This cheesy mashed potato breakfast recipe听has been a staple on my guided trips since 2015. Its savoriness is an excellent balance to sweeter meals like oatmeal or cold cereal.
I鈥檝e tweaked the ingredients and ratios听multiple times based on feedback, and I believe we now have a real winner. Among the more than 100 I听clients polled during the 2019 season, it was their top-rated breakfast.
Key Stats
- 4.5 ounces per serving (128 grams)
- 537 calories
- 119 calories per ounce
To increase the caloric density, use more butter and less听potato, and substitute canned green chilies for dried. To increase the net calories, add more of the goodies, specifically bacon, cheese, or butter.
Ingredients
- 听(1.2 ounces)
- Cheese听(1 ounce)
- 听or soy bacon bits to equal effect听(1 ounce)
- Butter听(0.8 ounce)
- Salt and a seasoning (to taste)
For the seasoning, I pack a can of , and clients often add things from the general spice kit, like taco seasoning, dried green onions, red pepper flakes, or paprika. Many options work here.
In addition to these听ingredients, I also add:
- 听(0.15 ounce), which adds a savory, Parmesan-like characteristic
- 听(0.05 ounce), which enhances the overall flavor profile
This is a deceptively large meal, because the instant mashed potatoes absorb a lot of water per their dry weight. If you鈥檙e not that hungry, reduce the potato flakes by a half ounce. Alternatively, save it for later in the trip.听
Find real crumbled bacon at your grocery store听or in 20-ounce packages at Costco. You can also cook bacon at home prior to your trip. Definitely pack the bacon fat, too, for extra flavor and calories. For vegetarians听there are many nonmeat bacon products.
My original recipe used whole-milk powder and , but last year I swapped these ingredients for butter and real cheese. The response from clients was very positive, so I鈥檒l be sticking with these substitutions. This updated version is creamier, more calorically dense, and more flavorful.
At-Home Preparation
Package the instant mashed potatoes, nutritional yeast, and dried onion in a sandwich bag. For shorter trips, soloists can add the crumbled听bacon, too鈥擨听had no ill effects after it was repackaged and sat in a hot car for ten听days. The canned green chilies are more perishable,听 though, so find a replacement or skip them.
On group trips, I package the bacon separately so that vegetarians and vegans can forgo their share.
Put the cheese in another sandwich bag, or keep it in its original packaging.
Unless it鈥檚 a cold trip, the butter is best stored in a plastic food container so听it doesn鈥檛 make a mess when it gets soft. On group trips, I divide these items in the field.
Cooking Instructions
- Bring ten听ounces (300 millileters) of water to a boil.听
- Add half of the bag of instant mashed potatoes, then stir.
- Add the rest of the bag, and stir again. This two-step method will help prevent spills and clumps.
- Remove from the flame, and mix in the butter and bacon. The cheese and chilies can be mixed in, too, or sprinkled on top.
If you want a soupier consistency, use 12听ounces of water.