Tips & Essentials for Cooking in a Small RV

Tips & Essentials for Cooking in a Small RV 
Top appliances and recommendations for making meals in van or RV kitchens.

By: Morgan Field

I’m Morgan Field, a part-time road wanderer cruising around in my 2019 Winnebago Travato 59K. My co-pilot? Teddy—equal parts mischief, joy, and professional snuggler. After years on the road, I have realized that cooking in an RV is about more than just making food—it’s about improving your quality of life on the road. With the right tools, a little planning, and some awareness of your RV’s power limits, you can create nourishing meals that fuel your adventures and keep your travels stress-free.

Why Cooking in Your RV Is a Game-Changer

When I first started cooking in my RV, I was surprised at how much it changed my travel experience. Instead of relying on frozen microwave meals or frequent fast-food stops, I began curating my meals more intentionally—choosing fresh, organic ingredients and making sure I was getting a solid balance of nutrients.

The difference was huge: I had more steady energy for long drives, better sleep, a brighter mood, and I felt genuinely excited about trips instead of being drained at the end of them. Back when I wasn’t cooking, I often ended my adventures wiped out, needing days to recover. Now, with some light meal planning, I come home feeling more energized.

Exploring the Right Appliances for You

One of the most important parts of cooking on the road is choosing the appliances that work best for you. Since space is limited, you can’t bring one of everything. Choosing the right appliances means assessing your cooking style, food preferences, travel habits, and your RV’s power setup.

Ask yourself:

• What meals do I love to eat most often?
• How much time do I want the meals to take to cook?
• Do I mainly camp at full hookups, or do I boondock often?
• How much counter and storage space can I dedicate to appliances?
• Which appliances give me the most versatility for the least space?

Power matters. Keep this in mind when choosing your appliances: know their wattage/amp ratings, run only one high-draw item at a time, and consider turning off the A/C while cooking. If you boondock often, upgrading solar, lithium batteries, and a strong inverter expands your options.

• If boondocking, choose appliances that can run off your inverter, or pick quick-cooking appliances to use with a generator
• If you have full hookups, you have more freedom with wattage, but still need to manage amp draw carefully.

Use your answers as a guide. The good news? With even just one or two well-chosen appliances, you can cook just about anything on the road.

Once you’ve thought about your cooking style, space, and power needs, it’s time to look at the all-stars of small-space kitchens. These are the appliances that consistently earn their spot in RVs, vans, and travel trailers because they’re versatile, compact, and make life on the road a lot easier.

Choosing Your Essential Appliances

When I chose mine, I started with what I eat daily. A morning smoothie made a compact blender non-negotiable. I also love hearty one-pot meals like chili, rice bowls, or curry, which made the Instant Pot my second must-have. Both were small, versatile, and low-wattage enough to run on my inverter.

That same approach works for you: start with your favorite go-to meals—what you crave, what fuels you, and what you’ll want on repeat—then factor in your RV’s space and power setup. From there, pick the appliance that makes those meals simplest to create.

Here are the small-space all-stars that consistently earn a spot in RVs, vans, and travel trailers:

• Air Fryer 
  • Crisps, bakes, roasts, and reheats—often replacing an oven. Quick, energy-efficient, and compact. Great for anyone who wants crispy textures without heating up the whole rig.
  • Meals like: roasted veggies, crispy fries, baked salmon, or reheated pizza.
• Slow Cooker
  • Classic “set it and forget it” cooking with low power draw, as long as you are OK with longer cooking times. Makes soups, chili, or pulled meats—easy and hands-off.
  • Meals like: pot roast, bean chili, shredded BBQ jackfruit, or slow-simmered soups.
• Instant Pot  
  • A true one-pot wonder: pressure cooks, slow cooks, sautés, makes rice, and steams. Great for soups, stews, grains, and hearty meals—without hogging counter space. They have a 3-Qt model: compact, big enough for a few days of meal prep, and just 700 watts.
  • Meals like: veggie chili, coconut curry, rice bowls, or lentil soup.

