Cooking in the camper is a challenge. The kitchen is tiny. And it takes away from your precious vacation time. In this episode, we explore some easy pre-cook or cook on the road camper meals that are easy on your budget, time, and propane.
Not a Foodie. But I am a Roadie!
If we even wanted to be foodies, they would kick us out of the club.
I’m not gourmet in the kitchen or at a restaurant. We are happy to eat to function and stay healthy. But we also like a hearty meal, sweet date nights, and creature comforts (hence the Keystone Cougar 5th Wheel and not a tent).
Gone are the days of my youth when I would struggle hungrily over a campfire reheating overpriced REI MREs, like a Neanderthal. I have learned that it’s okay to hit the easy button when it comes to cooking. Good nutrition with a hearty dose of user-friendliness can happen on camping road trips.
Being on the road, there are times when you just want an easy camping meal:
- Seat-itis. After a long day on the road getting to the next campsite, the last thing I want to do is cater in the kitchen.
- Cranky. Coooking in a small kitchen only makes me crankier.
- Sun-sapped. Being outdoors all day having fun saps my energy for cooking.
Having a meal plan before everyone’s hungry, especially myself, is so helpful. “So, Nikki,” you might ask, “What do you bring for easy dinners along the trip to keep costs down and good nutrition up?”
Here’s a taste of my “Camping Trip Meal” list:
Category: Camping meals to cook before leaving for the trip:
- Lasagna (add a salad)
- Meatloaf (add boxed mashed potatoes, jar of chicken gravy, and frozen peas)
- Taco meat (can be used for nachos, tacos, enchiladas, burritos)
- Italian sausages (sauté peppers and onions and put on a hoagie roll with parmesan or add to any pasta dish)
- Brats (heat up some sauerkraut, put on a hoagie, and PBR me ASAP)
- Boilermaker chili (just add shredded cheddar and Saltines, as the Wisconsinese do)
Category: Camping meals that are easy cook on the road:
- Cheese Fondue (quick and sophisticated!)
- Hamburgers on the porta-grill
- Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup
- Frozen pizza
- Manwich from a can or a packet (just add pre-browned ground beef and chef’s hat)
- Marinara sauce and tortellini or any pasta
- Take out (cheating? I think not.)
Easy meals are also helpful when you get on the road fast! Like in this story of being stuck in the mud…
Organizing Camping Meals
Now that you have pre-cooked camping meals and supplied yourself with easy to cook on the road meals, the next task is to organize the chaos. Read the step-by-step post on setting up a self-catering meal app here.
Watch the demo in this video below:
hundreds of millimeters of counter space in these units!
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