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RV Cooking Outdoors: Keep the Heat and Smell Out of the Rig

Why cooking outside the camper is better, and how to set up an outdoor kitchen at an RV site.

Cooking inside an RV heats it up, fills it with smells and coats surfaces with grease. Cooking outside keeps your rig clean and cool, and it's more fun.

Outdoor kitchen layout

• A folding table near the RV door
• Your grill on a stable, non-combustible surface away from the rig and awning
• A cooler or use of the fridge for cold storage
• A wash tub

Grill choice for RVers

Storage is precious. A flat-pack grill like the Slot Grill Compact or Full Size takes very little space and sets up in under a minute.

Portable camping grill

Love camping? Check out the Slot Grill Compact.

12-gauge carbon steel, about 14 lb, a 16.25" × 9" cooking area for one to three campers, and it packs down to roughly an inch thick for a trunk, kayak, RV or camp box. Made in Texas, free shipping in the lower 48.

Shop the Compact

Safety

• Never grill under an awning or slide-out.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Keep the grill well away from propane connections.
• Never use charcoal inside the RV or a screen room.

Menu ideas

Burgers, fajitas, grilled fish and pancakes on a griddle.

Why outdoor cooking is better for RVers

RV kitchens are small, and every meal cooked inside leaves behind heat, humidity and smell. In summer, a stovetop meal can push the interior temperature up enough to keep the air conditioner running for hours. Frying fills the rig with grease that settles on cabinets and fabric. Cooking outside avoids all of it, and you get to enjoy the campground instead of staring at a microwave.

Building an outdoor RV kitchen kit

Keep a dedicated bin in an exterior storage bay so outdoor cooking never means digging through the rig:

• Flat-pack grill and a lidded bucket of charcoal
• Chimney starter or starter cubes, lighter, matches
• Folding table and a cutting board
• Tongs, spatula, heat-resistant gloves, instant-read thermometer
• Cast iron skillet or a griddle plate
• Paper towels, trash bags and a small dish tub
• A battery lantern or headlamp hook
• Fire extinguisher (in addition to the one inside the rig)

Done means done

No guessing in the dark

The Slot Grill Instant-Read Digital Meat Thermometer reads in about 3 seconds, has a backlit display for night cooks and a fold-away probe. Or grab it bundled with Seasoning Balm.

Thermometer · $19.97

Where to place the grill at a typical site

Most RV sites have a parking pad, a picnic table, and a fire ring or pedestal grill. Your grill should go:

• On a level, non-combustible surface such as the concrete pad, gravel or a fire-safe mat
• Well clear of the RV body, slide-outs and awning, with extra space on the windward side
• Away from propane tanks, regulators and hoses
• Downwind of where people sit and of open windows and vents

If the site has a picnic table, check campground rules and the table material before setting a grill on it. The Slot Grill's raised design leaves an air gap under the coal bed that helps minimize radiant heat to the surface below, but a non-combustible surface is still the right call.

The awning rule

Never cook under an awning, even on a rainy day. Awning fabric can melt or ignite from rising heat and sparks, and smoke trapped under it drifts straight into the rig. If you want rain cover, rig a separate tarp high above and off to the side of the grill, with plenty of open air around it.

Carbon monoxide awareness

Charcoal produces carbon monoxide. It must never be used inside the RV, inside a screen room or tent, or in an enclosed garage area of a toy hauler. Make sure your rig's CO detector works and has fresh batteries. Keep the grill far enough from open windows and vents that smoke and fumes do not drift inside.

RV-friendly menus

Quick weeknight-style dinners

• Smash burgers on a griddle plate
• Sausages with peppers and onions
• Grilled shrimp skewers with rice

Weekend feasts

• Reverse-seared thick steaks with grilled potatoes
• Bone-in chicken thighs with corn
• Fajitas for a crowd

Breakfast outside

• Pancakes and bacon on the griddle
• Breakfast tacos with eggs and potatoes
• Grilled toast with jam and coffee

Cleaning without wasting tank space

Grey tanks fill fast. Scrape plates into the trash before washing, use a dish tub outside, and wipe greasy pans with paper towels before they ever see water. Dispose of grey water as the campground directs. A carbon steel grill should be scraped warm and wiped, not washed with lots of water.

