camp meals

Trail Chicken and Rice

Instant rice, freeze-dried chicken, and vegetables. One pot, one boil, done in eight minutes.

calories
510
weight
5.8 oz
cal / oz
88
protein
35 g
serves
1, scales
prep
2 min
cook
8 min
total time
10 min
water
250 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
  • Thru-hike
  • One pot
  • Pre-mix at home
  • Shelf stable
  • Dump and stir

Ingredients

Instant white rice 3/4 cup
Freeze-dried chicken 1.5 oz or one 10 oz can drained in camp
Freeze-dried vegetables 1/3 cup peas, carrots, and corn mix works well
Chicken bouillon powder 1.5 tsp
Garlic powder 1 tsp
Olive oil 1 tbsp carried in a small dropper bottle
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

  1. Bring 250 ml of water to a boil in your pot.
  2. Add the rice, freeze-dried chicken, vegetables, bouillon, and garlic powder. Stir well.
  3. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. The rice and vegetables will absorb the water and rehydrate.
  4. Remove from heat. Stir in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Eat immediately before the rice sets up.

Instant rice, freeze-dried chicken, and freeze-dried vegetables all rehydrate in one simultaneous boil with no separate cooking stages. Everything hits the water at once and finishes when the rice is tender.

The freeze-dried chicken carries the protein and calories. If you use canned chicken, open it in camp and pour the broth into the pot to add flavor without carrying extra water.

Packing

Combine rice, freeze-dried chicken, vegetables, bouillon, garlic powder, and salt in a quart freezer bag at home. Carry oil separately in a small dropper bottle. If using canned chicken, pack it separately and open it in camp.

Variations

  • Add 0.5 oz freeze-dried chicken for 30 grams more protein.
  • Swap bouillon for a spoonful of miso paste.
  • Drain canned chicken into the pot to add broth; reduce water to 200 ml.

https://trailcooking.com/2023/08/12/ai-created-backpacking-chicken-and-instant-rice