5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (2024)

5 Delicous Meal Recipes you can Cook in a Campervan and…they are Vegan!

We love cooking in our campervan and get quite experimental about it. We are both vegan but never limit ourselves to just using vegan recipes. In fact we find it more fun and a bit of a challenge to think of an old classic and find a way to make it vegan. To add to the challenge we don’t have an oven (we wanted the precious space) so we rely on using a stove top cooker instead (see link below). For the purposes of this blog we will keep the recipe’s as vegan but you can easily adapt it back to non vegan if you prefer.

We will also concentrate on ‘main meals’ in this blog. If you are interested in baking recipes for a campervan please see our campervan baking blog here. We will also base the ingredients on 2 people throughout.

To cook some of these dishes you will need anOmnia Oven (or similar stove top oven). If you have never come across one of these before please see our Omnia Oven page here for more information.

If you are looking to buy an Omnia Oven or any accessories then please take a look at our Omnia Oven UK Shop here.

So here they are- our top 5 meals you can cook in a campervan without a built in oven

Vegan Mac ‘n’ Cheese

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (1)

Ingredients

-150g macaroni

-1 vegetable stock cube

-10ml truffle oil

-120g grated Vegan cheese (we tend to use a cheddar variety)

-30g panko breadcrumbs

-1.5 tbs English mustard

-200g vegan crème fraiche

-1 tbs Marmite

-1 tbs B12 Yeast flakes

- Handful of pumpkin seeds

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Method

1.Place macaroni in a saucepan and cover in cold water with approx 1” water overlap

2.Boil until almost all the water has been absorbed

3.Add in the stock cube to the remaining water in the pan and mix

4.Add in crème fraiche, cheese, mustard,marmite and yeast flakes and give it a good stir until combined.

5.Add macaroni mixture to the Omnia Oven (ideally use aliner as it saves cleaning!)

6.Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs and pumpkin seeds over the top

7.Place on the hob on a medium heat for approx. 20-25 mins (depending on if you like a crispy base!)

8.Drizzle truffle oil over the top and serve

Homemade Vegan Big Mac & Fries

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (3)

Ingredients (an adaptedBosh TV recipe)

-4 vegan burgers (we use Linda MacCartney meatballs so we can add together and make thin patties)

-4 slices of vegan cheese

-3 large seeded burger buns

-1 Gherkin

-1 white onion

-1 baby gem lettuce

-3 white potatoes

For the sauce (the below amounts allow for extra to dunk your fries in!):

-3 tbs vegan mayo

-2 tsp mild yellow mustard

-1 tsp garlic powder

-1 tsp onion powder

-1 tsp paprika

-1 tsp white wine vinegar

Method

1.Cut the potato’s into thin fries with the skin on- dry with kitchen roll and then toss in mixing bowl with oil and salt and pepper

2.Heat the Omnia up with a small amount of oil in on a high heat. Once up to heat place the fries in and leave for 25-30 mins (turning half way)

3.Combine all the sauce ingredients in small bowl

4.Slice the onion and gherkin thinly and shred the lettuce into small pieces

5.If using meatballs combine 3 to pat down and shape into 4 thin patties

6.Fry the burgers and onion (if you prefer cooked onion- we do!, otherwise leave the onion raw) for 5- 10 minutes- turning half way through

7.Arrange the lettuce, onions, gherkins and sauce on the buns

8.Place the cheese slices on top of the burgers in the pan 2 minutes before they are ready

9.Once cooked arrange everything in the burger buns (don’t forget the 3rd piece of burger bun in the middle)

Indonesian Rendang

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (4)

Ingredients

-1.5 tsp chipotle paste

-2 tsp vegan fish sauce

-50g solid coconut cream

-130g basmati rice

-80g fine green beans

-1 tsp ginger paste

-1 tsp garlic paste

-125g soya chunks

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (5)

Method

1.Soak the soya chunks in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then drain

2. Trim and cut the green beans in half

3.Place the basmati rice and 300ml of cold water into a saucepan with a lid and bring to the boil on a high heat

4.Once boiling add the green beans and cook for 10-15 minutes

5.Heat a frying pan with oil on a high heat and then add the garlic, ginger paste and chipotle paste.

