30 Easy RV Meals to Save Time And Effort

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Have you been struggling to find easy RV meals for your next RV trip?

Clean your sweats today because you’ve made the best decision by reading this guide. I’ve also been there and I know what it takes to spend my entire vacation preparing meals.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll solve your problem by unlocking the RV meal planning tips. I’ll also let you know the 30 RV meal ideas you can prepare easily without stressing yourself. So whether you are a novice or an experienced chef, these tantalizing tips will transform your RV kitchen into a 5-star dining room. 

A stunning view of the sunrise over the mountainside, seen from the kitchen of a campervan.
Ready for breakfast anyone???

RV Meal Planning and Cookware Tips

Meal planning organizes your life especially when you are busy on the road, or have many people to feed such as families, friends, and colleagues. It makes you feel comfortable that you have enough food for your trip and it also reduces unnecessary waste. Incorporating the best RV storage ideas can make this process even more efficient, helping you maximize space and keep your kitchen organized.

When planning on what meal to prepare, I always love to consider some factors like available food items, available ingredients, dietary preferences, and style of cooking. This is very important because it helps me to create a menu so that I can prepare ingredients ahead and store them in an airtight container. As a result of meal planning, my dining experience is always smooth and stress-free, you can also try it and see how easy it is. 

Some basic tips:

Best Cookware to own

When you think about preparing the best meals, the first question that comes to your mind is:

What is the right cookware?

The good news is you don’t have to worry about that anymore because I am here to guide you through. So, whether you just want to cook some stew or you want to cook your favorite, here are some essential cookware:

30 Easy RV Meals For Every Adventure

These 30 easy RV cooking recipes for your next RV camping trip don’t require much time, effort, or equipment to prepare. The best part is, we’ve included camping meals of every type, from dessert to RV dinner ideas! 


1. Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

Tender Instant Pot shredded chicken in a cozy bowl on a rustic wooden cutting board, ready to fuel your next RV family adventure.

I use just smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper as ingredients, and trust me, you can’t smell my shredded chicken and turn your back, you’ll simply feel the vibes of a delicious meal. Here’s how you can make this instant pot chicken recipe: 

  1. Add chicken stock to the chicken in the instant pot
  2. Cover with lid and pressure cook for 10 minutes
  3. Remove the lid and shred the chicken with your forks 
  4. Serve the chicken while it’s warm

2. Foil-Pack Chicken Fajita Dinner 

Delicious chicken fajitas with red, yellow, and green peppers are the perfect easy RV meal for a hungry crew.

This was my dad’s favorite meal, he loved to eat this chicken as his dinner when he was at Los Angeles park. He uses sliced onion, green bell pepper, red pepper, olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin as ingredients. I was always privileged to eat this meal with my dad and it’s always fantastic. Here’s how you can make this Foil-Pack chicken: 

  1. Put a sheet of aluminium foil in the oven and heat to 400°F 
  2. Slice onion and bell pepper to the chicken in a bowl 
  3. Mix the chicken with the fajita seasoning, oil, cumin, and lime juice
  4. Divide the chicken and aluminium foil into 4 places and package each chicken with one aluminium sheet 
  5. Put each package in your oven and heat for 18 minutes.
  6. Serve the chicken with rice or any toppings of your choice

3. Egg and Potato Breakfast Scramble

A hearty egg and potato scramble with silverware at the ready — quick, easy, and made for RV adventurers on the go.

I eat egg and potato scrambles as breakfast every friday. You’ll surely love this breakfast because it’s yummy! The ingredients include red potatoes, 2 teaspoons of oil, pinch of salt, dash of milk and small water. Here’s how you can make this breakfast scramble:

  1. Mix potatoes with water, oil, onions, pepper, and salt in a metal pot
  2. Boil the mixture for 5 minutes
  3. Peel the potato in the pot
  4. Mix the scrambled egg with a dash of milk and heat it
  5. Sprinkle the mixture with cheese and give it a minute

4. Cinnamon Roll Skillet Cake

Cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet, fresh out of the oven — not only an easy treat for life on the go, but also fills the motorhome with sweet aromas

You’ll agree with me that cake is sweet but I am telling you that this skillet cake is super sweet. To bake this cake you’ll need flour, sugar, baking powder, biscuit, salt, milk, egg, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and powdered sugar. Here’s how you can make this skilled cake: 

  1. Use a rolling pin to the each biscuit 
  2. Put the biscuit in melted butter then add cinnamon sugar
  3. Roll the biscuit in a cylindrical shape
  4. Allow the cake to bake for 30 minutes

5. Pizza in a Pinch

Sliced bread pizza with melty cheese and fresh tomatoes — the perfect effortless meal for the weary road traveler.

