Backpacking with a large group can be an enjoyable experience filled with camaraderie. However, one of the most challenging aspects is planning meals that satisfy everyone’s tastes and dietary needs. Coordinating food that can be shared with multiple people while factoring in weight, nutrition, and preferences can be tricky—but with some prep, it’s manageable.
Here’s everything you should consider when planning backpacking food for a group:
- Size and Weight Constraints: The food and cooking gear need to take up as little space and weigh as little as possible to optimize what you can carry. Saving a few ounces off your carrying weight can make a big difference in how your back and legs feel! Dehydrated or freeze-dried options are best. Otherwise, opt for shelf-stable packable meals that need only hot water to cook versus prolonged cooking/simmering to save fuel. If purchasing grocery store food, look for simmer times of 10 minutes or less.
- Estimate your average calories and portion sizes: You will need to eat more food than usual to account for burning the additional calories from backpacking —plan for 2,500–4,000 calories per person per day, depending on hiking intensity, age, and weight.
- Customizable mixes: Packing grains, vegetarian sauce mixes, and single-serve jerky allow individuals to customize, making meals more enjoyable. For instance, a vegan rice and bean mix can be a base for burritos, and optional add-ins may include powdered cheese mix for those who want cheese, hot sauce packets for those who like spice, and jerky for the meat eaters. You can use the same idea with pasta, a sauce mix, tortilla pizza, stir fry, rice bowls, stews, etc.
- Measure It Out: Portion dry bulk ingredients at home to avoid overpacking. Avoid oversized packaging—repack into zipper bags. When measuring portion sizes, a good rule of thumb is 1.5 cups of food per adult for each meal.
Know Your Group
Before planning meals, list all participants and gather information about dietary restrictions and other concerns.
- Group Size: How many people are you feeding?
- Dietary Needs: Allergies, vegetarian/vegan preferences, gluten-free, diabetes, etc.
Plan the Menu
The menu should include meals that are simple and satisfying. Aim for one-pot meals to minimize clean-up and fuel use. Repeat meal types with variations to simplify shopping. Consider only using the stove for breakfast and dinner to reduce fuel use.
Here are some ideas for group-friendly staples:
- Grains: Instant rice, couscous, instant pasta, bulgar, instant quinoa, oats, corn grits, cream of wheat.
- Proteins: Powdered eggs, jerky, dehydrated beans, powdered hummus, tuna packets.
- Fats: Olive oil (small bottle or packets), peanut butter, powdered cheese, chia seeds, walnuts, cashews, shredded coconut.
- Treats: Include plenty of high-calorie snacks (nuts, trail mix, bars, jerky, energy chews, hot cocoa) for flexibility and quick energy boosts.
Sample Day Menu
Breakfast
- Muesli/granola cereal in bulk without the dry milk mixed in (soy milk powder is great for vegans/lactose intolerant); Instant oatmeal packets provide variety, and you can burn the packaging in a campfire. Add nuts to give them more calories. See Outdoor Herbivore’s bulk muesli mix with soy milk.
- Tortilla/Naan/English muffins/bagels pack well and can taste great in the morning with Nutella or nut butter. Make nut butter tortilla roll-ups even more delicious by adding a freeze-dried berry medley containing raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Simplify at home by pre-cutting dense breads that can be halved like English muffins and bagels. Also, consider pre-coating halved bread with jam/nut butter and individually wrapping it to eliminate clean-up and waste at camp.
- Eggs/tofu scrambled with dried vegetables make a nice protein-rich breakfast. You can find eggs in crystal or powdered form. For an egg alternative, look for dried tofu/soy crumbles. Pre-mix the egg powder in a boil bag with desired vegetables and spices (bell pepper, onion, salt, pepper, etc). Imitation bacon bits can be added for those that want them. Bring tortillas for making breakfast burritos.
- Pancakes may be an excellent option for Scout groups if someone is willing to carry the skillet. Make the pancake mix beforehand by measuring the correct ratio of flour, dried eggs, baking powder, and salt, so all you have to do at camp is add water.
- Instant/freeze-dried coffee is great because it eliminates coffee grounds and requires no equipment other than hot water and a cup. You can also control the strength of your coffee by adding more granules or water. Outdoor Herbivore has an organic freeze-dried coffee for 100+ cups.
Lunch
- Sandwiches are filling, but the bread will get smashed. Alternatively, take tortillas for easy-to-eat wraps that are thin enough to roll or wrap without breaking and pack well. Use no-cook mixes and spreads, such as pesto, hummus, garbanzo salad, nut butter, and salad-type mixes for the filling. Add jerky if desired. See Outdoor Herbivore’s bulk hummus powder for making hummus wraps.
- Look for no-cook/cold-soak pre-packaged meals that only need cold water added to simplify clean-up and the hassle of boiling water during hike time.
