By Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN CD • Updated May 17, 2022

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Are you new to making backpacking ramen recipes, or do you find preparing meals too time-consuming? For many reasons, Backcountry Foodie’s garlic parmesan ramen ultralight backpacking recipe is a Foodie fan favorite. It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare at home and on trail, is hands down cheaper than commercially prepared meals, and is absolutely delicious! Our backpacking ramen recipe is the perfect recipe to get you started and is one of my go-to favorites. You’re going to love it!

Garlic Parmesan Ramen

Backcountry Foodie Recipe

If you're new to making homemade backpacking meals, this is the perfect meal to start with. It's a Foodie fan favorite!

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NUTRITION (per serving)

cal/oz 151

cal/gram 5.4

Calories 860 kcal

PROTEIN 21 g

CARBS 53 g

Fiber 3 g

Added Sugar 0 g

Fat 65 g

Sodium 1129 mg

Home Prep Time 2 mins

Field Prep Time 7 mins

WT/SERVING 5.7 oz (159 g)

MEAL PREPCold Soak, Cook, Dehydrator Not Required

Diet TYPESGluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Low-Sugar, Nut-Free, Vegetarian

Servings1 serving

INGREDIENTS

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 package ramen noodles
• 1 Tbsp parsley, dried
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ⅛ tsp table salt
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shelf-stable
• 3 Tbsp olive oil

OPTIONAL

• 1 package rice ramen noodles (substitution), gluten-free option
• 1 cup angel hair pasta, precooked and dehydrated (substitution), reduced-sodium option; measurement is volume of cooked pasta before dehydrating
• salt substitute (substitution), reduced-sodium option

INSTRUCTIONS

HOME

• Discard ramen noodle spice packet.
• Put noodles in a bag or container to be used in the backcountry.
• Put the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bag to be stored inside the noodle bag or container. See meal prep tip below.
• Pack 3 Tbsp (42 g) olive oil in a leakproof container to be added to the meal when consumed. We recommend double bagging the oil in the event there is a leak.

FIELD

• Remove the parmesan herb packet.
• Add 8 oz (240 mL) hot/cold water or enough to cover the noodles.
• Let stand to allow the noodles to rehydrate. This will take approximately 7 minutes if cooking the meal and 30 minutes if cold soaking. Avoid over-soaking noodles as they will become mushy.
• Consume or properly discard the noodle broth to practice the Leave No Trace principle.
• Add parmesan herb packet and 3 Tbsp (42 g) olive oil to the noodles.
• Stir to mix well and enjoy!

NOTES

VOLUME OF MEAL WHEN PREPARED

• Heaping 1/4 cup pesto mix per serving (dry)

 

MEAL PREP TIP

• If preparing the meal for long-term storage, we recommend not adding the parmesan cheese until just before consuming the meal. By doing so, the shelf-life of the meal will be lengthened significantly.

 

NUTRITION

• Total sugar (per serving): 2 g, including no added sugar
• To reduce sodium by 671 mg, replace the ramen noodles with angel hair pasta and table salt with a salt substitute as desired.
• To reduce calories by 120, reduce olive oil volume by 1 Tbsp (14 g). We do not recommend leaving out all of the oil as some oil is required to create a pesto sauce.

MY NOTES

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READY TO SEE MORE ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING RAMEN RECIPES LIKE THIS ONE?

Backcountry Foodie is your go-to resource for more than 200 backpacking dietitian-created recipes and a one-of-a-kind automated meal planning tool. The meal planner even creates itemized shopping lists for you! Meal prep has never been easier. Check out this video to see where all the magic happens.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN, CD, 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.