Beef and Pepper Grits
Instant grits loaded with freeze-dried beef and pepper jack. Rehydrates in minutes with nothing but boiling water.
- calories
- 490
- weight
- 4.3 oz
- cal / oz
- 114
- protein
- 25 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 12 min
- total time
- 14 min
- water
- 350 ml boiled
- cost
- $$
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Canister stove
- Alcohol / Esbit
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Winter / snow
- Gluten free
- Nut free
- One pot
- Grab and go
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Instant grits | 2 packets | one minute in boiling water and they soften |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze-dried shredded beef | 1/4 cup | pulled pork or cubed beef work if beef isn't available |
| Freeze-dried red bell pepper | 1/4 cup | crumble fine before packing to hydrate faster |
| Freeze-dried pepper jack cheese | 2 tbsp | or plain cheddar if you don't want the heat |
| Dried milk powder | 2 tbsp | creates a creamy sauce instead of leaving broth |
Method
- Boil 350 ml of water.
- Dump all five ingredients into the pot and stir well.
- Cover and let sit for ten minutes. Everything will soften and thicken together.
- Stir again and eat. Don't wait much longer or it will set into a brick.
This works because grits rehydrate in minutes—same speed as instant potatoes. That means you need fast-hydrating ingredients or you end up with mushy grits and crunchy bits of meat. Freeze-dried beef and cheese soften on the grits’ schedule, not their own. The dried milk powder dissolves into boiling water and thickens the whole dish, turning it from thin paste into something with texture.
A quarter-cup of freeze-dried beef isn’t much by weight, but it rehydrates to real protein and real calories. Pepper jack carries flavor the whole way, which matters when everything else came from a freezer bag.
Packing
Mix all dry ingredients into one quart freezer bag at home. At camp, pour the bag into boiling water. If you're using a freezer bag cozy instead of a pot, bring the cozy too.
Variations
- Freeze-dried corn adds sweetness without changing hydration time.
- A pinch of cayenne or hot sauce powder amplifies the pepper jack.
- Substitute freeze-dried pulled pork or ground beef for the shredded beef.
https://trailcooking.com/2023/06/22/shredded-beef-and-pepper-grits-recipe