One of the biggest questions we get is:
“What do you eat when you’re on the road full-time?”
The answer? Simple, delicious, and budget-friendly meals—made with just a propane grill, a rice cooker, and smart grocery shopping.
We’re a family of four (plus our dog), and we cook almost every meal ourselves to save money, stay healthy, and keep things easy. Here’s how we do it.
🍽️ Our Basic Van Kitchen Setup
We don’t have a fancy kitchen or built-in stove. Here’s what we use:
- ✅ 1 propane grill (portable, quick to clean, works anywhere)
- ✅ 1 small rice cooker (for grains, soups, and steaming veggies)
- ✅ Cooler or fridge (depending on the site/power)
- ✅ Basic kitchen tools (cutting board, knife, pan, foil, tongs)
It’s not much—but it works for us. We’ve learned that you don’t need a lot to make a great meal—just creativity, prep, and a good grocery deal.
🛒 Budget-Friendly Grocery Tips
We shop smart by:
- Hitting local grocery store sales (we love a good clearance sticker!)
- Buying bulk rice, beans, and pasta
- Choosing versatile ingredients (like tortillas, cheese, canned beans)
- Stocking up on frozen veggies and proteins when on sale
We avoid wasting money on one-time ingredients and try to build meals around what’s fresh, cheap, and on sale.
🍳 Go-To Meals We Make on the Road
1. Grilled Chicken + Rice Bowls
- Grill chicken breasts or thighs (marinated in whatever’s on hand—BBQ sauce, soy sauce, lemon & herbs)
- Cook rice in the rice cooker
- Add frozen or fresh veggies
- Top with hot sauce, salsa, or shredded cheese
✅ Total cost: Around $2–3 per serving
2. Breakfast Burritos
- Scramble eggs on the grill or in foil
- Add cheese, leftover rice or potatoes, beans
- Wrap it in a tortilla
- Optional: grill the whole burrito for that crispy finish
✅ Makes a great make-ahead meal and reheats well
3. Grilled Veggie Quesadillas
- Use a pan or foil on the grill
- Stuff tortillas with cheese, onions, peppers, mushrooms, beans
- Serve with salsa or hot sauce
✅ Cheap, quick, and satisfying for the whole fam
4. One-Pot Rice Cooker Meals
- Rice + frozen veggies + canned coconut milk + curry powder = Instant comfort meal
- Add canned chicken, tofu, or scrambled egg for protein
✅ Minimal cleanup and very filling
5. Grill Packets (Foil Meals)
- Combine sliced potatoes, onions, carrots, and any meat or sausage
- Season and wrap in foil
- Throw on the grill for 20–30 mins
✅ Kid-friendly and perfect for cooler nights
🧃 Bonus: Snacks & No-Cook Options We Always Have
- Peanut butter + bananas or apples
- Canned tuna or chicken with crackers
- Trail mix, nuts, granola bars
- Instant oatmeal
- Fresh fruit bought on sale
🚐 Keep It Simple, Keep It Tasty
You don’t need a full kitchen to eat well on the road. With a little prep, some creativity, and basic gear, you can cook meals your family will love—without spending a fortune or stressing over dinner.
Whether we’re parked cliffside or in the woods, cooking together has become one of our favorite vanlife routines. It saves money, brings us together, and makes each stop feel like home.
Follow along for more vanlife recipes, budget food tips, and how we keep eating well while living small.
Happy cooking!
— The Vanlife4Less Fam 🍽️💚
vanlife4less 