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Mountain House Creamy Macaroni & Cheese

Curated from 97 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: April 3, 2025

Mountain House Creamy Macaroni & Cheese

Brand: Mountain House
Price: $9
Snoop Score:
5.6
Sentiment
5.8
Popularity
7.8
Technical
6.4

Snoop's Take

Mountain House Creamy Macaroni & Cheese is a freeze-dried camping and backpacking meal designed for convenience and deliciousness. With macaroni noodles in a smooth, cheesy sauce, it provides a satisfying meal that requires only hot water for preparation. Consumer feedback highlights the meal's tasty profile and quick preparation, with one user noting, "It's okay, I guess. Definitely better than other fast food macs." However, some concerns were raised regarding high sodium content and misleading serving sizes. Overall, users appreciate the convenience and rehydration capabilities, especially after a long day of hiking. Based on the mixed feedback, the Mountain House Creamy Macaroni & Cheese is recommended for those seeking quick and tasty meals in the outdoors, though potential buyers should consider the nutritional aspects and serving sizes before purchasing.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Freeze Dried Food

They taste pretty good to me, but, as I've mentioned in other threads on this topic, they are not good for gut health.

Positive Feedback

and they all have a lot of sodium.

Negative Feedback
Product
5.6
Mountain House Creamy Macaroni & Cheese
Backpacking
7 / 10
Car Camping
0 / 10
Emergency Prep
0 / 10
Road Trips & Travel
0 / 10
See how this compares to all Freeze Dried Food

