Everything we ate on our 10-day backcountry canoe trip through Temagami, Ontario.

Ten days in the backcountry meant a lot of paddling, a lot of campfires (and dishes), and a lot of food planning. Before every trip, I like to find that balance between convenience, freshness, and comfort because let’s be honest, food hits different after a long day on the water. Plus, you need to ensure you’re preparing and packing the right amount of food to get in the calories you need during your trip.

Here’s a full breakdown of what we packed and loved on our most recent 10-day canoe trip:

🍳 Breakfasts

Campfire Breakfast Hash

A classic first morning meal. We always start with a hearty and tasty hash. We buy the Golden Grill instant potatoes from Costco, the two-second bacon (since it’s already pre-cooked and vacuum-sealed), four fresh eggs, green onions, peppers, cheese, and hot sauce. It’s the ideal first breakfast to begin any canoe trip, and it’s really filling.

Flourish Protein Pancakes
A bit more effort (depending on your dish setup), but they’re packed with protein and totally worth it when you want something warm and cozy.

Fully Loaded Oatmeal
Normally, I’m not an oatmeal fan… but this combo changed my mind. Instant oats with pumpkin seeds, walnuts, dates, and dried fruit. Filling and way better than expected. I highly recommend always bringing more toppings to add to your instant oats, it’s worth the weight.

Vaquero Breakfast Skillet (CAMPKITCHEN)
Super easy, convenient, and delicious. Perfect for mornings when you jant to boil water and be done.

Prana’s Overnight Oats
Convenient pre-packaged servings. Make these the night before, toss them in your barrel, and wake up to a no-cook breakfast. Ideal for travel or early morning portages. I bring these handy containers on every trip.

🥪 Lunches

Lunches are all about simple, satisfying, and easy-to-pack. We ideally want something that doesn’t require cooking.

Tuna or Salami Wraps
Add kale, cucumber, and avocado for freshness during the first few days.

Dehydrated Beef + Veggie Noodles
Think upgraded Mr. Noodles, add everything to one pot, add seasoning, and done.

Burrito Bowl Wraps
Dehydrated rice, beef, and beans. Add cheese, avocado, salsa, and whatever else you want it in. Easy to prep ahead and assemble on the go. Or if you have time, grill it up and get it warm and toasty.

PB & J Wraps
Heavy but reliable, these are a lifesaver on your final days. Comfort food that lasts the whole trip.

🌮 Dinners

Dinner is where we go all-in. Long days deserve big meals and much-needed calories.

Night One Steak
Always steak night. Instant mashed potatoes, fried onions, and fresh veggies (peppers or zucchini). You can’t beat it.

Campfire Naan Pizzas
Our personal favourite that we bring on every trip. Easy and delicious. Add cheese, pepperoni, and veggies like onions, olives, and peppers. Simple and hits the spot. Tip: pre-cook the toppings in the pan and set aside. Use a grill with hot coals and low flame, dress your pizzas and place the pan on top to act as an oven. Should crisp up in about 5-7 minutes.

Dehydrated Beef Bowls
My personal favourite at-home dehydrated meal. Choose ground beef or beans, rice, jalapeños, onions, black beans, peppers, and salsa. All reheated together in one pot and add your toppings of choice. Mine are fresh green onions, avocado and cheese.

Spaghetti & Meatballs
Dehydrated pasta (I use penne or fusilli so it doesn’t break) with meatballs and sauce. I prefer to dehydrate my pasta prior to the trip, again add all into one pot (easy and less mess), but you won’t have to worry about draining the pasta water.

Dehydrated Chili
Another perfect and easy one pot meal with leftover naan bread. Cozy, filling, and full of flavour.

Dehydrated Stir Fry
Dehydrated chicken (yes, from the can works!), veggies, and a single pack of stir-fry sauce. Surprisingly pretty good!

🥘 Favourite Store-Bought Meals

When you just want to keep it simple and be full:

Happy Yak Pad Thai
Happy Yak Shrimp Curry
CAMPKITCHEN Chicken Alfredo
Alpine Aire Mac & Cheese

🍫 Snacks

Always a must! A mix of energy, comfort, and variety. Because you never know what you’re going to crave during your trips. We like to bring a mix of sweet, salty and pretty much everything in between. Cliff bars, trail mix, dried mangoes, M&Ms, mini eggs, Crispers, Babybels, pepperettes, and candy — because snacks are non-negotiable.

Backcountry food doesn’t need to be boring or complicated. We pack a mix of fresh, dehydrated, and store-bought options that balance flavour, energy, and convenience. And after 10 days on the water, I can confirm: good food makes all the difference (and worth the extra weight!)

10 Day Backcountry Canoe Trip Meal Ideas