I found out that this is a quick and easy recipe that helps to satisfy my desires for a fantastic pizza. Here’s how you can make this pizza: 

  1. Get a bread and spread some cheese on top  
  2. Add tomato, dried vegetables, and cooked meats in the middle  
  3. Put it in an oven for 3 minutes and make sure the cheese melts  
  4. Enjoy your tasty meal

6. Garlic and Rosemary Chicken

Garlic and rosemary chicken with thyme, served on a  white plate. Simple, delicious, and perfect for whipping up restaurant-style meals right in your RVs kitchen.

This is my favorite weekend meal. I love it because it’s so easy to bake and unlike the previous RV meal, it only requires 5 ingredients which are chicken, salt, honey mustard sauce, thyme, and fresh rosemary. Here’s how you can prepare this chicken meal: 

  1. Mix honey with minced garlic, rosemary, olive oil, salt, and pepper
  2. Put chicken breast in the mixture and leave it for 30 minutes
  3. Heat the mixture containing chicken breast for 7 minutes
  4. Serve yourself with vegetables or rice as toppings

7. Instant Pot Beef Stew

Nothing says 'easy RV meal' like a bowl of Instant Pot beef stew with carrots, onions, and fresh garlic.

This meal is mouthwatering and easy to make. One of my friends said he didn’t know the meaning of the word delicious until he tasted this beef stew. You’ll love to hear that he prepared the beef stew using beef, chopped onion, garlic, oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and pepper. Here’s how you can prepare your beef stew: 

  1. Add oil and necessary ingredients to the instant pot
  2. Add beef to the pot 
  3. Close the lid and cook for 35 minutes
  4. Stir the stew until it’s thick 

8. One-Pot Southwestern Pasta

A plate of Spanish rice with ground beef, the perfect easy meal for large gatherings and potlucks around the campground.

This pasta makes an easy and quick one-pot meal which can be done in 30 minutes or less. Pasta is one thing that everyone loves making in their instant pot. I know you love it but how can you prepare it? Here’s how: 

  1. Boil the pasta using the instructions on the package
  2. Heat oil in a pan and cook garlic with onion for 4 to 5 minutes 
  3. Add the boiled pasta and pasta sauce then mix together
  4. Serve with fried chicken

9. Perfect French Toast

Sliced French toast with a dollop of butter and syrup pouring down — the perfect way to turn kitchen staples into a convenient, delicious meal.

The French Toast is a recipe that I absolutely love to make when I am tired. French toast will help you to start your morning the best way. The major ingredients for this recipe are; Bread, eggs, milk, salt, sweetener, maple syrup, and butter. Here’s how you can prepare your French toast: 

  • Mix the eggs, milk, sweetener, and vanilla extract together
  • Slice your bread and apply the mixture in the middle
  • Toast your bread for 3 minutes
  • Serve with any toppings of your choice

10. Spanish Rice with Ground Beef

A plate of Spanish rice with ground beef — the perfect easy meal for large gatherings and potlucks around the campground

This is an excellent dish that requires simple ingredients and results in a very delicious family meal. I have loved this meal since I was 8 years old because my lovely mum always prepares it as our Wednesday meal and it’s always superb! Here’s how to prepare the Spanish rice: 

  1. Add tomato sauce to the uncooked rice 
  2. Stir well and heat for 25 minutes
  3. Add onions, beef, and other ingredients
  4. Allow to cook for 10 minutes 

11. Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes

A crock-pot of sweet potatoes served with a wooden spoon makes the perfect quick side dish for campfire meals at the RV park.

