Campervan Meals: Easy Recipes for the Road
While you do have a place to prepare food, cooking in a campervan does work a little differently from home. You’ll likely have fewer ingredients to play with, a bit less space, and different utensils than what you’re used to.
However, with a few tips and tricks and by cooking the right kinds of meals, you’ll be able to make your eating experience a positive one to remember. So read on to find out how to overcome common campervan culinary challenges and the best camping recipes ideas.
What challenges might you face cooking in a campervan?
Cooking in a campervan might feel a bit like a puzzle the first time you do it. This is because you’re working out how to fit all the pieces together to make the best use of your new space. However, much like a puzzle, you only need to figure it out once, and then you can keep refining and trying new things to see what works for you.
At Bailey, we’ve been on a few adventures in our time and have experienced cooking in a leisure vehicle from the Arctic to the Sahara desert.
Here are some tips to help you overcome any cooking challenge:
| Your cooking challenge | You could try |
|---|---|
| Less space that you are used to | Buy a set of compact and multipurpose cookware (think nesting bowls, collapsible colanders, frying pans with a removable handle and spoon/fork combinations) |
| Cooking smells in the campervan | When you can, try to cook with the kitchen windows slightly open and cook outside when possible. Use a good quality ‘odour-eating’ air freshener after you’ve washed up. |
| Condensation | Make sure you keep the campervan well-ventilated when you're cooking, and wipe down all food preparation surfaces after cooking to capture any moisture. |
| Less storage than you’re used to | Plan your meals and snacks before you leave for your trip, and try the trick of taking something like mince that can be used for more than one meal. Then, you can plan what store cupboard ingredients you need to have in the cupboards and get the most from the food you take with you. |
| Less cooking surface than you’re used to | Make the best use of all workspaces by preparing your meals in stages or using the dining table for extra prep space. |
| Less fridge space than you’re used to | If you’re trying to answer the question of how do I deal with limited fridge space in a campervan? Try buying little and often if you can and reserve space for the things you use the most, like milk and cheese. For overflow items, use a cool box. |
| Limited gas supply | A 6kg gas bottle can last, on average, a week with cooking and some heating. This varies according to usage and weather conditions, so it might be as little as a few days or as much as a couple of weeks. If you want to conserve gas, try and plan in some meals that don't require cooking, or take along a non-gas BBQ for cooking outside. |
| Less space to wash up than you’re used to | Use as few plates as possible and try to cook one-pot meals to reduce the amount you have to wash up. You can often find dish drainers with a tray underneath to catch the water. Consider one of these for somewhere to put your cutlery and crockery when washing up. |
Did you know?
Bailey campervans have a complete kitchen
They may not be quite as big as what you get at home, but the kitchen in the Bailey Endeavour range of campervans gives you the means to cook all the meals you’d want to.
The kitchen on each model comes with:
- Fridge: Thetford 84L compressor fridge with a 6L freezer compartment
- Cooker: Thetford Triplex 3-burner hob with combination oven and grill
- Sink: A stainless steel round sink with a mixer tap
- Cupboards: With catches to stop them coming open during your travels
Want to learn more about the Endeavour? See the range here
Quick & Easy Campervan Recipe Ideas
As you can tell from the above solutions, your best way to hassle-free meals while camping is to try to do everything as fuss-free as possible. This means focusing on meals that have short cooking times and fewer ingredients and making good use of store cupboard items as well as fresh food.
So, what are some healthy meal options for campervan trips? Here are some of our favourite easy meals to cook while camping:
One-Pot Meals
- One-Pot Pesto Pasta – Cook pasta, then stir in pesto, cherry tomatoes, and a handful of spinach for a quick and easy meal. Add sour cream for extra creaminess.
- Smoky Campfire Bean Stew – Sauté onions and garlic, then add canned beans, tomatoes, chilli powder, and spices. Simmer for 15 minutes for a rich, warming dish.
- Chicken & Rice Skillet – Cook diced chicken in a pan, then add rice, chicken stock, and veggies. Let it simmer until the rice absorbs the liquid.
Meal Prep / Batch Cook Meals
- Chilli Con Carne – Cook minced beef with onions, canned tomatoes, beans, and chilli powder. Make a large batch and reheat for multiple meals.
