One of the joys of traveling in an RV is having the freedom to cook your own meals. You don’t have to up your travel budget at nice restaurants or hit the fast-food lines as you go. You have the freedom to cook whatever your kitchen allows and your mind dreams up.
Getting comfortable with your RV kitchen
If you’re new to RVing, you may be questioning what you can really cook when you’re on the road or in an RV resort. But there are many RV kitchens that can make you feel like you’re cooking at home. If you’re still looking for an RV and love to cook and bake, here are a couple of great options to check out:
Dutchman Astoria
If you love to be in the kitchen the Dutchman Astoria 3173RLP is the perfect model for you. You have a large refrigerator to keep all your food cold, a stove, oven, and microwave. You also have a kitchen island that gives you plenty of space to prepare whatever your heart, and stomach, desire. In addition, there is plenty of seating nearby so you can visit with your family or friends as you cook, but they have plenty of room to be out from underfoot.
Forest River Cherokee
Much like the Dutchman Astoria, the Forest River Cherokee 274WK gives you plenty of room to move around in the kitchen. It has a center kitchen floorplan with a full-size refrigerator, 3-burner stove, oven, and a kitchen island.
Winnebago Boldt 70KL
The Winnebago Boldt proves that an RV doesn’t need to be big to provide you with the kitchen space you need to prepare your own meals on the road. This campervan has a stove with 1 oven burner, compact refrigerator, and more counter space than you expect. If you don’t need a large RV for your travel plans, this is a great option to provide you with all the essentials while you’re on the road.
If you’re ready to level up your RV cooking game, here are some recipes you can try.
RV Recipes for the Central Coast
Dungeness Crab
The central coast is known for Dungeness crab, but you don’t have to hit a restaurant to enjoy it. One of the best parts is you can even catch it yourself, just make sure you follow the restrictions, limits, and that you’re in season.
Jordan Winery shares a recipe for a Dungeness Crab Boil with Chardonnay Drawn Butter. You just need to be able to use a stockpot (which you could do over a fire if needed) and a saucepan to make the sauce. This makes for a nice elevated crab boil.
You can also keep it simple and use this Dungeness Crab Boil recipe from ThrifyFoods.
Clam Chowder
You might think of New England when you think of clam chowder, but serving it in a sourdough bread bowl is the California way and it dates back to 1849 in San Francisco. If you want to keep this easy while you’re on the road, you can cook the chowder in a crockpot or slow cooker, just don’t forget those sourdough bread bowls. Food.com has a well-reviewed recipe for Crockpot Clam Chowder here.
Tacos
Many central coast destinations are known for their incredible food truck cuisine, but you can serve yourself up some delicious tacos right from your RV. This California Tacos recipe from allrecipes.com puts a twist on the classic tacos as a vegetarian option. It’s full of fresh flavors and vegetables.
Santa Maria BBQ
What would a central coast recipe list be without Santa Maria BBQ? Food Network star Bobby Flay has a recipe for Santa Maria-Style BBQ Tri-Tip you can cook with a charcoal grill. You’ll need a saucepan to prepare the Santa Maria Pinquito Bean Relish. And you can use the grill for the Tomato Relish and to grill the french bread. If you’re looking for a central coast recipe that makes you feel like you’re dining in a restaurant, this is a great option.
Make-ahead recipes
If you prefer not to spend a lot of time cooking in your RV or if you very limited ability to cook based on your RV kitchen, here are a few great recipes you can make before you leave home and are delicious reheated.
BBQ Bacon Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
These sandwiches are really easy to make. You can even use your crockpot to cook the chicken until it’s ready to be shredded. It takes in all the great flavors that it cooks in and you can top with your favorite sandwich toppings. In addition, after you cook the meat, you can freeze it in bags that make it easy to bring with you on the road. Simply thaw the cooked chicken in your fridge overnight, reheat it however your RV kitchen or camp situation allows and enjoy a homecooked meal on the road.
Recipe from Taste of Homes: BBQ Bacon Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Southwest Shredded Pork Salad
This recipe can easily be made before you get on the road or in your RV using a slow cooker. It’s a nice healthy alternative to some of the heavier and more filling meals people tend to eat while traveling. You can prepare the pork at home and freeze until you’re ready to use. Or, you could prepare up smaller batches of these salads so you can grab them and eat quickly without having to do any prep on the road.
Recipe from Taste of Homes: Southwest Shredded Pork Salad
Get ready for your next RVing adventure
As you prepare for your next trip on the Central Coast, Sky River RV can help you find the perfect RV for your needs.
