Today’s spoiled military members, who already have 24 different choices for Meals Ready to Eat—or MREs—will get three new choices in 2026, with even more options in the works for 2027.
Back in my day—the late 1980s, if you’re keeping track at home—we had only 12 choices. Chicken a la King was always my favorite. The real prize came in Accessory Packet B, where we would find a tiny bottle of Tabasco Sauce.
Today’s military members will only find hot sauce in a few of their choices. You guys and gals don’t know what you’re missing! Today’s military members can’t even get Chicken a la King anymore, but they do have a pretty wide range of options, including several vegan choices. You can find the complete list for 2025 here.
What’s New for 2026?
The next iteration of MREs is called MRE 46, and it is expected to come out in 2026. In the new MRE 46 menu, developers plan to replace three items from the MRE 45 menu based on negative feedback received from the field.
As a result, the beef taco filling, pork sausage patty, and jalapeno pepper jack beef patty will be eliminated. In their place, military members will find a Cuban-style beef picadillo with vegetables, buffalo-style chicken, and a Thai-style red curry with chicken and rice. Yum.
The DoD Combat Feeding Division decides what gets put on the MRE menu. According to Julie Edwards, a Combat Feeding Division senior technologist and registered dietitian, "Buffalo chicken is something that [Soldiers] have requested. It's a popular item … so we're hoping that this item will be longstanding."
More Snacks Are Coming Too!
MRE 46 will also include more protein-filled snacks. The additions include new S'mores recovery bars and freeze-dried chocolate peanut butter bites. Another big focus of the newest iteration is more caffeinated products.
Back in my day, sitting in a cold radar van on top of a hill near the Inner German Border, any type of caffeine was a necessity. Strangely, Edwards says caffeine has been one of the least popular MRE items among military members in recent years.
"What we've noticed is caffeine is one of the least consumed items in the MRE," Edwards said. "Previous generations were big coffee drinkers, but the newer generation of Soldiers are not."
Recognizing that staying alert is still an important part of combat effectiveness, researchers looked to develop new beverage options, as well as energy chews, energy gels, caffeinated gum, and even caffeinated jelly beans.
What’s Coming in 2027?
The Combat Feeding Division has already begun developing the MRE 47 menu that will reach the troops in 2027.
Service members have requested more plant-based items, and, as a result, the Combat Feeding Division has developed plant-based animal crackers, a new recovery bar, a protein bar, and fruit-flavored cereal.
In addition, Edwards said the four vegetarian meals currently available will be replaced with plant-based entrees.
Always Looking for New Ideas
Each year, food scientists at the Combat Feeding Division work to develop new components of MREs based on feedback from troops. Researchers also look at the commercial sector to see what the troops may like in new menus.
"Any new item that we get that can help bring variety and increase acceptability is important," Edwards said. "We know that eating an MRE isn't everyone's No. 1 thing, but we want to make it safe to eat—that’s our No. 1 priority—and then to make it taste good as well."
If they’re looking for recommendations, allow me to offer one. Bring back the Chicken a la King … and a mini Tabasco bottle in every accessory packet!
Bon Appétit!
Suggested reads:
