A single burner is all you need — if you one-pot it

Yes, you can cook a full meal on a single burner, but you have to change how you think about “full meal.” On a backpacking stove, you’re not doing a protein, a starch, and two sides. You’re doing one pot that has everything in it.

The move is one-pot meals: a solid stew, a curry with rice, or pasta with sauce and veggies all cooked together. Pre-soak beans or rice at camp to cut boiling time. Use a pot cozy (a foam sleeve) so you can bring water to a boil, drop in your ingredients, then let it sit off the flame for 10-15 minutes to finish cooking while you pack up. That saves fuel.

If you absolutely need a separate side (like instant mashed potatoes), cook