Ready to travel around New Zealand to experience the beauty this island nation has to offer? What better way than by hiring a campervan. If you are searching for some easy meals when camping in a campervan, you’re in luck. We have put together a list of our favourite mouthwatering camping recipes that are perfect for a road trip.
These recipes are lick-your-plate-clean yummy, cheap, and easy enough you could almost make them with your eyes closed (though not recommended!).
But first, what are the benefits of cooking in your campervan?
Renting a campervan is a cost-effective way to see and do more on a New Zealand road trip. Campervan hire gives you access to low-cost holiday parks, freedom camping and - our personal favourite - a full kitchen to cook meals on the go. Whether it’s sampling the local flavours or keeping your costs down, there are plenty of benefits to cooking in your campervan on a New Zealand road trip, including:
Sample local and fresh produce from farmer’s markets
Travelling with a kitchen on board gives you an incredible opportunity to try the local kiwi flavours without the restaurant price tag.
On your travels, there will be ample opportunities to buy fresh ingredients from the home-grown section at the supermarket, as well as local farms and markets. Take advantage of your kitchen on wheels by grabbing a few items and cooking up a locally inspired dish. Cooking up a meal with local ingredients and flavours will make the meal taste even sweeter.
Keep costs down on the road
Holidays can be the perfect excuse to kick back and enjoy a few meals out. The only problem? Eating out for every meal adds up quickly.
Travelling in a campervan with a kitchen means you can save money by eating in! However, that doesn’t mean you have to get caught in the trap of beans on toast every night of your campervan holiday. There are plenty of delicious camping meals that can be cooked in a campervan.
Top 6 meals to enjoy in your campervan
There are endless options for creating easy meals when camping. These are our top six camping recipes for your upcoming campervan adventure. All recipes have been chosen for their mouthwatering ingredients and simplicity; the perfect addition to
1. Grilled fish with salad
Grilled fish is a simple camping dinner idea and is one of those classic easy meals to cook up in a campervan. As fish is the main ingredient, this would be a perfect addition to a coastal New Zealand road trip. Try heading to the local markets for a fresh catch to level up this simple and tasty dish.
Ingredients:
Choice of fish
1 lemon cut into wedges
Green salad
Bunch of asparagus
Butter
Method:
Step 1: Fire up the BBQ and grill the asparagus
Step 2: Add a generous helping of butter
Step 3: Grill fish until cooked through and golden brown on the edges
Frittata is a no-fuss camping recipe for any time of day. Similar to an omelette, a frittata is an easy dish using fresh veggies and eggs. The perk of cooking a frittata is that it can be served at room temperature. This makes them a perfect campervan dinner idea and snack to store in the fridge for later if you get peckish!
Ingredients:
2 eggs Sliced mushroom
Grated cheese
1 punnet of cherry tomatoes (halved)
Shaved ham
Spinach Cream Sage
Method:
Step 1: Add a dash of cream to eggs and whisk well
Step 2: Spark up the stove and fry sage in butter, then add mushrooms and cook until golden brown
Step 3: Add the egg mixture with the rest of the ingredients in the pan until the egg cooks through
Wraps are another simple campervan recipe that can be enjoyed as a throw-together dinner after a long day adventuring or as a quick roadside lunch. Add a little flair and favour to your wraps with some mouthwatering grilled halloumi!
Ingredients:
Tortillas
Asparagus
Capsicum
Eggplant
Cherry tomatoes
Sliced halloumi
Sliced red onion
Salad greens
Method:
Step 1: Chop generous eggplant slices and do the same for the capsicum
Step 2: Fire up the BBQ and oil
Step 3: Add eggplant, capsicum, and asparagus, and grill until golden brown
Step 4: Do the same with the halloumi slices, option to add a squeeze of lemon
Take a spin on the old classic crumble with some local New Zealand-grown pears. This dish is the perfect combination of tart and sweet and is best enjoyed in the spring when the rhubarb is in season. Pair it with cream or yoghurt to enjoy as a simple breakfast, or add a little ice cream, and you have a simple dessert for a cosy evening in!
Ingredients:
Shaved coconut
Flour Rolled oats
Sliced rhubarb
Sliced pear
Cream
Method:
Step 1: Spark up the stove, add coconut, flour, and rolled oats with a generous serving of butter
Step 2: Stir until golden brown and put aside
Step 3: Add rhubarb and pear to the pan, add a dash of water and sugar
Step 4: Stir until stewed
Step 5: Remove pan and sprinkle crumble on top; serve with cream
Nothing quite beats the feeling of freedom camping in the New Zealand wilderness. Except perhaps waking up to take in the stunning landscape with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a breakfast quesadilla in the other. Simple. Delicious. Easy. Breakfast quesadillas are easily one of our favourite go-to camping recipes for mornings on the road.
Ingredients:
Tortillas Eggs
Refried beans
Corn on the cob
Spinach
Method:
Step 1: Cut corn and separate kernels
Step 2: Spread refried beans on a tortilla
Step 3: Add corn, cheese and spinach Step 4: Place another tortilla on top and gently press
Step 5: Spark up the stove and fry until golden brown
Bircher muesli is the perfect breakfast for travellers with a jam-packed itinerary to see and experience the top New Zealand tourist attractions. These pre-made breakfasts can be made in bulk and stored in the fridge for an easy-to-grab breakfast.
Ingredients:
Fresh apple
Rolled oats
Fresh pear
Greek yoghurt
Plums for serving
Method:
Step 1: Grate pear and apple
Step 2: Add ingredients to the mixing bowl
Step 3: Add a dash of water Step 4: Mix well and place in the fridge overnight
In many ways, cooking in your campervan will be just as simple as cooking at home. There are a few considerations when cooking in these smaller spaces, including:
Use staple ingredients
For fuss-free cooking on the road, try limiting the number of ingredients you use in meals. Try buying staple ingredients (such as rice, pasta and lentils) that can be used for multiple meals. This will help save storage space as well as help keep planning your meals simple. Limited ingredients are also a great way to avoid any unnecessary waste at the end of your campervan trip.
Be mindful of strong-smelling foods
Rule number one of cooking in a compact space - avoid strong-smelling foods. These strong smells are known to linger, so it's best to avoid them where possible. If you are looking to cook up a more pungent meal, ensure the hatches or windows are open and that the range hood fan is on. This will help reduce the odour and ensure the living space smells good for the remainder of your New Zealand road trip.
Keep the space tidy
When travelling in a campervan, you are essentially living in a studio apartment on wheels. These small spaces get cluttered very quickly. An easy way to stay on top of this is to clean up after you’ve finished your meals and before driving anywhere new. A tidy campervan will make the space feel more open and comfortable as you explore some of the best places to visit in New Zealand.
Ready to book your next adventure?
There are plenty of options for easy meals when camping. Not only is this a great way to save money, but it is also a great opportunity to sample the local produce. If you are looking for ways to travel to New Zealand on a budget or add some budget-friendly experiences to your New Zealand itinerary, check out the blog. Ready to park up somewhere beautiful and get cooking? Book your Mighty camper today.
In many ways, cooking in your campervan will be just as simple as cooking at home. There are a few considerations when cooking in these smaller spaces, including: