6 Best Instant Ramens With Meat That Pack a Serious Calorie Punch

You’ve just finished a grueling 12-mile day with 3,000 feet of elevation gain, and a cold wind is starting to pick up as you set up your tent. Your body is screaming for fuel, and the last thing you want is a bland, unsatisfying meal. This is where the humble instant ramen, supercharged with meat and calories, becomes more than just food—it becomes a crucial piece of gear for recovery and morale.

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Why High-Calorie Ramen is a Backpacker’s Best Friend

After a long day on the trail, your body is in a massive calorie deficit. You’ve burned through carbohydrates for immediate energy and tapped into fat stores for the long haul. A high-calorie meal is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for muscle repair, core temperature regulation, and mental recovery. A hot, savory bowl of ramen delivers exactly what you need: easily digestible carbs, fats for sustained energy, and a heavy dose of sodium to replenish the electrolytes you sweat out.

Think of food in terms of calorie density—the number of calories you get per ounce of weight. While some freeze-dried meals offer great ratios, they can be expensive. Premium instant ramens with included meat and oil packets offer a fantastic middle ground. They provide a significant caloric punch in a lightweight, quick-cooking package that takes up minimal space in a bear canister or pack.

The psychological boost is just as important. Huddling over a steaming pot of rich, flavorful broth as darkness falls can completely reset your attitude for the next day. It’s a comfort food that feels earned, transforming a simple camp dinner into a genuinely restorative experience. The tradeoff is often a bit more packaging and slightly more bulk than a minimalist food bar, but for most trips, the morale and energy boost is well worth it.

Nissin Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu with Pork

Imagine a foggy, damp evening in the Pacific Northwest, where the chill seeps into your bones. This is the perfect scenario for the deep, warming flavor of a tonkotsu-style ramen. The Nissin Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu is a standout for its incredibly rich, pork-based broth and the signature packet of "mayu," or black garlic oil, which adds a smoky, savory depth that feels downright gourmet on the trail.

This ramen delivers a substantial calorie count, primarily from the creamy broth concentrate and the aromatic oil. The included dehydrated pork bits rehydrate to add a satisfying, meaty texture that’s often missing from standard ramen packs. It’s a complete meal system in a single package, requiring nothing more than hot water and a few minutes of patience.

The primary consideration here is the richness. It’s a heavy, fatty meal, which is exactly what you want after a strenuous day, but might be too much for a simple lunch stop. For a multi-day trip in cold, wet conditions, this ramen is a powerhouse. It provides the kind of satisfying, high-fat energy that helps your body stay warm through a long, cold night.

Samyang Buldak Carbonara with Bacon Flakes

Let’s say you’ve just finished a long, exposed ridge walk on a windy day, and you feel completely drained. You need a jolt, something to wake up your senses and refuel your engine. The Samyang Buldak line is famous for its intense spice, and the Carbonara version brilliantly combines that heat with a creamy, cheesy sauce and tiny, savory bacon-flavored flakes.

This isn’t your typical soupy ramen. It’s a "brothless" style where you drain most of the water before mixing in the sauce packets, resulting in a thick, noodle-coating sauce. The calorie load is immense, coming from the cheese powder, the spicy oil, and the noodles themselves. The bacon flakes, while small, add a crucial salty, smoky element that cuts through the richness.

This is a fantastic choice for hikers who crave bold flavors and a serious dose of spice. The heat itself can provide a warming sensation, which is a welcome bonus on a chilly evening. The tradeoff? The spice level is not for the faint of heart. If you’re sensitive to heat, this might be overwhelming, but if you want a meal that delivers a massive calorie and flavor punch, this is a top-tier option.

Maruchan Gold Soy Sauce with Braised Pork

Picture a classic backpacking trip in the Sierras or Rockies, where days are long and the effort is consistent. You don’t need a crazy flavor experiment; you need a reliable, delicious, and filling meal. The Maruchan Gold series is a step up from their standard offerings, and the Soy Sauce flavor with braised pork is a perfect example of a well-executed classic.

This ramen features a craft-quality soy sauce broth that is savory and complex, not just salty. The noodles have a superior, springy texture that holds up well, and the included packet of braised pork (chashu) provides a welcome source of protein and fat. The calories come from a well-balanced profile of carbs, fat, and protein, making it a great all-around recovery meal.

This option shines in its simplicity and quality. It’s less intense than the Buldak and less fatty than the Tonkotsu, striking a great balance for a wider range of palates and conditions. It’s an excellent choice for a weekend warrior’s first overnight or a thru-hiker looking for a comforting, no-fuss meal at a resupply town. Its strength is its balanced, satisfying nature—a dependable workhorse for any trip.

