Bighorn Mountain Food is newer to the commercial freeze-dried meals market. Currently, they have six meals: three pasta-based, two rice-based, and one with beans.
I paid $48.46 on Amazon for a 3-pack, making each meal $16.16, putting it in the average cost of meals on the market now, and meal prices are not going down for sure.
While it is labeled as a two-person meal, I suggest it is a one-person meal for those with large appetites. For many men, these meals will fill them up nicely. The calories range from the high 600s to 800, with up to 40 grams of protein, which will fuel you.
The Chicken & Mushroom Marsala with Pasta was up first.
The package has 680 calories and 35 grams of protein.
The Mylar bags are MRE style, which means they have a lower profile and a wide pleated bottom. They are easy to stir.
The smell of this meal was so good in dry form. I could taste the wine flavor!
My first take was that this meal might have needed more water (up to ¼ cup more) to make it more saucy.
However, the flavor was one of the best commercial meals I have tried. It was rich tasting. The pasta wasn’t mushy; it was toothsome with a great chew. Even the mushrooms had a nice chew. The flavor and texture were perfect.
Rich & Creamy Pasta Carbonara.
The meal is 800 calories and 39 grams of protein.
This meal had me wondering at first. It’s very yellow when opened, but it has a great aroma.
It came out perfect. A nice thick sauce enrobes the pasta, and the smoky flavor of the bacon makes it delicious. I love making carbonara pasta at home (and I have made it as a trail-friendly recipe if you’d like to see how).
The Best Butter Chicken & Rice.
The package, it has 710 calories and 35 grams of protein.
You can smell the spices as soon as you open the package up. The chicken is in large pieces.
Of the three meals, this one was not a favorite of mine. It has good flavor and a hint of spice/heat, but I didn’t like the texture. So flavor-wise, it was a winner, but I found it too saucy for the rice, and the meat had a few pieces that didn’t quite fully rehydrate (big pieces can have that issue). If I were to eat it again, I’d break up the chicken with my spoon before adding the water.
The Takeaway:
Bighorn Mountain Food exceeded my hopes. I often feel let down when I review commercial meals, but these all rehydrated well, had a great aroma before making, and smelled/tasted great afterward. There is no chalky texture or soup-like meals here.
The pasta dishes were so delicious that I’d eat them at home during power outages. I would recommend the brand.
And to that….I spent my morning along the Salish Sea on the beach. It was a foggy morning, with the fog horns going off often out on the water.
A perfect place to work I would say.
With the last flowers of summer, nearly done. We have a few days of warmth coming, but then the leaves will be falling soon enough.
There is something about lighting up your favorite stove at 8 am in the morning….
Shot along the Salish Sea on Whidbey Island in Fort Casey State Park, Coupeville, WA.
FTC Disclaimer:
We purchased all products reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are ours.
~Sarah