The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Backpacking Food

Backpacking Guides

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We tracked down all the freeze dried vegan backpacking food we could find so you don’t have to. Enjoying a plant-based meal while camping in the backcountry has never been easier than right now!

Vegan Backpacking Food

Here on Fresh Off the Grid we are strong advocates of preparing meals from scratch, but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that pre-packaged, freeze dried meals occasionally factor into our meal planning for longer backpacking trips. They are just so simple, easy-to-cook, and check all the right boxes for backpacking.

Accommodating a vegan diet while meal planning a multi-day backpacking trip can be a challenge. It’s hard to figure out enough plant-based meals that are also lightweight, calorie-dense, and quick cooking. It’s a lot of constraints, but it’s definitely not impossible. But while there are more vegan options now than ever before, finding them among the sea of other just-add-water options can still require a bit of searching.

That’s why we scoured the internet to find as many vegan freeze dried meals as we could and share them all in one place. We have also done the painstaking work of calculating all the macronutrients for each of the meals by the ounce. Now you can easily tell the weight-to-nutrient ratio at a glance and quickly compare meals to make sure you’re planning a balanced menu. So if you, or somebody you know, is a vegan backpacker – this is your one-stop shop!

Check out the bottom of the list to find out the Top 5 Vegan Backpacking Meals by Calories and the Top 5 Vegan Backpacking Meals by Protein winners.

SKIP TO…
Breakfasts // Lunch & Snacks // Dinners

Vegan Backpacking Meals for Breakfast

VEGAN BACKPACKING BREAKFASTS

Super Greens Instant Smoothie – Alpine Aire
Calories per oz: 95 | Fat per oz: 0.5 | Carb per oz: 21 | Protein per oz: 3.5

Organic Blueberry Quinoa – Backpackers Pantry
Calories per oz: 113.6 | Fat per oz: 3.2 | Carb per oz: 18.6 | Protein per oz: 3.5

Organic Peanut Raisin Oatmeal – Backpackers Pantry
Calories per oz: 118.6 | Fat per oz: 4.7 | Carb per oz: 17 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Toasted Sunburst Muesli – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 119 | Fat per oz: 4.2 | Carb per oz: 17 | Protein per oz: 4

Sunrise Tofu Scramble – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 113.6 | Fat per oz: 3.6 | Carb per oz: 12.3 | Protein per oz: 8.6

Chia Oat Crunch – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 128.8 | Fat per oz: 5.9 | Carb per oz: 15.6 | Protein per oz: 3.4

High Elevation Rice Cereal – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 95.8 | Fat per oz: 0.8 | Carb per oz: 18.3 | Protein per oz: 2.1

Coconut Chia Peel – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 122.8 | Fat per oz: 5.8 | Carb per oz: 17.3 | Protein per oz: 2.6

Blueberry Maple Crunch – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 126.2 | Fat per oz: 5 | Carb per oz: 24.8 | Protein per oz 6.2

Apple Quinoa Oatmeal – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 123.1 | Fat per oz: 3.9 | Carb per oz: 16.3 | Protein per oz: 4.3

AppalaChia – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 108.8 | Fat per oz: 3 | Carb per oz: 19.5 | Protein per oz: 2.5

Pumpkin Wild Rice Hot Cereal – Simply Native Foods
Calories per oz: 114.2 | Fat per oz: 3.8 | Carb per oz: 17.6 | Protein per oz: 4.3

Sunflower Wild Rice Hot Cereal – Simply Native Foods
Calories per oz: 114.2 | Fat per oz: 3.8 | Carb per oz: 18.1 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Vegan Backpacking Lunch Ideas

VEGAN BACKPACKING LUNCHES + SNACKS

Spicy Southwest Hummus – Alpine Aire
Calories per oz: 144 | Fat per oz: 8 | Carb per oz: 12 | Protein per oz: 5.6

