Teriyaki Chicken & Rice: Just-Add-Water Backpacking Recipe

Chunks of pineapple and a soy-ginger sauce channel the flavors of the Pacific as they transform an ordinary camping meal of chicken and rice into this sweet and savory version of just-add-water backpacker teriyaki. As a Seattle native, I’m a big fan of chicken teriyaki, but most prepackaged versions for camping are high in sodium. By using a powdered soy sauce, we’re able to control the salt without sacrificing the flavor!

As with all our recipes, we encourage you to customize this to suit your palate. You can use any freeze dried vegetables but I like the pop of green provided by the green beans. Broccoli also works well, and red or green bell peppers would equally make a nice addition to the dish if you have the on hand.

Brown sugar will absorb moisture and eventually clump, so I recommend using a granulated brown sugar that has had most of the moisture removed if you are preparing these recipes in advance and storing for later in the season. If you’re planning to use the meal within a week, ordinary brown sugar should be fine.

• 1/2 cup instant Minute rice
• 1/4 cup freeze dried chicken
• 1/4 cup freeze dried pineapple
• 1/4 cup freeze dried green beans (or broccoli)
• 2 tsp soy sauce powder
• 2 tsp granulated brown sugar
• 1 tsp corn starch
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation Instructions: Measure out all the ingredients and add to re-sealable boil bag. Add an oxygen-absorber if you are using ordinary brown sugar, if you are planning to store the meal longer than month, are living in or traveling through a humid area, or simply don’t want to take the risk of the ingredients clumping together. (otherwise it’s one less thing to pack in, and one less piece of trash to pack out).

Don’t forget to label your bag with the rehydration instructions!

Serving instructions: Add 1 cup boiling water and stir immediately. Seal. Wait 15 minutes, stirring intermittently.

I have personally purchased and used any product linked to in this recipe. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Use code “roadtripaddict” to receive a 10% discount from Mother Earth Products.

Looking for more homemade just-add-water recipes? Check out our Ultralight Backpacking Meal index!

Have you tried our just-add-water pineapple teriyaki chicken & rice? Let us know how we did and share your suggestions with fellow hikers. We love to hear all the places this recipe has been enjoyed.