6 Gas Station Resupply Recipes for Thru-Hikers

Thru-hikers would love it if every resupply was at a fully stocked grocery store or outfitter, but that’s not always feasible. Options are often limited to a gas station or small convenience store. This leaves hikers with limited choices, but with a little creativity, it’s possible to make calorie-dense, reasonably lightweight meals for backpacking. 

These recipes feature short ingredient lists and only include items that can commonly be found in US gas stations and convenience stores. Many of these concoctions can be wrapped in a tortilla for additional calories when hiker hunger is hitting you hard. 

It’s good to note that I went to multiple convenience stores to put together the photos included in this article. Meaning you’re not guaranteed to find every ingredient in every one of these meals when you walk into a given resupply. You never know quite what you’ll get with gas station resupply, and that’s part of the fun!

Backpacker’s Pad Thai (Vegetarian Options, Dairy Free)

A classic for a reason, backpacker’s pad thai is both cost-effective and calorically dense. The basic ingredients are available at most gas stations and convenience stores but can be jazzed up with add-ons. This one is dairy-free and is easily made vegetarian by opting for a non-meat ramen flavor.

Pay no attention to the load-bearing bottle of juice!

Ingredients

1. Ramen packet (Soy or Chicken Flavor)
2. Peanut butter 
3. Soy sauce (optional) 
4. Peanuts (optional) 
5. Veggie straws (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook your ramen like normal.
2. Once it’s hot add peanut butter to taste, and soy sauce if you have it. Stir until the peanut butter has dissolved.
3. Once it has, add in peanuts and veggie straws for extra crunch if desired. 

If you can get soy sauce packets from a Chinese takeout place to save weight and space, that’s ideal, but it’s not necessary for the recipe. You can also commit to carrying a bottle. Try and ensure that it’s plastic, not glass. 

Tuna Mac

This easy recipe only takes two ingredients, and they’re available at most convenience stores. If you have access to dried vegetables (or pack some fresh ones out) those are a great way to add some nutrients you may not commonly get on trail. 

You’ve got a lot of options here: the container for your mac n cheese, your tuna flavor, and sometimes even your mac n cheese flavor.

Ingredients

• Box Mac n Cheese OR Mac N Cheese Cups
• Tuna Packet flavor of your choice

Instructions

1. Boil water and either add macaroni to it or pour water into the cup.
2. Keep the water simmering/hot until the macaroni is cooked.
3. Add in cheese packet and tuna packet and stir until combined. 

Loaded Potatoes (Vegetarian Option, Dairy-Free Option)

Oh sweet, starchy goodness that is instant mashed potatoes: where would backpackers be without you? This option can easily be vegetarian and can be dairy-free if dairy-free instant potatoes are available. Idahoan makes a few varieties, while Betty Crocker Homestyle Potatoes have no dairy. 

Not every gas station is going to have perfect options! Sometimes cheese cheese-flavored rice cakes are the best you’re going to get for cheese.

Ingredients

• Instant mashed potato flavor of your choice
• Bacon bits or jerky (the former are vegetarian-friendly)
• Hard cheese or cheese dip
• Sauce/condiment of your choice (optional)
• Chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Boil water.
2. Once boiling, add potatoes and stir vigorously until rehydrated.
3. Then add meat bits, cheese (broken/cut into small pieces if using a solid), sauce, and crumbled-up chips. 
4. Good sauce options are barbecue or an instant gravy packet if they’re available. Let your personal tastes guide you here. 

Backpacker’s Thanksgiving (Vegetarian Option, Dairy-Free Option)

This option requires a fancier convenience store or a gas station that knows backpackers are coming through. It’s also fun to split with other hikers because of the need to buy in bulk. Most instant potato packets will have two backpacker-sized servings in them, and instant stuffing packets have about three to four servings. 

Ingredients

• Instant mashed potato flavor of your choice
• Instant stuffing 
• Instant gravy (potentially omit for vegetarian option, check ingredients)
• Chicken packet (omit for vegetarian option)
• Dried cranberries
• Pumpkin seeds (optional and a good vegetarian substitute for chicken)

Instructions

1. Boil water.
2. Once boiling, add potatoes, stuffing, and gravy.
3. Stir in chicken or pumpkin seeds.
4. Sprinkle dried cranberries on top. 

Cereal (Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Option)

Too hot to cook? Sick of oatmeal, Carnation Essentials, and Pop-Tarts for breakfast? Would like to eat a fruit outside of a town? Cereal is your answer! This one is vegetarian and if you pick your granola carefully gluten-free. 

The jury (my tramily) is split on using powdered coffee creamer as milk, but it’s a reasonable way to make water not taste like water in cereal.

Ingredients

• Cereal or Granola
• Powdered milk, creamer, or Carnation Breakfast Essentials (vanilla works best)
• Dried fruit (optional)

Instructions

1. Put ingredients in a pot, bowl, or resealable bag and add water until the powdered milk or Carnation Essentials have dissolved.
2. Enjoy!

Iced Krispies (Vegetarian)

Rice Krispies Treats can be found at just about every gas station. They make a great dessert or snack on their own and are fun to use as a base for other things. This recipe treats them almost like a cake for you to decorate!

Ingredients

• Rice Krispies Treat
• “Frosting” (any spread of your choice: peanut butter, Nutella, and actual frosting work well)
• Small Candy

Instructions

1. Unwrap the Rice Krispies Treat.
2. Use your eating utensil of choice to spread your “frosting” on the treat.
3. Sprinkle on candy.

Conclusion

Changing up what you eat on the trail is a great way to keep a thru-hike interesting and prevent yourself from burning out on the same thing every day. Even at less-than-stellar resupplies, there are ways to keep it interesting and even bring a little whimsy to your food bag. 

Featured image: Graphic design by Chris Helm.