- Curry with Chickpeas & Coconut Milk – A flavorful dish that tastes even better the next day. Serve with rice or flatbreads.
- Vegetable & Lentil Soup – A hearty, nutritious soup that can be made in bulk and reheated as needed.
Under 30 Minutes Meals
- Avocado & Chickpea Wraps – Mash avocado with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Spread onto tortillas with mashed chickpeas and spinach.
- Tuna & Sweetcorn Pasta – Cook pasta, drain, then mix with canned tuna, sweetcorn, and mayonnaise or sour cream.
- Scrambled Eggs & Bacon – Quick and protein-packed. Serve with toast for a filling breakfast or light lunch.
Cooking with Non-Perishables
- Canned Bean & Tomato Stew – A simple dish made with canned black beans, chopped tomatoes, garlic, and spices. Serve with rice or bread.
- Instant Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce – Cook instant noodles and mix them with peanut butter, soy sauce, and chilli powder for a quick satay-style dish.
- Couscous with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Olives – Just add hot water to couscous, then mix in sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and canned tuna for a tasty meal.
For Cooking Outside
- BBQ Foil Packet Fish – Wrap fish fillets with lemon slices, garlic, and olive oil in foil. Cook over a BBQ or campfire for 15 minutes.
- Grilled Halloumi & Veggie Skewers – Skewer halloumi, peppers, and mushrooms. Drizzle with olive oil and grill over a BBQ.
- Campfire Smoky Hot Dogs – Grill sausages over a fire and serve in buns with mustard, ketchup, and pickles.
For Families & Larger Groups
- Big One-Pot Chilli – Cook minced beef or veggie mince with beans, tomatoes, and spices. Serve with rice or nachos.
- Campfire Paella – Cook rice, stock, seafood (or chicken), and peas in one big pan for a delicious, shareable meal.
- DIY Wraps & Tacos – Set out tortillas with a selection of fillings like grilled chicken, beans, cheese, and veggies so everyone can build their own.
Top Tips for Campervan Cooking
You know how to overcome the top challenges and the best super easy camping meals to prepare, so are there any other things you should consider? Yes, here are some other camping food ideas we’ve compiled over our years of life on the road.
- Try to use quick-cook grains: Think packet versions of couscous, instant rice, and quinoa; all of these cook faster than traditional pasta or rice, which saves you gas and time.
- Take a small selection of spices with you: Always have the key seasonings (salt, pepper and long-life lemon juice to hand) and your favourite spice flavourings to hand in small containers. A pill box can be a great way to store small amounts for your trip.
- Plan to do as little washing up as possible: Use reusable food wraps, foil packets, and biodegradable wipes to reduce the amount of washing up space and water you need and, therefore, less gas for heating.
- Buy long-life snacks: Make sure you have a supply of snacks like nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, and crackers to have a great quick bite without any prep.
- Use the folding table for extra prep space: The great thing about cooking on camping trips is you aren’t limited to the kitchen workspace—put up your foldaway dining table and use that as a food prep area, too.
- Use heat-proof mats: There’s nothing worse than accidentally putting a boiling hot pan on a place you shouldn’t have and having it leave a mark. Make sure you buy heat proof mats so you can place hot items on your campervan table.
- Cook with pre-made pasta & sauces: Things like store bought pesto, curry paste, and salsa add quick flavour without extra ingredients and needing extra space to store them.
Planning Meals for a Longer Campervan Trip
How much food should I bring on a campervan trip? And what meals can I make if I’m traveling off-grid? For longer trips—especially ones to remote areas where there may not be many places to food shop—you may need to get clever with your meal planning.
Here’s our best meal ideas for when you have to spend several days on the road:
- Day 1-2: Fresh produce meals (salads, wraps, pasta dishes)
- Day 3-4: Heartier meals using preserved foods (chilli, curries, stews)
- Day 5-7: Simple, pantry-friendly meals (beans on toast, pasta with jarred sauce
Ready to Start Your Campervan Cooking Adventure?
Cooking on the road doesn’t have to be complicated.
With a bit of planning and a few easy recipes, you can enjoy stress-free, delicious meals wherever your campervan takes you.
Looking for the perfect campervan for your next adventure? Check out Bailey’s campervan range.
For more campervan travel tips, read our Beginner’s Guide to Campervanning.
