The Best MRE Meals to Stock Up On

When natural disasters, civil unrest, or supply chain blockages strike, food and water can become scarce commodities. To be prepared for these circumstances, it is wise to have a stockpile of nutritious food. Even if you don’t have the space or means to keep a large supply, a small amount that will last a few days can be enough to tide you over. 

MRE meals are a great option for those looking to store non-perishable food. An MRE (which stands for Meal Ready-to-Eat) comes in a single serving size, and most of them have a shelf life of several years. These were originally used by the US Military, and since then, have become popular among civilians as an essential part of camping gear and emergency preparedness. With a mess kit, you can easily enjoy these on the trail.

Each meal is securely packaged and designed for use in combat-like situations where there are no other food options. If this is your first exposure to Meals, Ready-to-Eat, we are here to walk you through the best MRE meals for stockpiling as well as the best tasting ones. Sopakco is the US Military’s supplier of MREs, so let’s dig into some of their meals!

Beef Ravioli in Meat and Textured Soy Protein Sauce 

Who’s craving Italian? Just because a meal has a shelf life of eight years doesn’t mean it needs to be a bag of rice. In general, the best MRE meals are simple and stick to the basics, like this beef ravioli dish that is made from simple carbohydrates, beef, and a soy-based sauce. The beef ravioli MRE is known as one of the best tasting MREs among military personnel. 

If you’re watching your sodium, this one’s for you with just 290mg of sodium per package. Keep in mind, the CDC recommends limiting sodium to 2300mg per day, so this is a very safe choice. At only 230 calories per serving, this meal has 12g of protein and 20% of your daily required Vitamin C. 

Iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the US, and when you have limited access to food, particularly fresh meat, consuming adequate amounts of iron will likely be even more difficult. Luckily, the beef ravioli MRE has 10% of your daily iron. When you’re looking to hit nutritional targets with regard to sodium, protein, vitamin C, and iron while satisfying a craving, this is one of the best tasting MRE meals out there.

Chili-Mac Macaroni and Beef in Sauce

Another crowd pleaser, the chili-mac macaroni and beef MRE is great for adding some flavor and seasoning to what is generally a bland culinary experience. With 380 calories and 15g of protein, this is a slightly denser and more filling option than the beef ravioli. If you’re stopping for lunch on the trail and know you have hours to go before your next break, this is one of the best MRE meals for keeping your stomach full. The beef and beans in chili make it another great option for hitting your required iron intake. 

If you don’t have the luxury of camping with a full mess kit for cooking, bring this chili-mac meal for a home cooked taste.

Vegetable Lasagna

While the other best tasting MRE meals are more geared towards a combination of protein and carbs for energy and satiety, vegetable lasagna is important to include in your stockpile to get a daily serving of vegetables. When you do not have access to regular groceries and are potentially in an emergency situation or exercising strenuously on a camping trip, it is more important than ever to make sure you obtain the nutrients available in vegetables. Not only are vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining health, but the fiber in vegetables will help you feel full for longer.

If you’re a vegetarian, food options, including with MREs, are generally more limited, and you don’t want to be stuck with one type of meal for a week or longer. We recommend taste-testing MREs before ordering a bulk supply of the one or two vegetarian-friendly options and potentially being disappointed. As one of the best MRE meals, the vegetable lasagna should be one of the first you try. 

By bringing some basic utensils, you can enjoy something more deluxe than trail mix in the great outdoors.

Get Prepared With Army Surplus World

Whether you’re packing for a backpacking adventure or stockpiling rations for a disaster kit, this guide will help you get started with picking the best MRE meals for you. However, at Army Surplus World, we make your prepping easier with our ultimate Sopakco MRE package. In addition to 14 different meals, it comes with a heater, dessert, cracker, latex-free moist towelette, and iodized salt. You get a wide variety of meals all in one convenient package.

Have questions about our MREs or any other military surplus products? Contact us and we’ll help you out. We’ve been providing our customers quality gear since 1984, and we’re excited to do the same for you.