Who says you can’t have a salad on the trail? Salads are perfect for lunch because they are refreshing and light. But light doesn’t mean wimpy. The following no-cook (add cold water) backpacking meals are calorie-dense and loaded with complex carbohydrates. This refreshing variety will satisfy the pickiest palate—from salads loaded with crisp veggies and plump fruits to spiced taco and bean salads. If you need extra calories, you can easily turn any of these meals into a delicious wrap for additional carbohydrate energy!
If you’re vegan, you’re in luck—these salads are entirely plant-based.
1. Pacific Crest Vinaigrette – 430 Calories
Made with freeze-dried broccoli, slivered almonds, flaked chickpeas, sweet cranberries, and plump raisins marinated in a zesty vinaigrette.
Profile: Tangy
2. Open Sky Yasai – 470 Calories
A cold stir-fry of vegetables, including cabbage, broccoli, peas, carrots, and peanuts marinated in a ginger sesame vinaigrette.
Profile: Gingery Warm
3. Lemony Herb Quinoa Salad – 430 Calories
Baked red quinoa crisps with tangy, clean flavors of lemony herbed veggies tossed with thinly sliced almonds.
Profile: Citrusy
4. Hop Pea Slop – 490 Calories
Love Peas? This protein-packed salad features a generous amount of freeze-dried organic sweet peas, flaked veggies, and walnuts in a dairy-free ranch dressing.
Profile: Creamy & Sweet
5. Fiesta Quinoa Salad – 430 Calories
Crisped quinoa, freeze-dried sweet corn, and spiced black bean flakes. This one hits the spot and is one of our personal favorites.
Profile: Medium Spicy
6. Lazy Lentil Salad– 540 Calories
A refreshing fruit and lentil trail salad for those lazy, hot summer days. Made with precooked flaked US-grown lentils, sunflower seeds, apple chunks, and sweet cranberries in a zesty vinaigrette.
Profile: Zesty Sweet
7. Mojo Mango Bowl – 460 Calories
Cabbage, flaked black beans, crisped quinoa, and mango chunks marinated in a citrus lime Mojo sauce. Guaranteed to satisfy.
Profile: Zesty Sweet
8. Waldorf Salad – 700 Calories
This powerhouse salad will fill you up! Made with freeze-dried organic Granny Smith apple chunks, raisins, sunflower seeds, and walnuts in a creamy dressing.
Profile: Creamy & Fruity
9. On the Go Garbanzo Spread – 530 Calories
Garbanzo beans, walnuts, carrots, and diced celery in a dairy-free creamy dill sauce. This one makes a quick trail-side lunch when paired with crackers/flatbread.
Profile: Herby
10. Sunny Sunflower Spread – 500 Calories
A blend of seasonings tossed with yellow sweet corn, sunflower seeds, flaked black beans & bell peppers. Works well as a tortilla taco.
Profile: Mildly Spicy
