Clever Cooking in a Motorhome

Smart, Simple & Winter‑Ready

My husband is the main Chef in our kitchen on wheels. I get to play the Sous Chef – which leads me to want to be very clever in the chosen cookware, gadgets and utensils that will make my life easier in terms of prepping and clean up duties. That way, I can leave him to the creative balances with recipes, flavours and spices!

Especially during the winter, when outdoor cooking or BBQ’s may not be possible, there’s something deeply comforting about cooking in a cozy motorhome. The space may be small, the cupboards compact, and the counter space… optimistic at best – but with the right planning and mindset, cooking on the road can be simple, creative, and surprisingly joyful. 

Here’s some of my thinking on fewer tools, fewer dishes, less smell and overall less stress when it comes to preparing and cleaning up!

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Cook Less, Cook Smarter

Motorhome cooking isn’t about recreating a full kitchen. It’s about intentional simplicity.

Think in terms of:

• One‑pot or one‑pan meals
• Ingredients that work across multiple dishes
• Foods that store well in colder weather
• Recipes that don’t linger in the air for days

If a meal takes more time to clean than to cook, it’s probably not motorhome‑friendly.

Clever Gadgets That Earn Their Space

As with my suggestions for “Skincare on the Road” every item in a motorhome needs to justify its existence. Multi‑use is king.

Must‑Have Cooking Gadgets

• Collapsible kettle or silicone cookware – saves cupboard space
• Compact air fryer (if power allows)  – roasts, bakes, reheats with minimal mess
• Hand blender – soups, sauces, and smoothies without transferring food
• Mini slow cooker – great for winter stews while driving

Top Tip! Choose gadgets with smooth surfaces and removable parts. Anything bulky or fiddly will quickly become annoying.

Smart Cookware

Instead of a full set of pots and pans, aim for fewer pieces and more possibilities:

• One deep non‑stick sauté pan – fry, boil, simmer, steam
• One medium saucepan with lid – rice, pasta, sauces
• One oven‑safe dish – doubles as a roasting pan and serving dish

Material Matters

• Non‑stick = less oil, less cleaning
• Lightweight aluminium or ceramic = easier handling
• Avoid cast iron unless you truly love it (it’s heavy and slow to cool)

Utensils That Do the Most

Limit yourself to essentials:

• Silicone spatula
• Wooden spoon
• Tongs
• Small sharp knifes
• Microplane or compact grater
• A pair of kitchen scissors (can often be more useful than another knife)

What more do you need? If you’re brave enough to strip to the bare minimum, you’ll likely find you don’t really miss anything?!

I personally LOVE Victorinox knives, in my “Sous Chef” role, they are hard working essentials – from cutting bread, to tomatoes, to steak… all like butter!

Crockery, Cutlery & Drinkware That Make Sense

Plates & Bowls

• Deep bowls over flat plates (better for one‑pot meals)
• Melamine or bamboo for durability
• Neutral colours hide scratches and stains

Cutlery

• Stainless steel is durable and for me, makes any meal feel more special (you’ll find many travel cutlery recommended for being lightweight and reduces rattling, but I personally enjoy the feel of a solid knife and fork)
• Consider a single shared serving spoon instead of multiple utensils. Less to wash up!

This handy Joseph Joseph cutlery tray fits perfectly in my motorhome kitchen drawer.

Drinkware

• Insulated mugs (keep drinks warm longer in winter)
• Stackable cups or nesting mugs
• Good quality acrylic glasses. As I referenced before, you don’t need to opt for cheap plastic, there are loads of lovely options that won’t break as easily as glass

Pro Tip! Add non‑slip drawer liners and travel foam cup/glass holders, to stop everything sliding and clinking.

Low‑Smell, Low‑Mess Recipe Ideas

Smells linger in small spaces especially in winter when motorhome windows stay closed.

Best Motorhome‑Friendly Meals

• Creamy pasta (mushroom, spinach, lemon)
• One‑pot risotto
• Tray‑bake chicken and root vegetables
• Mild curries with coconut milk
• Lentil or vegetable stews
• Omelettes or frittatas

Smell‑Heavy Foods to Limit

• Deep‑fried food
• Fish (unless very fresh and simply cooked)
• Over‑spiced dishes
• Strong cabbage or broccoli dishes

If you do cook something fragrant, simmer water with lemon peel or cinnamon afterwards, and your favourite scent diffuser will be working overtime too!

Reduce Cleaning (Your Future Self Will Thank You)

Your future self, or sous chef, will thank you!

• Line pans with baking paper or foil where possible
• Cook protein first, then veg in the same pan
• Wipe pans while still warm
• Use one chopping board for everything – ideally with a “juice groove”
• Microfibre cloths dry quickly and take up little space

Storage & Pantry Tips for the Road

Winter allows for easier food storage:

• Root vegetables last longer
• Tins and jars thrive in cool temps
• Vacuum‑sealed portions save space
• Cook a bit extra, to have leftovers. One less meal to cook and clean up 
• Use clear stackable containers so nothing gets forgotten in the back of a cupboard.

The Joy of Cooking on the Road

Cooking in a motorhome isn’t about limitation – it’s about intention. Fewer tools, fewer ingredients, fewer distractions. Just warm food, good planning, and the comfort of eating something homemade wherever you happen to be parked.

In winter especially, the kitchen becomes the heart of the motorhome – a place to warm up, slow down, and enjoy the journey. And on your journey, try and pop in a farm stalls, local butchers or small food stores, to see what local produce in that area might be available. It add to your adventure, may make some ‘go-to’ meals more exciting and will give you future memories of certain places around a meal created in your tiny, cozy kitchen on the road.

Have you got any smart food ideas or easy recipes for cooking in a motorhome? Do share them in the comments section.