By Aaron Owens, MS, RDN, CD

Updated September 12, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links.

This vegetarian cold soak backpacking lunch recipe was one of the easiest to prepare during my thru-hikes of the Oregon Coast Trail. Backcountry Foodie’s freezer bag-style backpacking lunch recipes, such as this one, can be prepared in a matter of minutes at home and on the trail. Add dry ingredients to a baggie at home and add cold water on the trail. It’s truly that easy! You might also want to try our Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta cold soak recipe. It’s another Foodie fan favorite!

Protein Boost:

For the meat-eaters, add a foil pouch or freeze-dried chicken to boost the protein content of the recipe. Be aware that foil pouch chicken provides 90 calories per 3 oz pouch at only 30 calories per ounce. In comparison, freeze-dried chicken provides 170 calories per 3/4 cup serving at 140 calories per ounce. Also, remember that the smell from a foil pouch will be harder to conceal than freeze-dried chicken in bear country. You might want to consider dehydrating or freeze-drying chicken at home for a cheaper option.

Long-term Shelf Life:

Another perk of this cold soak backpacking lunch recipe is that the ingredients will remain shelf-stable for months without vacuum sealing. It’s a great option for thru-hikers or those who like to prepare meals in the offseason and spend their time outside during the summer. I hope you enjoy our Buffalo Pasta Salad recipe as much as we do!

Buffalo Pasta Salad

Backcountry Foodie Recipe

Pack a little extra heat (and a lot more flavor) in your bear bag with this pasta salad.

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NUTRITION (per serving)

cal/oz 133

cal/gram 4.8

Calories 786 kcal

PROTEIN 11 g

CARBOHYDRATE 65 g

Fiber 3 g

Added Sugar 0 g

Total Fat 53 g

Saturated Fat 8 g

Cholesterol 26 mg

Sodium 1800 mg

Home Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Field Prep Time 5 minutes mins

WT/SERVING 5.9 oz (165 g)

MEAL PREPCold Soak, Cook, Dehydrator Required

Diet TYPESDairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Sugar, Nut-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings1 serving

INGREDIENTS

 

0.5x1x2x3x

• 1 cup (85 g) elbow macaroni, precooked and dehydrated, or any small pasta shape
• 1 Tbsp (0.8 g) red bell peppers, freeze-dried
• ½ Tbsp (2 g) jalapeno peppers, dehydrated
• 1 tsp (1 g) red onion, freeze-dried
• 1 Tbsp (10 g) buffalo sauce mix, powder
• 6 packets (67 g) mayonnaise
• 8 oz (240 mL) water

OPTIONAL

• 1 cup (85 g) elbow macaroni, gluten-free – precooked and dehydrated (substitution), gluten-free option
• 1 tsp (5 g) red bell peppers, dehydrated (substitution)
• ½ tsp (0.5 g) red onion, dehydrated (substitution)
• 6 packets (63 g) mayonnaise, vegan (substitution), vegan option

MEAL PREP MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

INSTRUCTIONS (per serving)

HOME

• Put noodles, bell pepper, jalapeno, and red onion in a bag or container to be used in the backcountry. See the meal prep tip below.
• Pack buffalo sauce powder in a separate bag or container to be stored with the noodle bag.
• Pack 6 packets (67 g) of mayonnaise to be added when the meal is consumed.

FIELD

• Add 8 oz (240 mL) of hot or cold water to the noodle bag.
• Let noodles and vegetables stand until fully rehydrated.
• Consume or properly discard the remaining broth to practice the Leave No Trace principle. Skipping this step will produce a "soup" consistency and dilute the sauce.
• Add buffalo sauce powder and 6 packets (67 g) of mayonnaise.
• Stir to mix well and enjoy!

NOTES

MEAL PREP TIPS

• Any mini-shaped pasta can be used for this recipe, with larger shapes not rehydrating as quickly. When available, we prefer ditalini pasta.
• When rehydrated, this recipe fills a Talenti jar to the very top. Mixing in the sauce can get messy, so we recommend using a slightly larger jar.
• Powdered buffalo sauce mix can be found in grocery store salad dressing or sauce mix aisles.

 

NUTRITION

• Total sugar (per serving): 3 g with no added sugar

Did you make this recipe? We’d love to see it!Share photos from your kitchen or the backcountry below.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian and ultralight long-distance backpacker with over 20 years of nutrition and backpacking experience. She’s also the founder and owner of Backcountry Foodie, an online ultralight recipes and meal planning platform for backpackers. She also enjoys teaching hikers about backpacking nutrition via virtual masterclasses, YouTube videos, and podcast episodes. You can follow Aaron’s adventures in the kitchen and the backcountry via Instagram and Facebook.