Freeze-Dried Chicken and Noodle Soup
Dehydrated pasta, chicken, and peas rehydrate into a warm bowl with parmesan. Boil, pour, cover, wait.
- calories
- 580
- weight
- 5.5 oz
- cal / oz
- 105
- protein
- 20 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 2 min
- cook
- 15 min
- total time
- 17 min
- water
- 300 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
- One pot
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Freeze-dried egg noodles | 1 cup | or dehydrated pasta of your choice |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze-dried green peas | ½ cup | |
| Freeze-dried chicken | ¼ cup | |
| Chicken bouillion | 1 tsp | or 1 packet, low sodium |
| Sea salt | ¼ tsp | |
| Parmesan cheese | 1 tbsp | shelf-stable packets work well |
Method
- Bring 300 ml water to a boil.
- Pour the water into a pot with the pasta, peas, chicken, bouillion, and salt. Stir well.
- Cover tightly and remove from heat. Let sit 15 minutes without peeking.
- Stir, top with parmesan, and eat.
Freeze-dried meals are honest backpacking food. Everything rehydrates in boiling water while you’re sitting around, and there’s no game to play about portion sizes. The chicken carries protein, and the pasta carries calories efficiently. Parmesan is your fat and flavor—don’t skip it.
The 15-minute sit is not negotiable. The pasta needs that time to absorb water and soften. In cold weather, wrap the pot in a cozy or sleeping bag to hold heat and speed things up. You’ll waste stove fuel trying to rush it.
Packing
Mix the dry ingredients into a single quart freezer bag at home. Pack the parmesan in a separate small pouch so it doesn't absorb moisture.
Variations
- Prepare in a freezer bag: after boiling water, pour it into the bag with the dry ingredients, seal, and insulate in a pot cozy or sleeping bag for 15 minutes instead of using a pot.
- Stir in a tablespoon of powdered butter or a few pinches of red pepper flakes for variety.
https://trailcooking.com/2025/01/13/instant-meals-comfort-noodles