One of the cool things about traveling is the opportunity to try new foods. Adding a new flavor to your family mealtime can be really fun! But let’s face it: meal planning when you’re traveling takes a lot of work. There will be some nights when you just want to put in the bare minimum. And that’s ok. Here are some easy travel meal ideas that you’ll want to keep on hand for nights when…you just can’t.
Easy travel breakfast meals…for dinner!
Breakfast for dinner is always a treat. It’s also usually a pretty simple and healthy option. If you normally keep fruits on hand, this makes for an easy travel meal.
“We’ve been eating a lot of breakfast foods! Pancakes with added protein powder served with yogurt, peanut butter, eggs, bread, and oatmeal. We also typically do scrambled eggs, omelets, French toast, and eggs in a basket. I travel with whole milk powder and protein powder,” says veteran traveling mom, Ksenia Gainey.
Try:
- 5-ingredient Peanut Butter Balls
- Overnight oats and chia pudding
- Kid-friendly yogurt parfait
- Eggs in a blanket
We typically do scrambled eggs, omelets, French toast, and eggs in a basket. I travel with whole milk powder and protein powder.”
Ksenia Gainey, traveling mom
Pre-cooked chicken FTW
Pre-cooked chicken is so versatile, which is what makes it an easy travel go-to. You can use it for just about any chicken recipe; plus you can find it in most grocery stores.
“We buy a pre-cooked chicken. You can cut it up and use it as sandwich meat or put it in wraps. You can shred it for burritos. You can also add soya sauce, chopped red peppers, and green onions for chicken lettuce wraps. Or, just use it in a stir-fry. It’s so versatile!” says Becky Lomas, a worldschooling mom.
Try:
- Chicken burritos
- Chicken enchiladas
- 4-ingredient pasta dinner
- Chicken salad sandwich
- Curry chicken salad
- Chicken and rice
- Chicken stir-fry
Noodles galore!
Noodles are also a regular staple at most grocery stores and, like pre-cooked chicken, this is a super versatile ingredient that makes easy travel meals.
“I can usually find [noodles] anywhere and add some veggies and some sauces easily,” says Cheandre Damerell, mom of two littles.
Try:
- Ramen noodle packs and add your own ingredients, like vegetables or tofu
- 15-minute garlic noodles
- simple stir-fry
- One pot creamy noodles
- Classic butter noodles
Snack boards make for fun easy travel meals
There’s nothing wrong with hobbling together various snacks and calling it a meal, especially when it’s a travel day! And making a nice snack board — instead of putting out random snack containers on the table — can help make this easy travel meal feel like a fun treat.
Try:
- Baguette with jelly or croissant with Nutella
- Cheese and sandwich meat
- Nuts
- Crackers
- Fruit
- Veggie sticks and dip
Beans and rice
You really can’t go wrong with these ingredients. They make for a fantastic easy travel meal — super easy and there are plenty of variations to try!
Try:
- Bean and cheese tacos
- Black beans and rice
- One-pot Spanish rice and beans
- Rice and bean burrito
- One-pot cajun rice with beans and sausage
Bonus: easy travel meal hack
If you’re going to be staying in one spot for a while, you’ll probably want to learn how the locals cook. Learning early in your trip can help you meal plan, too.
“If I’m going to be somewhere for a while, I make it a point to take a cooking class early on in the trip to learn a few basic dishes that use local ingredients,” says world-traveling mom Jillian Beckham.
A local cooking class will teach you where to source the best ingredients and how to throw together a simple local meal. Plus, it can be very educational and fun for the kids too!