6.Fry for 1 minute and then add the soya chunks, mix and cover. Cook for 4-5 minutes until browned

7.Meanwhile remove the coconut cream from the sachet and chop roughly. Dissolve in 200ml of boiled water and fish sauce

8.Add the coconut stock to the soya chunks and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook uncovered for 6-8 minutes until the sauce has thickened

9. Fluff the green bean rice and serve with the rendang

Vegan Shepherds pie

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (6)

Ingredients

Tip- we usually double the below ingredients so it lasts 2 nights and you don’t have 1/2 tins of stuff left over!

-150g white potatoes

-150g sweet potatoes

-10g margarine

-1 red onion

-1 carrot

-1 tsp garlic paste

-100g chestnut mushrooms

-3 tbs tomato paste

-1 vegetable stock cube (to make 50ml stock)

-½ tin lentils

-½ tin chickpeas

-1 tbs soy sauce

-1 tsp dried rosemary

-1 tsp dried thyme

-30g panko breadcrumbs

Method

1.Peel and chop all potatoes into roughly 2cm chunks. Place the white potatoes in a pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes

2.Add the sweet potatoes in after 5 minutes

3.Drain and then add the margarine in with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Mash until smooth and set aside

4.Peel and finely slice the onion and the carrots. Fry with a splash of oil for 10 minutes until softened on a medium heat

5.Meanwhile roughly chop the mushrooms and then add to the pan with the garlic paste, soy sauce and tomato paste. Cook for a further 10 minutes

6.Add into the vegetable stock (50 ml), lentils and chickpeas (with the juice) and allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes

7.Stir in the rosemary and thyme and then add into the Omnia

8.Spread the mash over the top and sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs on top

9.Heat over a medium/low heat for 20-30 minutes

Vegan Mushroom ‘n’ Meatball Gnocchi Stroganoff

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (7)

Ingredients

-1 red onion

-1 tsp garlic paste

-2 tsp smoked paprika

-2 tsp dried thyme

-1 vegetable stock cube

-100g Vegan Crème Fraiche

-250g Chestnut Mushrooms

-6 vegan meatballs

-300g gnocchi

Method

1.Peel and finely slice the onion and fry on a medium heat with a drizzle of oil

2.Boil a kettle and dissolve the stock cube in 200ml of the boiled water

3.Cut the mushrooms into quarters and add to the pan with the garlic and paprika. Cook for 2-3 minutes on a medium heat

4.Tear the meatballs up into small lumps and add to the pan along with the gnocchi and add another drizzle of oil. Cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally

5.Combine the crème fraiche and the thyme in a small bowl with a generous amount of salt and pepper

6.Add the stock and cook on a high heat until half the stock has been absorbed

7.Stir in the crème fraiche and cook for a further 2 minutes

And there we have it- it was hard to narrow it down to 5 recipes! Watch this space for more specific blogs on delicious meals we have cooked in our campervan.

We use products from The Vegan Kind who have a subscription service and online vegan supermarket with a fantastic selection of vegan products. Click their logo below to have a browse of their products:

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (8)

If you have any questions or feedback on the recipes please do get in touchhere. Please also feel free to leave a comment below.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy anything through them we will get a small referral fee and you will be supporting us and our blog at no extra cost to you.

5 Easy Campervan Cooking Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best dinner for van life? ›

Spaghetti, rice dishes, soups, tacos, etc. These are great staple meals for days when you've got plenty of time to cook, and clean up after yourself. For most people, it's not practical to cook a meal from scratch every night, but living off of instant food isn't super healthy, or good for your mental state.