- Meal bars are convenient when you want to eat as you hike. GreenBelly meal replacement bars are filling and offer balanced nutrition.
Dinner
- One-pot pasta meals are filling and easy to customize with instant pasta, separate sauce mixes, and dried veggies. Spaghetti, Primavera, Chili Mac, Pesto Pasta, and Mac and Cheese are easy and agreeable. Outdoor Herbivore makes it simple for a group with our just-add water mixes, including, Bulk Instant Pasta, Everyday Mixed Vegetables, Dehydrated Tomato Pasta Sauce, Instant Chili Mix, and Cheddar Cheese Powder.
- Rice curry with instant rice, coconut milk powder, mixed dried vegetables, cashews/peanuts, and curry seasoning is filling. See Curry in a Hurry Bulk Mix.
- Mujadara with instant rice, instant lentils, bouillon cube, and french fried onions is delicious. See Instant Rice + Lentils + Bouillon.
- Stir-fry with instant rice, mixed vegetables, tvp, sesame seed, and soy sauce is easy to make. Outdoor Herbivore makes it a breeze with Instant Lentils, TVP, and Vegetable Stir Fry Mix.
- Couscous with dried fruit (cranberries/raisins/apricots), bouillon cube, and pistachios is quick and delicious. Get the Moroccan or finely ground couscous resembling corn grits, which is pre-cooked. See Bouillon.
- Shepherd pie skillet made with instant mashed potatoes, onion flakes, lentils, and bouillon cube. Outdoor Herbivore makes it simple with Instant Lentils + Speedy Cheddar Spuds.
- Burritos with rice, bean flakes, true-lime packet, and taco seasoning are a crowd favorite. Find Bulk Burrito Mixes, including Naked Freckle or Switchback Stuffer.
Snacks
- Create a variety of salty and sweet finger foods such as trail mix, banana chips, granola bars, and energy chews.
Hydration
- Don’t forget hydration. Food prep often requires water—plan your water sources and consider any filters or purifiers. Flavor boosts enhance the taste of chemically treated backcountry water.
Assign Roles and Share the Load
Create a meal checklist so nothing gets forgotten or skipped. You don’t want to forget essentials like cooking oil, spices, and condiments. Organizing your list by category (e.g., produce, dairy, meats, dry goods) is often helpful to streamline your shopping trip.
Divide responsibilities to keep everyone engaged and share the workload:
- Meal Planner: Designs the menu, shopping list, and cooking fuel based on the number of hot meals.
- Shoppers/Packers: Buy and portion out food. Mark each bag with the meal and day. Distribute weight evenly among group members.
- Cooks: Rotate meal prep on the trail and clean-up tasks. Split the group into teams—one for breakfast, one for lunch, and another for dinner. This way, everyone can contribute, making meal times more interactive.
Consider Cooking and Storage Equipment
When camping with a large group, consider the cooking equipment you’ll need, including cookware, utensils, pots, plates, or bowls. If the meals require boiling water, will each group member be responsible for bringing cooking gear? Will each person need to bring a backpacking stove, cookware, and fuel, or can some of those items be shared? Take inventory of any shared gear like stoves, pots, and utensils to avoid redundancy and save pack space. Split up the food and cookware weight with others in the group.
Think About Clean-Up
Bring trash bags for waste and pack out everything you bring in. Consider using biodegradable soap for cleaning dishes and utensils. Encourage the group to keep the campsite tidy and practice the Leave No Trace principles.
Where to Source Backpacking Meals for a Group
Online Retailers
The easiest way is to source pre-made backpacking meals requiring only water to rehydrate. This simplifies planning, but most are often individually packaged for one person, generating excessive waste that must be packed out from camp and disposed of in the trash. Outdoor Herbivore provides vegetarian bulk mixes and double-serving size meals for sharing, reducing waste and saving money. Purchasing from online retailers gives you the most flexibility and can save you the most money if you buy directly from the manufacturer’s website. Other sources for these products can be found (in-store or online) at places like REI and Eastern Mountain Sports.
Grocery Stores
You can find a surprising amount of qualified backpacking food in a well-stocked grocery store if you know what to look for. If your group is on a budget, get as much as possible at the store. This can also be helpful for anyone in your group that has dietary restrictions. See our tips for purchasing grocery store food for the trail. Look for websites that offer recipes geared towards backpacking groups when assembling your own meals.
Final Thoughts
Planning backpacking food for a group may seem like a lot initially, but it’s all about preparation, communication, and smart packing. Well-fed hikers are happy hikers, and sharing delicious meals on the trail is one of the best parts of the adventure. With the proper planning, your group can enjoy tasty meals—and focus on what matters: the journey. Happy trails!
If you’re looking for tried-and-true backpacking meals made with real, wholesome food that’s packed with flavor, Outdoor Herbivore has something delicious for everyone.
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