If you are tired of eating rice everyday, you’ve got to change your diet and one of the easy diets you can consider is the crock pot sweet potato. I cooked this meal yesterday and I am a living testimony of its delicious taste. Here’s how to prepare the meal: 

  1. Peel the layers of 2 sweet potatoes
  2. Rise them and cook slowly for 3 hours 
  3. Slice the potatoes and add some fish stew 
  4. Enjoy

12. Salsa Chicken

A plate of delicious salsa chicken with sliced tomatoes and fresh salsa makes the perfect high-protein meal that's easy to whip up in any RV.

This is what I eat when I get back from weekend camping trips. Not only is it yummy, but it only requires 3 ingredients in its recipe. Just like crock pot sweet potatoes, salsa chicken is also made in a crock pot. The ingredients are chicken breasts, salsa, and cheese. Here’s how to cook the chicken: 

  1. Put the chicken in the crock pot
  2. Pour a jar of salsa over it 
  3. Sprinkle with cheese
  4. Cook it for 1 hour 30 minutes

13. Easy Barbecue Steak Bites

Incredible seasoned and charred steak bites in a cast iron skillet with garnish — an easy-to-make recipe that will satisfy the weary RV'er  after a long day on the road.

If you are thinking about a unique and delicious dinner tonight, Barbecue steak bites are one for you. This meal will tantalize your taste buds in an unforgettable way. This recipe uses simple ingredients like onions, sliced steak, chicken broth, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and butter. Here’s how to prepare the barbecue steak: 

  1. Cook the onions until it’s slightly brown
  2. Add salts and pepper to the steak
  3. Cook the steak for 20 minutes
  4. Add some butter to the sauce and heat for 30 minutes
  5. Serve them with your favorite side dishes

14. Basic Omelettes

A basic omelette on a white plate is a staple convenient meal that any chef can whip up for a quick and satisfying breakfast.

Making an omelette in my RV is one of the easiest things ever, especially when you’re traveling in one of the best pop-up campers, with limited kitchen space and appliances. This is because it only requires me to take some few steps and those few steps are what you’ll also take today. Here’s how you can make your omelette meal: 

  1. Beat 2 eggs with a fork 
  2. Melt some butter in a pan by heating gently
  3. Add the eggs to the pan 
  4. Fold the omelette and serve it 

15. Spaghetti Bolognese

A bowl of spaghetti Bolognese topped with shredded Parmesan on a placemat in a modern travel trailer is a family pleaser that's effortless and sure to earn the chef plenty of praise.

Spaghetti bolognese is perfect for a quick midweek meal. I learned to cook this spag when I was a teenager and since then, I have never skipped it on Thursdays. Thanks to high-tech portable fridge freezers, it’s now easy to keep all the ingredients fresh while on the road, making this dish super convenient to prepare during your RV trips.

Ask anyone who’s even remotely familiar with RV cooking and they’ll tell you this is the easiest thing to cook ever. It’s as simple as adding store-bought tomato paste to noodles. Then, just add whatever ingredients you want, whether it’s ground beef, hotdogs, or carrots.

Here’s our recipe:

  1. Heat oil in a pan
  2. Add some onions and heat till golden
  3. Add garlic and fry for 3 minutes
  4. Add ground beef and mix it with tomato paste (of your choice), salt, and pepper
  5. Serve with freshly cooked spaghetti

16. Spiral Grilled Hot Dogs

Spiral-grilled hot dogs loaded with condiments — a fun twist on the campfire classic that'll have the whole RV park talking.

This next recipe is for hot dog lovers. I found myself pleasantly surprised the first time I tried it. This method adds a surprising amount of flavour to your hot dogs: 

  1. Skewer your hot dog
  2. Cut your hot dog with a paring knife
  3. Grill your hot dog on medium heat for 5 minutes 
  4. Serve with toppings of choice

17. Fluffy, Fluffy Pancakes 

Fluffy pancakes loaded with berries and dripping with syrup — a sweet, simple way to wake up the whole motorhome crew.

