meals from above to your camping food list so you’re prepared for your next trip!
And don’t forget your camping and backpacking stove, so you can heat the water to add to your freeze-dried meal pouch.
Jetboil Flash Camping and Backpacking Stove Cooking System
Price:Clicking this link to make a purchase may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
Looking for more quick and easy food ideas? Check out our list of the best packaged foods for camping and our huge list of 101 food ideas to take camping without a fridge (including meal plans)!
Best Freeze-Dried Food Companies
There are many different companies offering freeze-dried foods and meals. But only a few really stand out.
These companies have developed a reputation for creating high-quality, delicious freeze-dried foods focusing on customer satisfaction.
Mountain House
Mountain House originally began making food that tasted good and was long-lasting for the United States military during the Vietnam conflict. Then in 1969, they started offering freeze-dried meals to regular consumers. Over the years, they have become a leader in the freeze-dried meal market.
Peak Refuel
Peak Refuel uses 100% non-GMO ingredients, and USDA inspected meats in their packaged meals. They rehydrate fast and are typically ready to eat in less than 10 minutes! Less time preparing food means more time to enjoy camping!
Backpacker’s Pantry
Backpacker’s Pantry has become extremely popular in just the last decade for creating authentic recipes, using only the healthiest ingredients, and being eco-friendly. They are one of the few companies that are 100% solar-powered and have offset all carbon emissions from shipping. You are supporting a better future by supporting Backpacker’s pantry.
They have one of the largest vegetarian and vegan meal assortments I’ve seen, as well.
AlpineAire
AlpineAire believes that freeze-dried meals shouldn’t be boring. So, they’ve created a range of products, including meat and vegetarian meals, soups, vegetables, and other foods ranging from breakfast to dessert.
Simply add water, and you have a healthy, preservative-free meal in minutes!
Readywise
Readywise creates freeze-dried meals for emergency preparedness and outdoor camping and hiking situations. Their meals are easy-to-prepare (just add water), last up to 25 years, and are affordable and convenient.
They sell large bundles, which are excellent for extended camping trips or to have on hand for survival purposes.
Camper’s Pantry
Camper’s Pantry is an Australian-based company that started creating great-tasting freeze-dried meals to help fuel campers and hikers as they traverse the beautiful outback and beyond!
All of their meals are made with real ingredients, pre-cooked, and 100% freeze-dried.
Learn More
Good To-Go
Last on this list is Good To-Go. They technically only offer dehydrated backpacking meals for camping and hiking, but I thought I would mention them as the end product is similar, and they are a great company.
All Good To-Go meals are hand-made in Maine using the cleanest ingredients. And they offer arguably the best-tasting dehydrated meals around! That’s because their meals are designed by Chef Jennifer Scism, who just happened to beat Mario Batali of Iron Chef fame in the Mushroom Battle of Spring 2005.
FAQs
Is Freeze-Dried Camping Food Good?
Freeze-dried camping food tastes as good as its fresh counterpart. The freeze-drying process simply removes any moisture from the food. When you rehydrate the food to eat it, you are essentially returning it to its original state.
How Do You Freeze-Dry Meals for Camping?
To freeze dry meals for camping, you will need a freeze-drying machine. Simply turn on the freeze-dryer and let it cool down to the proper temperature. Then place your meals on the included tray, and slide the tray into the freeze-dryer. In about 24 hours, your food will be dried. Properly seal your food in bags or jars, and it’s ready for camping!
Are Freeze-Dried Meals Healthy?
Freeze-dried foods retain the majority of their nutritional value during the drying process, thus making them as healthy as their fresh counterparts.
How Long Do Freeze-Dried Foods Last?
Freeze-dried foods will typically last 25 – 30 years as long as they are unopened. Once opened, they are exposed to air and moisture, drastically reducing their shelf-life.