Camp Cheese Pasta
Powdered cheese and milk make a sauce that doesn't spoil. Everything happens in one pot.
- calories
- 410
- weight
- 5.8 oz
- cal / oz
- 71
- protein
- 17 g
- serves
- 3, scales
- prep
- 3 min
- cook
- 12 min
- total time
- 15 min
- water
- 2000 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.
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Alcohol / Esbit
- Backpacking
- Car camping
- Vegetarian
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Elbow macaroni | 12 oz | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese powder | 2/3 cup | |
| Dry milk powder | 2 Tbsp | |
| Butter powder | 4 tsp | |
| Dry mustard | 1/2 tsp | |
| Sea salt | 1/4 tsp | |
| Black pepper | 1/4 tsp | |
| Granulated garlic | 1/4 tsp |
Method
- Bring two liters of water to a boil and add the macaroni. Cook until just tender, about eight to ten minutes depending on package directions.
- While pasta cooks, mix the cheese powder, milk powder, butter powder, mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bag.
- Drain the pasta well and return it to the pot. Pour the dry mixture into the pot along with one and a half cups of water.
- Stir constantly over medium heat for one to two minutes until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
- Remove from heat. The sauce will thicken further as it cools, so stop stirring before it looks quite done.
Dried cheese and milk powder let you make a real sauce without the weight or spoilage risk of fresh dairy. This matters on longer trips. The pasta absorbs the sauce without getting waterlogged.
The sauce thickens after the heat comes off. Pull it early when it still looks thin, because it will set up as it cools. Cook it longer and it becomes a glob instead of coating the pasta.
Packing
Macaroni goes in a quart bag. Powders and seasonings in a sandwich bag, sealed. Nest both in a gallon bag to keep everything together.
Variations
- Add shelf-stable bacon bits or canned chicken when you stir in the sauce for extra protein.
- Substitute smoked paprika for the granulated garlic.
https://trailcooking.com/2024/11/12/boondocking-recipe-better-than-boxed-mac-n-cheese