Classic Guacamole – Alpine Aire
Calories per oz: 150 | Fat per oz: 17 | Carb per oz: 3 | Protein per oz: 2

Salsa – Backpackers Pantry
Calories per oz: 78.8 | Fat per oz: 0.8 | Carb per oz: 18.9 | Protein per oz: 3.1

Protein Paradise – GoMacro Bar
Calories per oz: 122.8 | Fat per oz: 5.2 | Carb per oz: 14.7 | Protein per oz: 5.2

Corn Salsa – Mary Janes Farm
Calories per oz: 85 | Fat per oz: 0 | Carb per oz: 20.8 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Pesto Herbilicous Spread – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 152.2 | Fat per oz: 10.5 | Carb per oz: 9.1 | Protein per oz: 6.8

Pacific Crest Vinaigrette – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 135.4 | Fat per oz: 5 | Carb per oz: 15 | Protein per oz: 3.2

Lemon Quinoa Tabbouleh – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 120.7 | Fat per oz: 3.8 | Carb per oz: 19.8 | Protein per oz: 4.2

Inca Berry + Almond Bar – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 97.2 | Fat per oz: 2.8 | Carb per oz: 17.8 | Protein per oz: 1.6

Almond Crunch Meal Bar – PROBAR
Calories per oz: 123.4 | Fat per oz: 6.0 | Carb per oz: 16 | Protein per oz: 3

Vegan Backpacking Meals for Dinner

VEGAN BACKPACKING DINNERS

Santa Fe Black Bean Rice – Alpine Aire
Calories per oz: 98 | Fat per oz: .5 | Carb per oz: 20.9 | Protein per oz: 3.1

Veggie Burrito Bowl – Alpine Aire
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: .3 | Carb per oz: 21.3 | Protein per oz: 3.3

Wild Rice & Mushroom Pilaf – Backpacker’s Bistro
Calories per oz: 126 | Fat per oz: 2.3 | Carb per oz: 23.8 | Protein per oz: 4.2

Risotto Primavera – Backpacker’s Bistro
Calories per oz: 147 | Fat per oz: 5 | Carb per oz: 21.1 | Protein per oz: 3.3

Mexican Beans & Rice – Backpacker’s Bistro
Calories per oz: 180 | Fat per oz: 2.8 | Carb per oz: 34.8 | Protein per oz: 5.6

Spaghetti & Sauce – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 95 | Fat per oz: .4 | Carb per oz: 17.9 | Protein per oz: 6.4

Cuban Coconut Black Beans & Rice – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 107 | Fat per oz: 1.3 | Carb per oz: 19.9 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Chana Masala – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 91 | Fat per oz: .6 | Carb per oz: 18.9 | Protein per oz: 3.1

Pad Thai – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 111 | Fat per oz: 4.5 | Carb per oz: 15.4 | Protein per oz: 4.5

Katmandu Curry – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 101 | Fat per oz: .4 | Carb per oz: 19.1 | Protein per oz: 5.4

Charros Beans & Rice – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 94 | Fat per oz: .7 | Carb per oz: 19.2 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Louisiana Red Beans & Rice – Backpacker’s Pantry
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: .3 | Carb per oz: 20.6 | Protein per oz: 4

Three Sisters Stew – Backpacking Pantry
Calories per oz: 103 | Fat per oz: 2.1 | Carb per oz: 18 | Protein per oz: 3.9

Mexican Quinoa Bowl – Good To-Go
Calories per oz: 103 | Fat per oz: 2.3 | Carb per oz: 19.7 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Bibimbap – Good To-Go
Calories per oz: 109 | Fat per oz: 3 | Carb per oz: 20.7 | Protein per oz: 2.7

Marinara Penne – Good To-Go
Calories per oz: 120 | Fat per oz: 2.3 | Carb per oz: 19.5 | Protein per oz: 3.1