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Tasty meal option for camping
They taste pretty good to me, but, as I've mentioned in other threads on this topic, they are not good for gut health.
MH all day. Beef stroganoff, breakfast skillet and chili Mac are my favorites
It's okay, I guess. Definitely better than other fast food macs. Not sure I'll get it again...
Good deal found on bulk purchase
This is a good deal.
Quick and easy preparation time
With the rice sides usually I boil water and fill the pouch then fold the top closed.
Rehydrates well at high altitudes
But when you're up above that nothing rehydrates as well as mountain house.
Convenient for post-hiking meals
Are those freeze dried meals (mountain house etc.) actually any good? I’m going camping soon and have never had that kind of stuff before.
Compared to their real counterparts, they're OK but after a full day of hiking and you're starving, they're pretty damn good.
Generally decent taste across varieties
Eating an entire bag of a main course yourself gets monotonous.
Meals are enjoyable with added flavor enhancements
It's all about having a little something to add to the meal to make it that much nicer.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
High sodium content
and they all have a lot of sodium.
Pasta texture is poor and nutritionally lacking
I think the pasta texture is terrible and near useless nutritionally.
Mostly carbs
The mountain house meals are high quality but they are mostly carbs, which can generally be bought cheaper dried rather then freeze dried.
Increased prices over time
Best Mountain House freeze dried food alternative? MH freeze dried food has gone up a lot in price over the years, I was wondering if any of you have any ideas for alternatives that are cheaper.
Serving size may be misleading
Yeah, they are obliged to follow the standard set by the USDA for what constitutes a serving.
High price for the amount of food provided
We both were STARVING after eating these things, especially after day 2.
You can get really fancy if you want, but pretty much all backcountry cooking these days comes down to boiling water and then throwing other things in.
This. Ignore the packaging on freeze dried meals; they're only enough food for one person for the vast majority of people.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Product NameImagePriceScoreCompareSee DetailsBuy Now
Mountain House Chicken & Dumplings Freeze Dried MealMountain House Chicken & Dumplings Freeze Dried Meal$10
8.4
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Breakfast Skillet - Freeze Dried Camping FoodMountain House Breakfast Skillet - Freeze Dried Camping Food$10
8.0
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with NoodlesMountain House Beef Stroganoff with Noodles$10
7.7
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Expedition Bucket | Freeze Dried FoodMountain House Expedition Bucket | Freeze Dried Food$135
7.6
DetailsBuy
Peak Refuel Sweet Pork & Rice Freeze Dried MealPeak Refuel Sweet Pork & Rice Freeze Dried Meal$13
7.4
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Adventure Weekender KitMountain House Adventure Weekender Kit$49
7.3
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef - Freeze Dried MealMountain House Chili Mac with Beef - Freeze Dried Meal$11
7.3
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Biscuits & GravyMountain House Biscuits & Gravy$8
7.1
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Fettuccine Alfredo with ChickenMountain House Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken$11
6.8
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Classic Spaghetti with Meat SauceMountain House Classic Spaghetti with Meat Sauce$8
6.8
DetailsBuy
Peak Refuel Three Bean Chili MacPeak Refuel Three Bean Chili Mac$13
6.8
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Chicken Fried RiceMountain House Chicken Fried Rice$9
6.7
DetailsBuy
Peak Refuel Biscuits and GravyPeak Refuel Biscuits and Gravy$14
6.4
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Beef Stew - Freeze Dried Camping FoodMountain House Beef Stew - Freeze Dried Camping Food$10
6.4
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Scrambled Eggs with BaconMountain House Scrambled Eggs with Bacon$7
6.2
DetailsBuy
Peak Refuel Chicken Pesto PastaPeak Refuel Chicken Pesto Pasta$14
6.1
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Vanilla Ice Cream SandwichMountain House Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich$3
6.0
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Creamy Macaroni & CheeseMountain House Creamy Macaroni & Cheese$9
5.6
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries - Freeze Dried FoodMountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries - Freeze Dried Food$7
5.5
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with RiceMountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice$9
5.0
DetailsBuy
Backpacker's Pantry Dark Chocolate Cheesecake MixBackpacker's Pantry Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Mix$7
4.8
DetailsBuy
Backpacker's Pantry Creme BruleeBackpacker's Pantry Creme Brulee$7
3.4
DetailsBuy
ReadyWise Breakfast Skillet Meal PouchReadyWise Breakfast Skillet Meal Pouch$13
3.2
DetailsBuy
Mountain House Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream SandwichMountain House Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich$3
2.8
DetailsBuy
Backpacker's Pantry Mango Sticky RiceBackpacker's Pantry Mango Sticky Rice$7
2.5
DetailsBuy
ReadyWise 72 Hours Emergency Food SupplyReadyWise 72 Hours Emergency Food Supply$28
1.9
DetailsBuy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion on freeze-drying process
How does big companies like Mountain House freeze dry their food? Hello.
I've never dried chili, but have done eggs many times.
They have a factory tour video on Youtube where they show you what they're doing.
They freeze dry the meals in totality. It’s not done by ingredient and then mixed at Mountain House.
General understanding of product lines
On the whole, I think MH products are amazing.
Discussion on other Mountain House meal options
Beef Stroganoff with a packet of Arby's Horsey Sauce added.
+1 for the beef stroganoff! I also like the biscuits and gravy.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Suggestions for alternative meal options
Not always cheaper, but here are a bunch of alternative options:
Easy to make some of your own. Ramen bombs are great, cheap, and light.
Omeals are usually pretty cheap and extremely convenient as you don't have to boil water for them.
Encouragement for alternative cooking methods
I am a Scoutmaster, and I encourage my troop to do freezer bag / one pot cooking.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Comparison to condensed stew
It looks like a condensed-ish stew to me🤷‍♀️🙂‍↔️
Quality perception over time
They aren't quite cheap at $10-11 a pop, but it's worth having two or three dozen around simply for the convenience and long shelf life.
Still have some good friends there so I’m rooting for them - and missing all my freebies!
Comparison to other brands
Personally I prefer peak refuel but I think it’s subjective.
Mountain house is considered pretty basic?
Discussion on purchasing options
/r/trailmeals wiki has a bunch of good brands to check out.
Discussion on meal pricing and sales
This. Also ramen, cup of noodles, or even just plain couscous (add your own seasoning) will work.
Comparison of freeze dried food brands
It tastes great and is pretty nutritious.
$1800 would almost cover the cost of a freeze dryer. Then you can make your own.
I really really LOVE the blueberry granola and chicken and dumplings.
Which alpine aire meals do you recommend?
Discussion on meal options and alternatives
Check out other brands, too, and sales online.
Consideration for long-term provisioning
Yes for their intended purpose, no for long-term provisioning.
Discussion on various meal types and preferences
Mountain house biscuits and gravy is the best one of them all. Otherwise, I agree with a previous commenter, the stew varieties seem to turn out the best.
most packets are labeled 2 servings… for me each packet is a single serving.
Interest in homemade dehydrated meal alternatives
Sure enough found a few ranging from $20-40.
Got any dehydrated meal ideas you can throw my way?
Comparison of freeze-dried vs dehydrated meals
I haven't tried Huel, but I'm interested.
Recommendation for local meal options
They have a bunch of different meals that meet different dietary needs.
Discussion on meal sharing and calorie needs
so we both go hungry.
Most people over pack food.
Having enough food, and the RIGHT food, is definitely key :)
Alternatives to Mountain House meals
http://www.packitgourmet.com has great backpacking meals.
Discussion on weight savings in meal preparation
Peak Refuel vs. Mountain House - More Expensive & Heavier is Cheaper & Lighter #TL;DR
Loved the study!
The water carry a bit of a stretch and likely context specific.
This whole sub is a bit of a stretch… exactly why we like it
Preference for Peak Refuel over Mountain House
they're always available at Sierra for $10/meal, and you've got yourself a clear winner.
it's a great pick-me-up after working at a deficit for a few days.
Consideration of appropriate calorie intake for meals
I intentionally buy the 450-600 calorie meals because they’re the correct amount of food for me and I don’t have to deal with leftover food getting gross in my trash bag.
If I have managed to meet or exceed my daily need spread out over the course of the day hiking, missing the 8oz in the meal is not going to be detrimental.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Surprisingly good for a joke product
This was going to be a joke, but this was surprisingly really good.
Discussion on food expiration dates
Anyone know why there is such a difference in expiration? Also, he had some Wise meals with just a manufacture of 2015.
The changed their expiration dates but, not all freeze dried foods last the same amount of time.
This is a great opportunity to see what still tastes good. Let us know and record your results it would be helpful to know.

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