Backpacker's Pantry Risotto with Chicken - 2 Servings
This creamy risotto is a comforting meal after a long day in the backcountry. Chicken, white rice, mushrooms and garlic are simmered in a rich blend of Parmesan cheese and butter.
- Long-grain white rice and tender chicken in a creamy blend of Parmesan cheese and veggies
- 2 servings
- Nutrition facts and ingredients displayed here may differ from what is printed on the packaging; information on packaging reflects actual contents
Made in USA.
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 2 serving(s) |
| Serving Size | 1/2 package |
| Serving Size (g) | 74 grams |
| Calories per Serving | 290 |
| Total Fat | 5 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 3 grams |
| Trans Fat | 0 |
| Cholesterol | 35 milligrams |
| Sodium | 670 milligrams |
| Carbohydrates | 45 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 grams |
| Total Sugars | 3 grams |
| Added Sugars | 0 grams |
| Protein | 15 grams |
| Vitamin D | 0 micrograms |
| Calcium | 128 milligrams |
| Iron | 1 milligram |
| Potassium | 271 milligrams |
| Meat | Chicken |
| Contains | Milk |
| Net Weight | 5.2 ounces |
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Easy and Flavorful
We spent several nights camping in the Catskills last week while on an east cost visit, and made the Risotto with Chicken for dinner one night. It was super easy to make, just boiled water on the campgrill, and the dish was ready in the prescribed 15 minutes. It was tasty and we enjoyed it, and could have easily got at least 3 portions from it. I give it a 4 instead of 5 as I didn't quite get a Risotto feel, not quite enough cheesiness, but it was a great chicken with rice. That said I didn't have a measuring cup so my eyeball water measurement might have been a little off. We would definetly use this on another trip.
A+ Thin Packaging
Disclaimer: I received this product from REI for free in exchange for honest testing. In comparison to other freeze-dried food such as Peak or MountainHouse this Backpacker’s Pantry package was very thin in nature and fit well into the sidewall of my 18L backpack along with my other hiking gear. I’ve noticed with those other brands, the contents often collect all at the bottom of the package and become very bulky when trying to pack the backpack efficiently, so A+ for packing ease. The instructions say to add 1 3/4 cups of water into the bag for 8 minutes. I didn’t notice any water line feature on the inside or outside of the bag so I’m not sure how you’re really supposed to know how much water to add unless you have backpacking pots with you that have a measuring device (or you know how much water the pots hold). Anyways, I just did my best guess and poured in enough water to make it soupy knowing you want the chicken and rice to really soak up as much fluid as possible so that it’s not chewy. I’ll be honest, I was so tired and hungry from my hike that I forgot to read the rest of the instructions… I did not stir the contents after adding the water, I only squeezed the bottom of the bag a few times (this is not my first time preparing freeze-dried food, so you’d think I’d know to stir). I left the bag sealed for 15 minutes instead of 8 because I wanted to really make sure that the contents fully absorbed the fluid and usually backpacking food is too hot to eat right away anyways. The temperature of the food was perfect after 15 minutes and the chicken and rice was at the perfect consistency. There was a little extra seasoning at the bottom of the bag because I forgot to stir, but it was still fantastic. I scraped the bottom of the bag it was that good! This package claims it is 2 servings, but if your intent is to eat this after a long trek, I think it is just the right amount for one person. This meal left me feeling satisfied, but did not sit heavy like other freeze dried meals I.e. chicken fettuccine alfredo, Lasagna with meat sauce etc. I hiked another 4.5 miles 30 minutes after eating this meal and felt great! Overall, I would recommend Backpacker’s Pantry Risotto with Chicken.
Great on the Go
The risotto was great! In terms of camp meals it was one of my wife and I's favorites. It has the same texture as a normal home cooked risotto would, and the flavor is on par. Personally I didn't like how salty it was, but also that's probably helpful for replenishing electrolytes.
A Great Meal While On The Trail
I've eaten a lot of dehydrated meals from Backpackers Pantry, Mountain House, and Peak 2 Refuel while section hiking the PCT the past few summers and I'm adding this meal to my "buy again" list. The Risotto with Chicken has a nice creamy texture and is seasoned well. There were ample chunks of chicken. Unlike some of their competitors, the instructions were spot on with regards to the amount of water to add and wait times while the dinner re-hydrated. If you've been out on a long day of hiking the meal is perfect for 1 person. The meal is lightweight, compact, and reasonably priced.
More than Edible
I've been eating pouch food long enough to have given up on it, tried taking my own food into the backcountry--less sodium, far fewer stomach effects (think: gas), better tasting than pouch meals--and then decided to try pouch food again for a trip into Grand Canyon's Hermit Canyon. The four of us took different dinners, deserts and a couple of breakfasts, and our immediate reaction to this Risotto with Chicken was: wow, this tastes good, has a meaningful reduction in sodium over past years, with right at no gastric issues. I'm very impressed with the improvements over offerings in the past, and have no problem seeing buying this in the future.
A complete meal
The meal was definitely better than a lot of the freeze dried meals that I have had. I thought it was a little bland so I added salt and pepper for taste which worked. I tried the serving for 2 and barely ate half it seems like the portions are good. It is very comparable to mountain house adventure meals. I prefer having a fill line which it doesn’t have mainly for simplicity, As long as you measure before boiling it’s easy enough to cook.
Absolute worst meal i have tried, way to much salt
The amount of salt ruined this meal. After a 10 mile day, I was ready to relax and have a decent dinner. I was really excited to try this meal and had high hopes for it. The day before I ate an Italian pepper steak and it was delicious by mountain house. To my utter shock, this became the first meal I was just unable to eat. I had 3 maybe 4 spoons and was done. Lucky for me my friend brought dessert to share and that saved me. Otherwise, I would have just went hungry. She tried this meal too and neither of us will ever buy this one again. Be warned.
This tasted like it was Homemade
I took this out on a recent Day Hike for lunch and much to my surprise this is one of the best backpacking meals I have ever eaten and I have eaten quite a few. This is coming from some one who likes to cook and eats these daily a couple months out of the year so this is a true recommendation. It takes and extra 2-3 min of cooking to get the risotto tender, but wow was I surprised. That is the only issue with this meal.
Not as good as Nonna's, but great at camp!
This is never going to be as good as a slow-cooked risotto at home can be, but it is still a tasty dinner after a long day of hiking or paddling. We had this on an overnight paddle trip, and it was a welcome treat at camp. It was well-seasoned, but I like more onion in my risotto, and the rice looked to be long-grain instead of arborio, but this probably because of the way it must be processed. Our only real complaint was that there was not enough in the package for the two of us. The serving portion is small, almost like a side instead of the main dish. We had extra food along with us, just in case. Plan accordingly.
Typical freeze dried
Standard freeze dried meal. Hit the spot after a long day hiking. Good taste and the right serving size at 580 calories for the entire package. Requires 15 minutes after adding water so be prepared to wait.