I had an idea pop up in my mind the other week: You can make a meal for 2 people for under $10 with protein, and the simple ingredients are found in nearly any grocery store–even in the smallest of towns.
Let’s face it: While commercial meals can look good, for 2 hungry hikers, they are not cheap. Because most of those meals serve 1 to 1½ people, and the average price is around $14 per meal now. If 2 people are each eating a meal alone, backpacking and camping gets expensive fast. You can nearly always make a meal if you are open to a little cooking to save money and get more calories.
Let’s call these “inflation meals,” shall we?
I made a quick Short of me cooking it:
At a small independent grocery store in a small, outdoorsy town, Knorr Rice Sides were on sale for $1.66 each. We have no corporate grocery stores on the end of the island we call home. Even on the “busy” north end of the island, our one tiny corporate store is the size of a 1990 fever dream. So when people come to our island to camp, it’s like a free ride back in time. And people love camping here, at the multiple state parks we are home to.
I picked up the chicken flavor for this dish.
Price for the store brand 5-ounce can. I don’t like the store brand as much, I find it is fattier. But if it is all you can get, it is fine enough.
With the chicken, you want to buy a can with a pop top for easy opening. The 10-ounce can is pricier, but it is also higher quality. For 2 people who want higher protein, I would recommend using 10 ounces of meat. If you like less meat, a 5-ounce can would work. A 7-ounce pouch substitutes for the 10-ounce can. It has little broth in it, hence the lower weight. It’s just not as easy to find in grocery stores now.
The rice mix and a 10-ounce can of chicken are $7.25, which allows for other items to be purchased.
While I didn’t add anything more to the meal, you could buy a small can of vegetables (yes, the half-can size is still sold) for $1, and cheese sticks are 50 cents to $1. If they have a deli, you can get a free packet of hot sauce if you ask nicely for it.
Is this healthy food? Of course not. It uses a processed food base. It does have a lot of protein and will fuel you. And sometimes, that is just enough.
Under $10 for 2 Chicken Rice Dinner
Ingredients:
- 1 package Knorr Rice Sides, chicken flavor
- 2 5-ounce or 1 10-ounce can of chicken breast
One Pot Method:
Follow the package directions and add the water called for to the pot (2 cups). Add to it the chicken (you don’t need to drain it) and the dry ingredients.
Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 7 minutes, stirring every minute or so. Dial down the flame on your stove as needed.
Turn off the stove, mix well, recover, and let sit for 5 minutes.
Stir up and eat.
~Sarah