Smoked Three Bean Chili – Good To-Go
Calories per oz: 97 | Fat per oz: 1.4 | Carb per oz: 18 | Protein per oz: 4.6

Mushroom Risotto – Good To-Go
Calories per oz: 120 | Fat per oz: 2.9 | Carb per oz: 18.8 | Protein per oz: 3.8

Captain John’s Navy Bean Soup – Harmony House Foods
Calories per oz: 84 | Fat per oz: 1.3 | Carb per oz: 14.6 | Protein per oz: 5.3

Southwest Style Mixed Bean Chili – Harmony House Foods
Calories per oz: 80 | Fat per oz: 0 | Carb per oz: 14.6 | Protein per oz: 5.3

Chickenish Soup – Harmony House Foods
Calories per oz: 88 | Fat per oz: 1.7 | Carb per oz: 15.5 | Protein per oz: 5.2

Hearty Texas Beefish Stew – Harmony House Foods
Calories per oz: 92 | Fat per oz: 1.5 | Carb per oz: 23 | Protein per oz: 6.2

Ancient Grains Southwestern – Made in Nature
Calories per oz: 26 | Fat per oz: .5 | Carb per oz: 4.6 | Protein per oz: 1

Ancient Grains Cuban Mojo – Made in Nature
Calories per oz: 44 | Fat per oz: 2.4 | Carb per oz: 5.2 | Protein per oz: 1

Ancient Grains Moroccan Bazaar – Made in Nature
Calories per oz: 26 | Fat per oz: .3 | Carb per oz: 5 | Protein per oz: .8

Ancient Grains Tuscan Garlic Tomato – Made in Nature
Calories per oz: 52 | Fat per oz: 1.4 | Carb per oz: 8.6 | Protein per oz: 1.6

Organic Kettle Chili – Mary Janes Farm
Calories per oz: 102 | Fat per oz: .9 | Carb per oz: 17.3 | Protein per oz: 6.2

Southwestern Couscous – Mary Janes Farm
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: .7 | Carb per oz: 20 | Protein per oz: 4.5

Organic Lentils Rice and Indian Spice – Mary Janes Farm
Calories per oz: 109 | Fat per oz: .5 | Carb per oz: 22.5 | Protein per oz: 4.1

Organic Couscous and Lentil Curry – Mary Janes Farm
Calories per oz: 101 | Fat per oz: .4 | Carb per oz: 19.8 | Protein per oz: 4.7

Organic Lentil Pilav – Mary Janes Farm
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: 0.7 | Carb per oz: 19.7 | Protein per oz: 5

Basil Walnut Penne – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 108.1 | Fat per oz: 4.8 | Carb per oz: 12.5 | Protein per oz: 4.1

Cheddar Garden Herb – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: 1.2 | Carb per oz: 15.8 | Protein per oz: 8.4

Naked Freckle Burrito – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 104 | Fat per oz: 1.25 | Carb per oz: 20.3 | Protein per oz: 3.75

Lickety Split Lentils – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 111.6 | Fat per oz: 2.9 | Carb per oz: 17.6 | Protein per oz: 4.6

Lemongrass Thai Curry – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 131.1 | Fat per oz: 7.1 | Carb per oz: 14.9 | Protein per oz: 3.3

Cibola Couscous – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 110.8 | Fat per oz: 2.8 | Carb per oz: 18.8 | Protein per oz: 3.6

Chickpea Sesame Penne – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 124 | Fat per oz: 4.9 | Carb per oz: 16.4 | Protein per oz: 4.5

Pesto Presto Matchsticks – Outdoor Herbivore
Calories per oz: 123 | Fat per oz: 4.9 | Carb per oz: 14.9 | Protein per oz: 5.1

Organic Green Kale Kamut Khorasan – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 95 | Fat per oz: .6 | Carb per oz: 19.7 | Protein per oz: 4.1

Organic Mushroom Kamut Khorasan – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 92 | Fat per oz: .6 | Carb per oz: 19.7 | Protein per oz: 3.7