If you’re craving pancakes, here’s a great recipe for really fluffy ones. The batter is rather hard to make, so do check it out on the website we’ve linked to above: 

  1. Preheat your non stick pan
  2. Pour your batter on the heated pan 
  3. Serve with maple syrup and honey

18. Italian Sausage and Peppers

A classic Italian favorite, Italian sausage and peppers on a plate with charred red, yellow, and green peppers is a simple meal that even a chef with a basic camper van kitchen can cook.

Now for italian food, here’s a popular Italian dish. Of course there’s wine involved, because what’s an Italian dish without wine right? All you need are butter, garlic, onions, bell peppers, spices, wine, and of course Italian sausage. Here’s how to make sausage and peppers: 

  1. Heat sausage till brown
  2. Transfer sausage to plate and slice
  3. Cook garlic and onions for 3 minutes, then add peppers
  4. Put sausage slices in skillet and simmer for 15 minutes
  5. Add wine to sausage and serve with red beans, rice, and biscuits

19. Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

A bowl of fresh fruit makes the perfect summer salad, with assorted melons and berries — a refreshing treat after a long hike back to the campground.

For health-conscious RVers, fruit salad is a staple. It’s great as a dessert after meal, or even as an appetizer before your meal.

I like to use blueberries, mango , grapes, and kiwis, but it’s up to you: 

  1. Peel all the fruits (or don’t if you don’t want to)
  2. Mix them in a box
  3. Squeeze orange and lime juice
  4. Chill and serve after 3-4 hours

20. One-Pot Vietnamese Beef Stew

Vietnamese beef stew with carrots and mashed potatoes — an easy one-pot meal that hits the spot on cold winter days.

Craving a taste of Vietnam? Then look no further than this

Each time I cook this Vietnamese beef stew, I always remember my parents because it’s their precious stew. All the ingredients are beef, vegetables, brown sugar, tomato paste, and fish sauce. Here’s how to prepare Vietnamese beef stew: 

  1. Remove the outer leaves of your lemon grass
  2. Slice the beef into cubes
  3. Add all the ingredients and mix them
  4. Preheat your oven for 5 minutes
  5. Put the mixture in your oven and allow to cook for 6 minutes

21. Grilled Zucchini

Sliced, seasoned, and grilled zucchini is a convenient and healthy vegan meal or side dish for any occasion.

For fans of zucchini, here’s a quick, easy, and delicious way to prepare it:

It’s fast, it’s healthy, and you only need six ingredients – garlic powder, olive oil, chopped parsley, salt, pepper, and zucchini. To make this delicious meal: 

  1. Mix all the 6 ingredients in a large bowl
  2. Preheat the grill pan over medium heat
  3. Put the zucchini in the pan and cook for 5 minutes
  4. Serve with chopped parsley

22. Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

A cast iron skillet burger with grilled onions is an American favorite — right up there with RVing.

As the name suggests, you’ll need cast iron pan for this recipe. The good news is, this burger won’t take you more than a few minutes to prepare:

  1. Get some quality beef
  2. Add oil to your cast iron and make sure it is well seasoned
  3. Preheat the pan before you add the burger
  4. Season the burger with salt and pepper
  5. Add the burger to the pan and heat for 25 minutes 

23. Grilled Salmon

Grilled salmon with mixed vegetables and a slice of lemon is just the kind of easy meal health-conscious travelers can prepare—even in the most minimalist pop-up camper kitchens.

One of my favorite camping meals, grilled salmon is a universally loved fish. Here’s how to prepare this delicious and nutritious meal:

  1. Get a salmon fillet with the skin on
  2. Mix the salmon with grape seed oil, kosher salt, and black pepper
  3. Make some charcoal fire to grill the salmon
  4. Grill the Salmon’s skin and flip both sides to distribute heat evenly

24. Banana Bread

A sweet and savory treat any time of day, this sliced banana bread on a wooden cutting board with butter is the perfect energy booster after a long day’s hike.

Banana is sweet and yet healthy at the same time, two things that usually don’t go together. The banana bread makes for a great breakfast. Here’s how you prepare it:

  1. Preheat your oven
  2. Mash the banana and add butter
  3. Mix baking soda, salt, beaten egg, sugar, and flour together
  4. Bake the bread for 55 minutes
  5. Cool and serve

25. Egg Muffins

Egg muffins on a wooden cutting board with whole eggs are a power-packed protein meal — the perfect nutrition for boondockers and those hauling their camping trailers long distances.

