Dehydrated chili mac is a go-to homemade dehydrated camping meal favorite. It’s filling and satiating. So you’re not going to be hungry again in another 30 minutes.
This chili mac recipe is made with ingredients we can easily find at the local grocery store and can be dehydrated at home.
By making homemade dehydrated camping meals, you’ll be loading up on the flavors and textures you know you’ll crave in the outdoors and avoid ingredients that don’t agree with you.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
- Dehydrated Chili Mac Recipe
- Supplies and Tools Needed for Dehydrated Chili Mac
- Dehydrated Chili Mac Dry Ingredients
- Dehydrated Chili Mac Wet Ingredients
- Dehydrated Chili Mac Ingredient Notes
- At-Home Preparation
- Optimize Food Protection for Storage and Travel
- In the Field Preparation
- Dehydrated Chili Mac Detailed Preparation Instructions
Dehydrated Chili Mac Recipe
Our chili mac recipe only needs a handful of simple ingredients that you can easily dehydrate yourself. It tastes great and can be ready to eat in 30 minutes or less with our simple three-step process once you get to camp.
Whether enjoyed at home during a prolonged power outage as we experienced today or as a homemade dehydrated camping meal for later, chili mac is a go-to comfort dish for its unbeatable combination of flavor and practicality.
Supplies and Tools Needed for Dehydrated Chili Mac
- Several 1-quart zip-top bags
- Heavy-duty paper towels
- Labeling materials such as masking tape and waterproof all-weather pen
- Camp cookware and dinnerware
- Leak-proof container (optional)
1) dehydrated RoTel fire-roasted tomatoes
2) dehydrated black beans
3) dehydrated jalapeno slices
4) dehydrated macaroni
5) dehydrated tomato sauce
6) cheese packet from a macaroni and cheese box
7) chili spice mix
8) pinch of crushed red chili flake
9) dehydrated onion flakes
10) dehydrated ground beef
Dehydrated Chili Mac Dry Ingredients
Makes one serving.
- 45 grams dehydrated ground beef
- 40 grams dehydrated macaroni
- 40 grams dehydrated beans
- 15 grams dehydrated onion flakes
- 10 grams dehydrated RoTel tomatoes
- 20 grams dehydrated tomato sauce
- 5 grams dehydrated jalapeno slices
- 1 tablespoon chili powder mix
- 1-1/2 tablespoons cheese powder
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dehydrated beef bouillon (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon dehydrated chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (optional)
Dehydrated Chili Mac Wet Ingredients
- Olive or avocado oil for flavor (optional)
Dehydrated Chili Mac Ingredient Notes
We are omitting volume measurements as we update our recipes. Measuring dehydrated ingredients by weight makes for a more consistent product. The most accurate way to measure ingredients is by weight because minor differences in measuring can lead to substantial differences in the recipe’s outcome.
At-Home Preparation
Combine all the dry ingredients into a food-safe 1-quart quality name-brand zip-top bag for best storage results. The sharp edges of dehydrated ingredients could cause micro-punctures in lesser-quality zip-top plastic bags.
For the optional ingredients, seal the olive or avocado oil in a leak-proof container.
Compared to the local big box stores, Amazon has the best prices for the name-brand 1-quart zip-top bags. So says the 20,000 plus Amazon customer reviewers who took the time to leave feedback. The rough edges and sharp ends of homemade dehydrated ingredients very often compromise generic zip-top bags.
Be sure to include a short note with the name of the dish and detailed preparation instructions. We have included detailed preparation instructions at the end of this page.
Optimize Food Protection for Storage and Travel
Double bagging, using two zip-top bags with a separator, is an option to help guard against punctures, leaks, and water penetration and to protect the food’s integrity. This way, it remains viable in the field or pantry storage.
The Scott Shop towels brand makes an excellent bag separator. These multipurpose paper towels are thicker than the average heavy-duty paper towel. As a multitasker, repurpose these towels for the after-meal cleanup activities.
These heavy-duty paper towels have over 11,000 Amazon customer reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, which is evidence of a great product. Check them out here. You can find them at your local big-box megamart automotive department.
In the Field Preparation
Empty the dehydrated chili mac dry mix contents of the zip-top bag into a suitable-sized cooking pot.
Measure in enough water to cover the dry ingredients. Then add a tad bit more water. Stir to mix thoroughly. Cover, and let the dry ingredients hydrate for at least five minutes. Stir several times, and add more water if needed to keep the ingredients covered and well-saturated.
The next step is to add a bit more water; it’s more art than science. Depending on the size and style of your cooking pot, you’ll need to gauge how much additional water to add to the hydrated mix. We don’t want an overly dry chili mac, nor do we want a soupy chili mac.
Practice these Dehydrator Chef homemade dehydrated camping meal recipes at home several times with the very same outdoor kitchen gear used in the field or at the campsite. This approach lets you practice your skills to know what to expect and where to adapt.
Next, on your cooking stove and over medium flame, bring the hydrating mix to a boil, frequently stirring to mix. After coming to a boil, if your stove is capable of a low-heat simmer, turn the flame down to a simmer to reduce the chance of burning.
After two or more minutes of simmering, stirring, and mixing the ingredients, turn off the stove and move the pot into an insulated wrap or cozy to rest and hydrate for at least 15 to 20 minutes more for the flavors to blend and the ingredients to fully reconstitute.
Add any remaining seasonings like kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, or hot sauce for added spice and flavor.
If desired, incorporate olive or avocado oil into the mixture. The additional fat complements the flavor profile, compensating for the absence of the unique taste associated with fat. The fat enhances taste and promotes a sense of fullness more quickly.
Dehydrated Chili Mac Detailed Preparation Instructions
Empty the dehydrated chili mac contents of the zip-top bag into your cooking pot.
Pour in enough water to cover the dry mix, then add a tad bit more.
Cover, and let the dry ingredients hydrate in your camp cookware for a minimum of 5 minutes. Stirring all of the way to the bottom every now and again. Make sure the mix stays covered and well-saturated with water.
Next, on your cooking stove and over a medium flame, bring the mix to a boil, stirring frequently, all the way to the bottom of the cooking pot. If your stove will simmer, turn the heat down to a simmer after bringing it to a boil.
After two or more minutes of cooking, simmering, and ingredient mixing, turn off the stove and move the pot into an insulated wrap or cozy to rest and hydrate for 15 to 20 minutes more or until your preference for doneness.
Drizzle in any olive or avocado oil, and stir to mix.
Add any remaining seasonings like kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, or some hot sauce for some added spice.