As a long time backpacking guide and vegetarian myself, I’ve found ways to eat well on the trail while working with clients who may (or may not) also be veggies. It’s actually a bit of a pain to try to bring meat on the trail, other than ultra-salty jerky and wrapped sausage sticks.

For that reason, most vegetarians will find themselves eating better meals than the majority with these few vegetarian backpacking meals:

(All of my meals are based around Freezer Bag Cooking so if you’re not familiar with this method I suggest you start by reading Sarah Kirkconnel’s brand new 2016 edition FBC book.)

Crunchy Beans and Rice

Possibly my all time favorite for deliciousness and simplicity. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an entire shelter ask me, “What is that amazing smell?” This is an easy vegetarian meal for the trail that you’ll come back to over and over again.

If you enjoy Tex-Mex or anything resembling tasty burritos and spicy rice this is the meal for you:

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• (1) gallon Ziploc freezer bag
• 1 Cup of Minute Rice
• 1 Tsp of Taco Seasoning
• 1 Cup of Dehydrated Refried Beans
• 1/2 Cup of Crushed Fritos

PRE-TRAIL PREPARATION

1. Grab that gallon Ziploc bag and toss in your cup of minute rice, taco seasoning, and dehydrated refried beans.
2. Crush up your Fritos and toss them in a small snack sized Ziploc bag.
3. Put the snack bag of Fritos inside the gallon bag with your other ingredients.

ON-TRAIL PREPARATION

1. Pull the snack bag of Fritos out of the gallon Ziploc.
2. Boil enough water for the beans and rice (2 cups of water if you followed my portions).
3. Once the water is boiling, shut off the stove and pour the water into the gallon Ziploc bag.
4. Seal bag and let it sit until the water has been fully absorbed by rice and beans. Set up camp while this happens.
5. Stir up meal, sprinkle crushed Fritos over it, and enjoy! Eat straight from the bag for no-mess cleanup.

Creamy CousCous

Another amazing recipe that will leave you hiking through your day just to get to camp for your dinner! Completely vegetarian backpacking meal and amazingly tasty.

This one is hearty and filling so leave plenty of time to veg out (ha, no pun intended) around camp after you eat up.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• (1)  gallon Ziploc freezer bag
• 1 Box Pre-Mixed CousCous
• 1 Tbsp Whole Milk Powder
• 1 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup Crushed Walnuts

PRE-TRAIL PREPARATION

1. Add couscous, milk powder, and walnuts together in the gallon Ziploc bag.
2. Put your olive oil in a leak proof container (I bought a pack of 8oz water bottles and drank them all – replace with olive oil).
3. Consider adding a little extra seasoning (dry buttermilk ranch seasoning) if you want before leaving home.

ON-TRAIL PREPARATION

1. Boil enough water for the couscous according to the box you used of pre-mixed couscous.
2. Add boiling water to freezer bag.
3. Seal freezer bag, let sit while you set up camp.
4. Stir in olive oil before eating and mix thoroughly.
5. ENJOY!

Conclusion

If you enjoyed these simple vegetarian backpacking meals, please consider picking up your ingredients using the links above. The small Amazon kickback helps me keep this site running so I can keep bringing the best backpacking information available to you!

If you want more great freezer bag cooking meals for backpacking just let me know in the comment section. I love freezer bag cooking backpacking meals and it’s so much fun to share the simplicity with new hikers.

Check out my list of the most calorie dense foods if you’re looking for foods that really pack a punch on the trail.