Australian Hiker

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Campers Pantry Tuna Pasta Bake Review

Whenever there is a fish-based hiking meal to test, I get the job given Tim struggles to eat fish meals that don’t ‘resemble’ a fish! I however, eat fish, tuna and salmon a lot. I am one of the legions of women who apparently have tins of tuna and salmon in their desk drawer at work. I even take tuna (in foil pouches) on multi day hikes.

So when Campers Pantry asked us to test the Tuna Pasta Bake meal, Tim took a (big) step back not being a fan of tuna based meals!

As with all Campers Pantry meals, this one contains real food. You can tell that by reading the ingredients list of foods and spices you recognise and is absent of those cryptic flavour and colouring codes. Campers Pantry meals always have a good level of protein content which is so important particularly over the longer trips.  This meal has 40 grams of protein in the single serve meal.

This meal is another addition to the Campers Pantry Expedition Range which has lighter and more compact packaging than other meals. Preparing this meal is very easy. Once you tear the top of this bag off, you can flatten out the packaging to create a standing bowl, and add 300 ml of boiling water. At the five minute mark you need to stir the meal before letting stand for a further ten minutes.

In addition to making great meals, Campers Pantry has also put a lot of thought into making its packaging useful. So, on the underside of the card that sits over the food bag you will find the ‘Trail Map Series’ which includes a suggested hike, some guidance on the meals you’ll need, a QR code where you’ll get more info and two Sudoku puzzles you can complete while your waiting for your meal to rehydrate.

Price wise this single serve meal is AUD$16.95 RRP at the time of review. For a single serve meal this is on the higher end of the scale but given the compact packaging, quality of the meal, and longevity in storage, this meal is great value. Size wise this meal is 100 grams dry which is similar to other options in the range but once it’s rehydrated it’s very filling. The amount of water and rehydration time was spot on!

So how did the taste test go? Great! There is a definitely a tuna flavour to this meal but it’s not overpowering and doesn’t have a strong odour that some hikers (i.e. Tim) may find difficult to cope with. Once rehydrated, the meal also looks appetising. I tasted the meal as is and then added some salt and pepper to season – both options are good but seasoning does lift the flavour.

I do struggle to get enough protein on my longer hikes so the Tuna Pasta Bake will definitely make into my meal rotation if not Tim’s!

We Like

• Very lightweight meal option
• Loads of calories to satisfy hungry hikers
• Compact packaging will free up space in your pack over non vacuum sealed bags
• Best before 2 year shelf life
• No preservatives
• Natural ingredients
• Great tasting, its real food!
• Just the right amount of food for a single meal
• Easy to prepare
• Price wise on par with other brands

We Don't Like

• Nothing! unless you are Tim who doesn’t eat Tuna meals

Best Uses

• An easy to prepare meal whether it be on a short or long trip for camping and hiking

Buy One

You can purchase the Campers Pantry Tuna Pasta Bake from Campers Pantry

Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

PLEASE NOTE: As a special offer Campers Pantry is offering a 15% discount on meal purchases (information correct as at 18 April 2025). This discount will be applied at the checkout when you make your purchase via the above link

Other Versions

The following Campers Pantry Expedition Range meals also include:

• Chicken Cacciatore
• Penne Bolognese
• Cauliflower and Pea Dahl
• Spicy Mexican Beans
• Indian Chicken Pilaf

Investment

AUD $16.95 RRP

Campers Pantry Tuna Past Bake as purchased

Campers Pantry Tuna Pasta Bake packaging base opened up

Campers Pantry Meal packet opened out and standing out

Campers Pantry preparation instructions

Campers Pantry Tuna Pasta Bake ‘Trail Map Series’. The inside of the shop packaging has information about key Australian trails, some include vouchers, suggestions on the number of meals that you need for the highlighted trail, and a sodoku game.

Campers Pantry Tuna Pasta Bake in open packet unrehydrated

Campers Pantry Tuna Pasta Bake ready to eat

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by Campers Pantry

Last updated

20 April 2025

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