Nongshim Shin Black with Premium Beef Chunks

You’re on day four of a tough trip, and your appetite is starting to wane from eating the same old trail food. You need something with a deep, umami-rich flavor and real substance. Nongshim Shin Black is legendary in the ramen world for a reason. It comes with two soup base packets: one for the spicy, savory broth and a second "sul-long-tang" packet that adds a milky, bone-broth richness.

The "premium" label is earned with the inclusion of sizable dehydrated beef chunks and a variety of vegetables like garlic, mushrooms, and green onion. This combination creates a soup with layers of flavor and texture that feels more like a stew than a simple noodle soup. The caloric density is excellent, and the added protein from the beef makes it a fantastic recovery meal after a day of heavy pack-hauling.

The key tradeoff is a slightly higher price point and a little more weight compared to basic ramen. However, for the quality and caloric return, it’s a worthy investment. This is the meal you pack for the day you know will be the hardest. It provides the physical fuel and the psychological comfort needed to push through a tough stretch of trail.

Myojo Chukazanmai Miso with Ground Pork

Consider a fall trip in New England, with crisp air and the scent of leaves all around. You want a meal that’s earthy, savory, and warming. Myojo Chukazanmai’s Miso ramen fits this setting perfectly. This is a premium, restaurant-style ramen known for its non-fried noodles, which have a wonderfully firm, fresh-like texture even after cooking on a tiny camp stove.

The broth is a rich, fermented soybean (miso) paste that provides a complex, salty, and slightly sweet flavor profile. It’s packed with umami and feels incredibly nourishing. The inclusion of dehydrated ground pork adds a fatty, savory element that complements the miso and boosts the overall calorie and protein content significantly.

This ramen is a great choice for backpackers who prioritize noodle texture and a more nuanced, traditional flavor. It’s not as overwhelmingly rich as a tonkotsu or as spicy as a buldak, making it a sophisticated yet comforting option. It’s an ideal choice for someone who wants a high-quality, restorative meal without an extreme flavor profile.

Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu with Char Siu Pork

You’re setting up camp with a view of an alpine lake, and you want a meal that feels a little special to match the scenery. The Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu brings a classic ramen-shop experience to the backcountry. The broth is a creamy, emulsified pork bone soup base that is both rich and surprisingly smooth, studded with sesame seeds for added texture and nutty flavor.

The real highlight is the included char siu, or Japanese-style BBQ pork. While dehydrated, it rehydrates into tender, flavorful pieces that elevate the entire meal. This ramen delivers a high-fat, high-calorie payload that is perfect for replenishing energy stores after a long day of hiking at altitude, where your body burns calories at an accelerated rate.

This is a fantastic luxury item for any backpacker. It feels more decadent than many other options, making it a great "summit day" or end-of-trip celebration meal. The balance of the creamy broth, savory pork, and quality noodles makes it a truly satisfying experience. Pack this for a trip where you want to treat yourself to a top-tier meal without the weight and hassle of complex cooking.

Boosting Your Ramen: Add-Ins for Maximum Calories

Even the most calorie-dense instant ramen can be elevated into a recovery super-meal with a few simple, lightweight additions. Think of your ramen as a base camp for nutrition. The goal is to add calories and nutrients without adding significant weight or cooking time.

Before you leave home, you can pre-package your add-ins in small plastic bags to make camp life easier. A "ramen bomb" is a popular thru-hiker trick: combining things like instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix, or cheese powder into one bag to dump directly into your pot. This thickens the broth and adds a massive amount of carbs and calories.

Here are some of the best calorie-boosting additions, categorized by what they bring to the table:

• Healthy Fats (High Calorie Density):
  • A swirl of olive oil, coconut oil, or sesame oil (carry in a small, leak-proof bottle)
  • A large spoonful of peanut butter or other nut butters
  • A handful of crushed nuts, seeds, or Fritos corn chips
• Protein for Muscle Repair:
  • A foil packet of tuna, salmon, or chicken
  • A handful of beef jerky, torn into small pieces
  • A powdered egg or two stirred in during the last minute of cooking
• Flavor and Nutrients:
  • Dehydrated vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or corn
  • A sprinkle of onion or garlic powder
  • A packet of soy sauce or a dash of sriracha for an extra kick

The key is to customize your meal based on the day’s effort. On an easy day, the ramen might be enough. After a monster day, adding a packet of tuna and a big spoonful of peanut butter can make all the difference in how you feel the next morning.

Ultimately, the best trail meal is the one that gets you fed, rested, and ready for the next day’s adventure. Don’t get bogged down trying to find the absolute "perfect" food with the highest possible calorie-to-weight ratio. Pick a delicious, high-energy option that you look forward to eating, pack a few smart add-ins, and get back to focusing on the experience of being outside.