Cheesy Hamburger Rice
Freeze-dried beef, rice, and cheese in one pot. A complete meal that weighs almost nothing.
- calories
- 850
- weight
- 9 oz
- cal / oz
- 94
- protein
- 38 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 3 min
- cook
- 15 min
- total time
- 18 min
- water
- 500 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
- Liquid fuel
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Nut free
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Instant rice | 1 cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze-dried hamburger | 1/2 cup | |
| Freeze-dried tomatoes | 1/4 cup | smash before measuring |
| Freeze-dried mozzarella cheese | 1/4 cup | |
| Low-sodium beef bouillon powder | 2 tsp | |
| Dried garlic | 1 tsp | |
| Dried parsley | 1 tsp | |
| Oil | 1 tbsp | carry in a small bottle |
Method
- Bring 500 ml of water and the oil to a boil.
- Add the rice, hamburger, tomatoes, cheese, bouillon, garlic, and parsley. Stir well.
- Cover and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Stir well before eating. It will look watery at first, but it will come together.
Freeze-dried ingredients pack a full meal into the weight of a granola bar. The cheese does the real work here—it carries fat into rice and meat in a way that makes this feel like actual food instead of warm broth with bits. The dish will look watery halfway through the rest period. That is normal. Stir it well and it comes together.
Cold nights are when you want this. You get protein and calories with no thought and minimal cleanup.
Packing
Mix all dry ingredients into a quart freezer bag at home. Carry oil separately in a small dropper bottle.
Variations
- Use the freezer-bag cooking method: seal the ingredients with hot water in a freezer bag cozy instead of cooking in a pot. Same timing and result, zero dishes.
- Add hot sauce, sriracha powder, or additional dried herbs for heat and flavor.
https://trailcooking.com/2023/11/07/new-recipe-cheesy-hamburger-rice