This is a 4 in 1 recipe, it includes spinach, tomato, mozzarella, and eggs. Friends, I really love this meal! And I hope you also find it delicious. Here’s how you can prepare egg muffins: 

  1. Beat your eggs in a pan
  2. Mix it with spinach, tomato, and mozarella 
  3. Add salt and pepper to the mixture
  4. Bake for 10 minutes
  5. Let it cool then serve it with your desired toppings 

26. Vegan Rissoto

image of vegan risotto in a bowl topped with mushrooms and garnish

This risotto is creamy and rich in taste. In my family, we use this meal as a weekend bite and trust me, you’ll really love it. Here’s how you can make this lovely meal: 

  1. Add olive oil to a pot with chopped onions
  2. Add sliced mushrooms and garlic
  3. Cover the pot and cook for 5 minutes
  4. Add 1½ cup of vegetable stock and stir well
  5. Add salt and black pepper to the mixture
  6. Cook for extra 5 minutes 

27. Korean Beef and Broccoli

Savory beef and broccoli recipe

What I love about this Korean meal is that it’s quick, easy, and of course, it’s delicious! Here’s how you can cook the meal:

  1. Add ground beef and garlic to a skillet
  2. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes
  3. Add orange juice, brown sugar, and cornstarch to the skillet
  4. Cook for 5 minutes
  5. Serve over rice with broccoli and green onions

28. Instant Pot Gumbo 

Discover the hearty delight of Instant Pot gumbo with fresh shrimp and sausage, a quintessential comfort food that you can always find at RV parks in the South.

If you are always feeling cold and you are tired of weather for two, you can try out the Gumbo meal. Here’s how to make the meal:

  1. Add olive oil, pepper, onion, and garlic to your instant pot
  2. Add chicken, butter, and shrimps to your instant pot
  3. Cook for 5 minutes
  4. Serve with rice or any noodles

29. Instant Pot Chicken Stew

Whip up a delicious Instant Pot chicken stew with carrots and potatoes! It's a convenient meal that’s perfect for cooking in even the most basic motorhome.

Chicken stew is an alternative to Gumbo stew. So, if you need another instant pot meal, then this chicken stew is a good option. Here’s how to make chicken stew: 

  1. Heat your instant pot with its saute function
  2. Add onion, carrot, chicken, celery, potatoes, salt, and pepper to your instant pot
  3. Cook for 5 minutes
  4. Add chopped parsley before serving

30. One-Pot Beef Rice Pilaf

One-pot beef rice pilaf with onions and carrots is the ideal dish for boondocking, especially for those in smaller pop-up campers with limited kitchen space.

This easy RV meal requires just one pot and it’s super delicious. If you have a pressure cooker, you can easily prepare this meal in 25 minutes. Here’s how to go about it: 

  1. Put some onions, carrots, pepper, tomato sauce, spices, and beef stock in your pressure cooker
  2. Heat it for 10 minutes
  3. Add white rice and little water
  4. Cook it for extra 15 minutes
  5. Serve with your favorite toppings

Summary

The opportunity to cook in an RV is a great one, It saves you the precious time of going to eat in a restaurant. I believe this comprehensive guide on the best RV meals is enough to help you make an informed choice so that you can start enjoying tasty meals in your RV. If it’s your first RV camping trip, I understand that you may not find it easy to cook now but I promise you that if you are ready to practice consistently, you’ll be a master at RV cooking.

For even more tips and ideas, check out the Lazydays Guide to RV Cooking.

We hope you loved these easy RV meals! If you tried any of the recipes and have a fave, please let us know down in the comments below!

Man cooking breakfast in his converted camper van
Now, let’s grab your spatula and get cooking!

Photo of author

AUTHOR

Noelle bought a camper van in 2019 and lived in it for the summer while hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. That’s when she discovered a love for RV life. So when her husband suggested trading the van for full-time truck camper living, she jumped at the opportunity. When she’s not enjoying views out the back door, she’s planning new routes for exploring.

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