Organic Red Bean Chili – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 95 | Fat per oz: 1.1 | Carb per oz: 17.3 | Protein per oz: 6.1

Organic Green Lentil Soup – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 95 | Fat per oz: .7 | Carb per oz: 18.1 | Protein per oz: 5.9

Organic Black Bean Soup – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: .8 | Carb per oz: 18.2 | Protein per oz: 5.5

Organic Tsampa Garden Veggie Soup – Patagonia Provisions
Calories per oz: 100 | Fat per oz: .8 | Carb per oz: 20 | Protein per oz: 3.3

Top Vegan Backpacking Food by Protein per OZ

Spaghetti & Sauce by Backpacker’s Pantry – 6.4g protein per oz
Kettle Chili by Mary Janes Farm – 6.2g protein per oz
Hearty Texas Beefish Stew by Harmony House Foods – 6.2g protein per oz
Organic Red Bean Chili by Patagonia Provisions – 6.1g protein per oz
Organic Green Lentil Soup by Patagonia Provisions – 5.9g protein per oz

Top Vegan Backpacking Food by Calories per OZ

1. Mexican Beans & Rice by Backpacker’s Bistro – 180 calories per oz!
2. Classic Guacamole by Alpine Aire – 150 calories per oz
3. Risotto Primavera by Backpacker’s Bistro – 147 calories per oz
4. Spicy Southwest Hummus by Alpine Aire – 144 calories per oz
5. Wild Rice & Mushroom Pilaf by Backpacker’s Bistro – 126 calories per oz

Companies are developing new vegan meals all the time (and there’s definitely a non-zero chance that we’ve missed something) so if you know of a dehydrated vegan meal we should include, let us know in the comments below! And, if you’ve tried any of these meals, we’d love to hear what you thought of them!

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Fresh Off The Grid
Fresh Off The Grid is a culinary resource for the outdoor community. We offer a collection of recipes, how-to guides, and camp cooking gear to help you enjoy great food in the great outdoors!

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20 Comments

  6. Hey there, any tips on how to go backpacking, hiking without using all those packaged foods? I am living without plastic, not buying any food that comes in plastic packaging, and always looking for alternatives (if you don’t have bulk bins around town). Would be awesome to hear if you know anything how to be low waste on a trail or maybe could do a post about zero waste/low waste hiking too 🙂

    Reply

    1. That’s fantastic. We are always trying to find new ways to reduce our single-use containers when possible. We’re not always great about it, but it’s a practice we are continually working on. A lot of the mylar bags that these foods come in are either recyclable or even compostable. We’d really like to do a deeper dive into zero or near-zero waste practices for camping and backpacking.

      Reply

  7. Thank you so much!! This list makes preparing a lot easier. Although the organic bare burrito from Mary Janes farm contains cheese so it is vegetarian but not vegan.

    Reply

  8. Awesome to see Backpackers Bistro on the list! I’m curious, have you guys checked out Food For The Sole? They make a bunch of tasty meals too 🙂

    Reply

  9. Great info. After decades of backpacking; 34 of them as a vegan, I’m now motorcycle camping. Your website has been a super repository of useful info. Happy life to you!

    Don

    Reply

  10. You can also buy individual ingredients and make your own meals. It’s usually cheaper, and you can make what you want, mix and match. Amazon sells two different brands of dehydrated foods that come in indivual ingredients; Harmony House is my favorite. This also allows you to make the meals fit how much you eat, and gives you flexibility.

    Reply

  12. Hello there.
    Thank you so much for this guide! Do you have any knowledge of web stores within the European Union that sells these vegan freeze dried products?
    Thanks in advance,
    Eva Marie, Denmark.

    Reply

    1. Eva, unfortunately, we have very limited knowledge of the availability of dehydrated products within the EU. We are planning on updating this article soon, so we will make sure we do a little research on that end.

      Reply