5 RV Cookout Tips for the Perfect Summer at the Campground
One of my favorite ways to connect as a family and with our RV friends? RV cookouts. I love cookouts any time of year, but summer is especially the perfect season for them, so the idea of having a cookout has been on my mind for a while now.
Having been in our RV for quite some time, I’ve now planned my fair share of RV cookouts. This means I’ve picked up a lot of tricks along the way.
In this article, I will share my favorite RV cookout tips and tricks with you so your next cookout will go off without a hitch.
1. Plan Your Menu Around Simplicity and Space
Space is also most always the biggest challenge of RV life. RV cookouts are not an exception to this rule. Prep space is at a premium, as is fridge space, meaning you have to plan carefully to ensure you can feed everyone while keeping everything as contained as possible. The good news is that some of the best cookout food happens to be the simplest to prepare.
Try the following RV cookout tips to make things as easy as possible:
- Opt for versatile, easy-to-grill foods like burgers, sausages, kebabs, and marinated chicken breasts.
- Pre-chopped vegetables, pre-cooked rice packets, and foil-wrapped potatoes make great sides without taking up much counter space.
- Don’t forget vegetarian options such as grilled portobello mushrooms or corn on the cob. They’re crowd pleasers and easy to prep ahead.
- Try a “theme night” like taco bowls, barbecue sliders, or foil-packet dinners. Planning around a single cooking method or flavor profile simplifies everything from shopping to cleanup.
2. Bring the Right RV Cookout Gear
Having the right setup makes all the difference. In our case this is fairly minimal, but there are some essentials for an RV cookout you really can’t go without. Here’s what I suggest:
- Portable grill or griddle: Propane or charcoal models are both great, but check local fire restrictions before you light up. A compact model is ideal since storage space is always at a premium.
- Cooking utensils: Long-handled tongs, spatulas, and a basting brush are all good to have on hand.
- Collapsible prep table: I love our portable folding table. It gives us extra workspace and folds down to fit in a storage bay when we move.
- Cooler with ice packs: I don’t always break out the cooler, but it can be nice to have if we’ll be spending a lot of time outside. This allows us to have cold drinks without opening and closing the RV fridge throughout the cookout.
3. Practice Smart Food Safety
Nothing ruins a trip faster than a foodborne illness. For this reason, I take food safety seriously. Outdoor cooking makes food safety a little trickier, but it’s very manageable with a few simple habits. A little prep before you even fire up the grill goes a long way.
Here are my top tips:
- Keep raw meats in sealed containers and chilled until right before they hit the grill.
- Use separate utensils and plates for raw and cooked foods to avoid cross contamination.
- Always have a food thermometer handy. Burgers should reach 160°F, chicken 165°F, and fish 145°F.
- After the meal, refrigerate leftovers within two hours or sooner if outdoor temperatures are above 90°F, which is pretty common on a summer camping trip.
4. Make Cleanup Quick and Easy
Nobody likes cleaning up after a big meal. Fortunately, I find that cookout cleanup is actually relatively simple, especially when I use the tricks below:
- Line your grill with foil so you don’t have to break out the grill brush after cooking.
- Serve foods directly in storage containers so nothing has to be transferred for later.
- Use disposable plates and utensils to reduce the number of dishes you have to wash.
- Dispose of grease properly by letting it cool and then sealing it in a container before tossing it in the trash. We often save used glass jars from store bought jams and pasta sauces just for this purpose.
- Always follow campground rules for waste disposal and leave no trace of your meal behind.
5. Set the Mood
Food is the star, but the atmosphere makes an RV cookout memorable. A few easy touches go a long way:
I like to hang battery-operated string lights and set up some lanterns for a warm glow after the sun goes down. We also keep plenty of folding chairs on hand and set them out for guests to use. A portable Bluetooth speaker allows us to play music in the background, and building a campfire adds a fun touch. These little details are what guests remember long after the meal is over.
A great RV cookout doesn’t require a big setup. A little planning and the right RV cookout tips in your back pocket is the perfect way to enhance your camping adventures. Use these tips and you’re sure to have a wonderful time grilling out and hanging out with friends and family!
About the Author: Chelsea Gonzales
Chelsea Gonzales is a full-time RVer and freelance writer with over six years of experience living and traveling on the road. Having visited more than 25 states, she writes from real experience, bringing practical, firsthand insight to every topic she covers. Chelsea is a recognized voice in the RV lifestyle space, known for turning on-the-road knowledge into content that actually helps fellow RVers make the most of their adventures.