Can you use a microwave in a campervan? ›

Campervan microwaves should ideally be low wattage, preferably between 500W and 700W. They should also be small and compact. Choosing a campervan microwave that requires low power means you'll be able to use it at campsites with an electric supply of 10W or more without tripping the residual current device (RCD).

Do I need an oven in my campervan? ›

The long and short of it is- it depends! We know some people who have said they couldn't be without an oven in their camper van even though they only use their van for occasional holiday use and others who have lived in vans long term and have never missed it.

How do you eat while living in a van? ›

Stock your van with water and healthy staples like whole grains (quinoa, brown rice), canned beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, canned fish, and fresh produce that can last a few days without refrigeration (apples, oranges, carrots, etc.).

What is the average age in van life? ›

Of the 85 responses to the question of gender, 53 percent were women and 47 percent were men. The average age of van dwellers was 42.

What is the most common camping food? ›

Looking for the Perfect Camping Menu? Start with These Classic Camping Recipes
  • S'mores. ...
  • Catch-of-the-day. ...
  • Hamburgers on the Grill. ...
  • Walking tacos. ...
  • Chili. ...
  • Campfire popcorn. ...
  • Foil packets. ...
  • Franks and beans.
Sep 5, 2023

What is an easy camping dinner? ›

Simple Grilled Flank Steak

Flank steak is a long and thin cut of beef, so it doesn't take forever to cook which means it's perfect for camping. Grill the steak for 3 to 5 minutes per side and serve it up with a side of beans—it's that easy!

What are easy foods to take camping? ›

Here are some great camping snack ideas that pack and transport well:
  • Trail mix.
  • Chips with dip or salsa.
  • Peanut butter filled pretzels.
  • Sliced fruit or vegetables.
  • Granola bars.
  • Hummus.
  • Popcorn.
  • Olives.
Feb 23, 2023

What are high calorie foods for winter camping? ›

Seek instant foods when possible e.g. the above already cooked hamburger mixed with quick cooking instant rice, cheese cubes, spices (crush some garlic at home) and sun-dried tomato chunks would be yummy, easy and calorie-rich.

What food do you like to eat to warm yourself up in winter? ›

Here are some nutritious foods that can help keep you warm in cold weather.
  • Thermogenesis and Body Heat. In general, foods that take longer to digest can help raise your body temperature and make you feel warmer. ...
  • Eat Bananas. ...
  • Drink Ginger Tea. ...
  • Eat Oats. ...
  • Drink Coffee. ...
  • Eat Red Meat. ...
  • Eat Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • Eat Butternut Squash.

What foods keep you warm in cold weather? ›

Dark green and root vegetables like sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, parsnips, and turnips are rich in carbohydrates and a good energy source to keep you warmer for a long day. Adding these roots, vegetables are an excellent choice during winter.

How do you store food in a campervan? ›

There's usually room for food under the sink, as well as in the fridge. Boxes can also be stored on the pop top ledge above the cab when parked up. Collapsible ones are easy to store when not in use - in fact, there's a whole load of different collapsible kitchen equipment that is ideal for campervans.

How do you pack food for an RV? ›

Certain foods freeze exceptionally well. If your RV has freezer space, consider making foods like pancakes, muffins, or pies in advance and freezing them in individual portions to thaw as needed. Some convenience foods are also perfect for RVing because they are so versatile.

How do you keep food cold in a camper van? ›

Utilizing Coolers and Ice Packs

Ice packs provide a sensible alternative because you can re-freeze and reuse them throughout your trip. You just need a camping refrigerator that gets cold enough to freeze them again and the power to run it. That can keep your food safe for as long as you need it.

What to put in camper van? ›

Top 10 campervan accessories
  1. Portable outdoor shower. While living on the road provides a lot of freedom and flexibility, it can come with a few obstacles to overcome. ...
  2. Portable lighting. ...
  3. Fold-out furniture and picnic set. ...
  4. Portable barbecue. ...
  5. Levelling ramps. ...
  6. A hammock. ...
  7. Wifi booster or pocket wifi. ...
  8. Thermal blind.

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