Name: Backpacking Spaghetti Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 395 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (cooked and seasoned); 1/2 can spaghetti sauce; 1 pkg spaghetti noodles; 1/4 cup dried parmesan (optional)

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This backpacking spaghetti is lightweight, kid-approved, and ridiculously comforting after a long hike — proof that pasta absolutely belongs in the backcountry.

This backpacking spaghetti recipe is a family favorite and one that we take on all of our backcountry hiking and canoeing trips. It’s delicious, easy to make, and most importantly, a hit with the kids!

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Table of Contents

This recipe was created by the question, “what the heck are we going to feed the kids all week?!” when we were planning our kayaking trip on Mertle Lake with three growing boys. As we were stuffing all of our gear into kayaks, weight and size of the food we brought was a huge consideration!

If you’re wondering what we packed, it’s all in this what to pack for five nights of backpacking post.

While pizza wasn’t an option, we knew that the kids’ second favorite meal, spaghetti, would be. This backpacking meal has since become a staple for our family excursions!

How to Make This Backpacking Spaghetti Recipe

Ingredients

Ground beef, cooked and seasoned – Protein-packed and dehydrated ahead of time so it’s lightweight, but still filling.
Spaghetti sauce – Adds classic comfort-food flavor in dehydrated form.
Spaghetti noodles – A familiar favorite that cooks easily on a camp stove and instantly feels like a real meal.
Dried parmesan cheese (optional) – A salty, cheesy finishing touch.

Instructions

1. Start by dehydrating the ground beef and pasta sauce. Our food dehydrator is ancient, but this Cosori Food Dehydrator is a similar model with great reviews. Dehydrate the beef at 145°F for 4 – 6 hours, until it is completely dry. The sauce should be dehydrated at 135°F for 6 – 8 hours on a solid tray. Dehydrating times may vary depending on your dehydrator model, as well as the moisture and humidity.

2. Store the dehydrated ground beef in a large freezer bag for up to six months. We put ours in the freezer for added longevity.

3. Peel the dehydrated sauce off of the tray, tear it into strips, and store in a freezer bag.

4. To cook the spaghetti, start by adding 1/2 cup fresh water to the beef and allow it to rehydrate for at least 30 minutes.

5. Place the spaghetti noodles in a pot of water and cook them as directed. Do not drain the excess water.

6. Place the beef in a pan, add another 1/2 cup of water, and cook until heated through and no longer “crunchy”. This can take at least 15 minutes and more water may be needed as you heat the beef.

7. Next add the dehydrated sauce, broken into pieces, to the noodles. Stir until well combined.

8. Remove any pieces of the sauce that did not rehydrate.

9. Add rehydrated beef to the pot and combine well. Serve with dried parmesan cheese if desired.

Awesome right?! We love how this feeds a crowd and the kids gobble it up whenever we are camping!

Be sure to check out these Backpacking Food Ideas for more tips on what food to pack.

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