Camp Cheesy Potatoes
Instant hashbrowns and cheese powder for a third the cost of the commercial cup. Instant, filling, and way better portions.
- calories
- 350
- weight
- 5 oz
- cal / oz
- 70
- protein
- 6 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total time
- 12 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.
- Dinner
- Canister stove
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Car camping
- Vegetarian
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Instant hashbrowns | 1 cup | restaurant supply stores carry bulk boxes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese sauce powder | 6 tbsp | any brand; Thrive or similar |
| Salt and pepper | to taste |
Method
- Boil 350 ml of water in your pot.
- Stir in the hashbrowns and cheese powder until no dry streaks remain.
- Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Stir well and eat.
The commercial cups are just instant hashbrowns and cheese powder in expensive packaging. Mix your own for a third the cost and double the portion. Cheese powder is doing the real work—it thickens the hydrated potatoes into something with body instead of leaving you with soup.
Ten minutes of resting matters. It gives the potatoes time to absorb the water and the powder to hydrate fully. Stir well before eating or everything settles into a brick at the bottom. Add bacon or dehydrated chicken if you want this to count as dinner instead of a side.
Packing
Mix the hashbrowns and cheese powder into a quart freezer bag at home. At camp, you are boiling water once and walking away for ten minutes.
Variations
- Dehydrated bacon bits or powdered chicken stirred in before eating adds protein without weight.
- Use the freezer bag method for no-pot cleanup: add boiled water to the sealed bag, wrap it in an insulated cozy, let sit 10-15 minutes.
https://trailcooking.com/2024/02/14/how-to-mimic-a-commercial-meal-cheese-potato-shreds