From bacon and eggs for brekkie to sausages on the barbie for dinner, there’s something about campervan cooking that makes even the simplest meals extra special. Perhaps it’s the fresh air, the great views, or just the relaxed vibe that comes with campervan travel.
If you’re keen to make the most of your campervan kitchen and whip up some culinary camping delights, this is the blog for you. We’ve covered off everything you need to know about campervan cooking, including:
Absolutely, in fact, being able to cook as you travel is one of the big benefits of choosing a campervan for your next road trip. Most campervans and motorhomes are fitted out with a kitchen. This usually includes a cooktop with gas and/or electric hobs, an oven, microwave, fridge, and storage for your cooking supplies.
Whether you travel as a family, a couple, or solo, there are some great benefits to cooking in your campervan. Let’s take a look a just a few:
Although you may like to eat out from time to time as you travel, the costs soon start to add up. Even buying coffee and drinks on the road can put a serious dent in your budget. But with your own kitchen onboard, you can stock up on ingredients from the supermarket and create your own favourite meals. And when you fancy a coffee or a cold drink, just pull over somewhere nice and make your own.
A great place to stock up the pantry as you travel is at local farmers markets. The produce is always fresh, in season, and well-priced. Plus, it’s a great way to support local communities.
Cooking a large dinner is a great way to save time and energy on making multiple meals. Having a fridge in your campervan means you can keep leftovers for the next day. This is handy if you’re out hiking or doing activities and want something easy for lunch. And of course, leftovers always taste better the next day!
If you have allergies or food sensitivities, it’s even more important to be able to manage your own meals. So being able to control your own ingredients and know what’s going into your food is a big benefit. And if you’re doing lots of activities and burning energy as you travel, you’ll appreciate having good food to come home to.
Here are a few tips to help you manage cooking in a smaller space:
Your campervan kitchen is likely to have less bench space than at home. So it can quickly become cluttered when you’re making a meal. It’s helpful to get into the habit of clearing away as you go.
Because you won’t have a dishwasher in your campervan, you’ll need to wash your dishes by hand. Remember that your water supply isn’t endless like at home, so you may want to be more economical with how many dishes you use. Dishwashing will also add to your greywater tank, so give some consideration to when and where you’ll be able to empty this.
If you have a barbecue onboard and the weather is good, cooking outside is a great option. It means you can watch the kids playing or chat with neighbours, enjoy the fresh air, and keep your campervan cooktop clean. Just whip up a salad and you’re good to go!
Although you’ll have a fridge and cupboards to store your food, space will be at a premium compared to your home kitchen. This means you’ll need to be a bit more selective about what items you bring with you. For large bulky items such as bottles of oil and sauces, it can help to decant the amount you’ll need on your holiday into smaller containers. Another space-saving idea is to use collapsible cookware. This can save a lot of precious cupboard or drawer space.
When travelling in a campervan, you’re in a confined space, often with others. That can mean that strong-smelling foods such as fish or spicy foods can leave a lasting impression. It can help to open roof vents, doors and windows, and use your rangehood extraction fan while you cook. And of course, you can always cook these foods on your outdoor barbecue if you have one.
Campervan cooking often means making do without the handy (but sometimes bulky) gadgets and long list of ingredients you have at home. Recipes that use fewer ingredients are generally better for campervan cooking. But of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t make amazing meals using the basics. Keep reading for some easy, tasty recipe ideas.
Need a little inspiration for your next campervan meal? Here are a few to get you started.
There’s something magical about sitting outside your campervan on a crisp morning with a hot coffee and a good brekkie before starting the day. A favourite for many is good old bacon and eggs. But here are a few extra ideas for an easy, tasty way to start your day:
Campervan lunches can be as simple as sandwiches on the go or leftovers from dinner.
But if you’ve got a little more time and fancy something hot, here are some delicious lunches that won’t take long to whip up:
Coming back to your campervan to enjoy a delicious dinner is always a highlight.
There’s just something about homemade campervan dinners that are extra rewarding. Of course, the first step is always to pour a glass of your favourite drink. These winning dishes are sure to prove popular, they’re super quick and easy too.
A sweet treat after dinner is the ideal way to top off the day. It’s the perfect time to indulge in that yummy pastry or piece of fudge from a farmers market. Or perhaps a punnet of berries from the local fruit stand (with a dash of cream of course!). But if you fancy creating something a little more substantial, try one of these tasty treats:
It’s always a good idea to have some snacks on board for those times when you’re a bit peckish, or you’re off on a hike. These snacks won’t take up much room in your campervan, and they’ll give you extra energy for that afternoon walk.
For more tasty ideas, watch Iron Chef Shellie create some easy recipes on the road in North East Victoria.
If your campervan is all set up with the motorhome accessories you need to get cooking, that’s great! But if you need modifications or additions such as a new stove, a rangehood, or a fridge, we can help get it sorted. KEA Motorhomes has a dedicated service department that can help alter or enhance your campervan to suit your lifestyle.
We’re experts at kitchen enhancements and can get the job done professionally with a quality result. And it doesn’t have to be a campervan that you’ve purchased from KEA.
Our experts can take care of modifications on any campervan or caravan.
Got a taste for the campervan lifestyle? Ready to start looking at motorhomes for sale? Take the next step and discover the fun and flexibility of motorhome travel by checking out KEA’s great range of new and KEA ex rental motorhomes for sale.
KEA Motorhomes is backed by thl who own and operate the popular maui, Britz and Mighty motorhome rentals across Australia. This means KEA can offer a great ‘try before you buy’ option. Rent from thl and if you buy a motorhome within three months of your hire, we'll give you your rental cost back (T&Cs apply).
The friendly KEA team are always happy to help with any questions you may have about buying an RV. They’ll show you through the different models and can help you think about which features are important for your style of travel.
Keen to know more about RV ownership? Check out more of our helpful blogs: