Breakfast Recipes

Start your morning off right with a delicious backpacker’s breakfast

Below are backpacking breakfast recipes that wake you up for a great day on the trail. As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it is essential to have a nutritional start to give you energy to last throughout the day.

Because the last thing you want to do while outdoors is dirty a bunch of pots and pans, most of our breakfast recipes can be done in just a single zip lock bag! However, Wild Backpacker recommends that when adding boiling water to your baggie, always use heavy-duty or freezer zip lock bags. Although there have been no claims of injury or illness, Ziploc® states their baggies are not intended to be used at high temperatures, so use at your own risk.

Breakfast Scramble 1 3/4 cup instant mashed potatoes

1/2 cup freeze-dried eggs with bacon

1 1/2 cup water

1 Tbsp dry milk

Cheddar cheese (optional)

At home: Combine all dry ingredients in a zip lock freezer bag. Combine all dry ingredients in a zip lock freezer bag. On the trail: Heat water in pot (the hotter the better). Add to freezer bag and stir. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Makes 1 serving

Strawberry Sensation 1 cup Strawberry Frosted Mini-Wheats

1/2 cup dried strawberries

1/4 cup yogurt covered raisins

1/4 cup chocolate chips, milk or dark

At home: Combine all ingredients into zip lock bag. Combine all ingredients into zip lock bag. On the trail: Eat as breakfast or a snack.

Makes 1 serving

Trail Pancakes 1 cup Biscuit mix

1 Tbsp dry milk

1 Tbsp sugar

2/3 cup water

1 Tbsp squeeze margarine Note: Instead of squeeze margarine, you may substitute vegetable oil. If you do, keep 1 Tbsp of oil in a separate container and pour onto pan before cooking pancakes.

Instead of squeeze margarine, you may substitute vegetable oil. If you do, keep 1 Tbsp of oil in a separate container and pour onto pan before cooking pancakes.

At home: Add mix, milk and sugar into a quart size zip lock bag. Seal and shake well. Add mix, milk and sugar into a quart size zip lock bag. Seal and shake well. On the trail: Add water and margarine to bag, seal and squish bag with hands to mix and remove air and lumps. Cut hole in the corner of the bag and squeeze onto a hot pan. Cook until bubbles form, flip, and cook till they are golden brown!

Makes approx. 6 pancakes

Hangdog Oatmeal 2 1/2 cups oatmeal

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1/2 cup dried bananas, powdered

3/4 cup chocolate chips

At home: Mix ingredients into zip lock bag. Mix ingredients into zip lock bag. On the trail: Boil 4 cups of water into separate pan. Stir in contents of zip lock bag and reboil. Remove from stove and set aside until cool.

Makes 1 serving Recipe courtesy of Backpacker Magazine; April 1996; Pg 45

Cranberry Orange Rice 1/4 cup instant rice

1 Tbsp dried cranberries

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 packet True Orange

1 Tbsp powdered milk

1 tsp brown sugar Note: True Orange is also available at

True Orange is also available at www.truelemon.com or some grocery stores. You can also substitute 1 teaspoon citrus juice or zest per packet.

At home: Combine everything except the honey into a zip lock bag. Carry honey separately. Combine everything except the honey into a zip lock bag. Carry honey separately. On the trail: Pour mix into pan and add enough boiling water to cover. Let stand until rice is tender. Top with honey and serve warm.

Makes 1 serving This recipe courtesy of One Pan Wonders

Strawberry Almond Cream of Wheat 1 single serving package plain cream of wheat

2 Tbsp freeze-dried strawberries

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp powdered milk

1 Tbsp slivered almonds

At home: Put everything in a freezer zip lock bag. Put everything in a freezer zip lock bag. On the trail: Add enough hot water to cover, stir. Let sit for 5 minutes. Stir again and enjoy.

Makes 1 serving This recipe courtesy of One Pan Wonders

Spam and Eggs 1 single serving packet Spam (3 oz)

1 sun dried tomato, cut up

2 fresh eggs

1-2 Tbsp Parmesan or Romano cheese

1-2 Tbsp vegetable oil Note: Eggs can go bad quickly, so only use eggs on the beginning of your trip.

Eggs can go bad quickly, so only use eggs on the beginning of your trip.

At home: Put the eggs in a hiking egg carrier. Put the sun dried tomato and cheese into a zip lock bag. Carry the oil in a spill-proof container. Put the eggs in a hiking egg carrier. Put the sun dried tomato and cheese into a zip lock bag. Carry the oil in a spill-proof container. On the trail: Add oil to a pan. Dice the Spam into 1/4 inch chunks. Fry for a couple of minutes, until the spam begins to brown, then add the eggs and sun dried tomatoes. Scramble and cook until eggs are done. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

Makes 1 serving This recipe courtesy of One Pan Wonders

Cherry Almond Oatmeal 1 packet instant oatmeal

2 Tbsp dried cherries

1 Tbsp slivered almonds

1 Tbsp powdered milk

1 tsp brown sugar

At home: Combine everything in a freezer zip lock bag. Combine everything in a freezer zip lock bag. On the trail: Add 2/3 cup boiling water to oatmeal (or more if you like a thinner cereal).

Makes 1 serving This recipe courtesy of One Pan Wonders

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal 1/3 cup instant oatmeal

1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2 Tbsp powdered milk

2 tsp brown sugar

1/4 cup freeze-dried bananas

Chocolate cookies, crumbled (optional)