• Toaster Oven
  • Compact oven alternative for baking, broiling, and toasting. Good for dishes that don’t fit in an air fryer, though it won’t crisp as efficiently.
  • Meals like: small casseroles, baked potatoes, garlic bread, or cookies.
• Convection Microwave/Oven
  • Two-in-one: reheats like a microwave, bakes like an oven. Useful for larger portions or multi-function convenience, though slower than an air fryer for quick meals.
  • Meals like: sheet-pan dinners, roasted veggies, reheated leftovers, or baked chicken.
• Griddles & Hot Plates
  • Perfect for outdoor or countertop cooking, griddles and electric hot plates give you flexibility when space is tight. Cook pancakes, stir-fry veggies, or sear proteins without heating up the whole rig.
  • Pair with a folding table and you’ve got an instant outdoor kitchen—ideal for sunny mornings or boondocking adventures.
  • Meals like: omelets, pancakes, quesadillas, stir-fried veggies, or seared tofu/burgers
• Blender
  • Perfect for smoothies, sauces, soups, and dressings. Compact, easy to clean, and low wattage—ideal for a quick protein shake or meal prep. 
  • Meals like: morning protein smoothies, hummus, salsa, creamy dressings, or blended soups.

Tip: Start with one or two appliances that fit your cooking style—speedy and crisp? Go air fryer. Quick one-pot hearty meals? Instant Pot. Smoothie-lover? Blender. You can always expand later as your road cooking evolves. And don’t be afraid to get it “wrong.” If an appliance ends up unused, feels oversized, or just doesn’t fit your meals—let it go! RV cooking is all about experimenting, getting creative with small spaces, and letting trial and error guide you.

Don’t Forget the Little Extras

The big appliances get all the attention, but small items make daily cooking easier too:

• Trivets for hot pots and pans
• A quality cooking spoon and ladle
• Compact cutting boards
• Collapsible cookware, measuring cups, and strainers
• Tupperware for meal prep
• Compact Outdoor Table — Lets you cook outside and keep heat and smells out of the rig. I use the Portal Camping Table from Amazon—it folds up small and the adjustable legs are a lifesaver on uneven ground.
• Extra Freezer Space – A portable fridge/freezer combo like the BougeRV 12V lets you store frozen meals or extend the life of prepped food. 

Tip: Think of your RV kitchen like a capsule wardrobe—pick versatile pieces that can be mixed, matched, and repurposed. The right mix will look different for everyone, depending on how you like to cook and travel.

Safety & Smarter Meal Planning

Cooking in a small space isn’t just about appliances—it’s also about safety and efficiency.

Safety Tips:

• Don’t pour grease down the sink—let it cool and toss it in the trash.
• Ventilate with your roof vent or windows, or cook outdoors when possible.
• Keep a small fire extinguisher handy, especially for high-heat cooking.

Smart Meal Planning

• ChatGPT – Generate custom meal plans, grocery lists, and recipes. Example prompt: "I need a meal plan for a [number of days] RV trip with [specific dietary needs and desires]. I want meals that are easy to cook and require minimal ingredients. I am traveling [insert if you are solo or how many people are traveling with you.] I have [insert cooking appliances]. Can you create a grocery list and meal plan for me?" (Get more ChatGPT tips!)
• Mealime – Ready-to-go recipes with built-in shopping lists.
• Instagram – Search for appliance-specific inspiration, like Vegan Instant Pot or Air Fryer Recipes.

Closing Thoughts for Cooking in a Van or Small RV

Cooking in an RV doesn’t have to feel limiting. With the right gear, a little power awareness, creativity, and smart prep, you can create healthy meals that fuel your adventures, save money, and help you feel your best on the road.

From Our Tiny Kitchen to Yours,
—Morgan & Teddy, Follow along on Instagram (@themorganfield) or on Facebook.