Storage on the road

A flat-pack grill earns its place in an RV because it is thin. The Compact packs to about an inch thick and the Full Size to about an inch and a quarter, so either slides behind a bin or along the wall of a storage bay. Let the grill cool completely and wipe it dry before packing it, and store charcoal in a sealed container so road vibration does not create a bay full of black dust.

Etiquette at busy RV parks

• Keep smoke to a minimum: light charcoal fully before cooking and avoid wet wood.
• Cook at reasonable hours.
• Never leave a grill burning unattended while you head to the pool.
• Drown and cool coals before bed.

Why cook outside the RV

Cooking outside keeps heat, grease and odors out of your living space, saves propane and gives you more space.

Setting up an outdoor kitchen

• Folding table
• Grill on a stable surface
• Cooler or outdoor fridge
• Wash station
• Lighting

Grill placement

Keep the grill away from the RV, awning and slides. Place it on stable ground, upwind of your door.

RV-friendly meals

• Grilled steaks, chicken and fish
• Griddle breakfasts
• Foil packs
• Skewers

Storage

A flat-pack grill fits easily in RV storage bays.

Cleaning up

Wipe the grill while warm. Use a wash station to keep dishes out of the RV sink.

Gray water

Dump dishwater properly, following campground rules.

Safety

Never use a charcoal grill inside an RV or under the awning. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

A sample RV weekend menu

• Friday arrival: pre-marinated chicken thighs and grilled corn, because setup takes energy.
• Saturday breakfast: griddle pancakes and bacon outside, keeping grease out of the coach.
• Saturday lunch: sandwiches inside, with leftover chicken.
• Saturday dinner: steaks, foil-pack potatoes and a salad.
• Sunday breakfast: a skillet hash using leftover potatoes and steak.

Saving propane and power

Cooking over charcoal outside saves the RV's propane for heating, the fridge and hot water. It also avoids running the vent fan and air conditioner hard to clear heat and smoke from a small interior. On hookup sites, it keeps the coach cooler on hot afternoons.

Campground rules for RV cooking

Many campgrounds allow charcoal grills on the site pad but may restrict them during burn bans or prohibit them in certain areas. Ask at check-in and follow posted rules. Some RV parks ask that cooking stay on the concrete pad, never on grass.

Keeping the RV clean

• Prep raw meat outside on a folding table.
• Use a wash bin outdoors rather than the coach sink for greasy pans.
• Wipe the grill outside and store it in a bag or bin before it goes in a storage bay.
• Keep a separate towel for outdoor cooking.

Storing the grill on the road

A flat-pack grill stacks under a mattress or slides into a basement bay without rattling. Wrap it in an old towel or store it in a bag to keep soot off other gear, and make sure it's cool and dry before packing.

Cooking at rest stops and boondocking

When you boondock on public land where fires and charcoal are allowed, a raised grill keeps coals contained and off the ground. Check local fire rules first, especially in dry western areas.

Outdoor cooking gear list for RVers

Grill, griddle, charcoal, chimney starter, gloves, thermometer, tongs, spatula, foil, a folding table and a wash bin.

Cooking for neighbors at the RV park

RV parks are social places, and the smell of something good on the grill tends to bring people over. A Full Size grill makes it easy to cook extra and share with neighbors, which is one of the best ways to meet fellow travelers. Bring extra plates and forks, and plan a potluck night if you're staying for a while.

Rainy-day RV cooking

When rain sets in, keep the grill out in the open, never under the awning, and cook quick meals like smash burgers or quesadillas on the griddle. Wear a rain jacket and keep a towel by the door. If storms bring lightning, wait them out inside and switch to a no-cook meal.

A final note

Pack a spare lighter too.

Questions campers ask

Should I cook inside or outside my RV?

Outside keeps the rig cooler and cleaner.

Where should I put a grill at an RV site?

On a stable, non-combustible surface away from the RV, awning and propane connections.

Can I use charcoal in a screen room?

No. Charcoal must be used in open air.

Camp griddle

Pancakes, eggs and smash burgers at camp

The Slot Grill Griddle (Plancha) add-on is built from the same thick carbon steel, comes in half or full griddle configurations, and flat-stacks with your Slot Grill. Grill not included.

See the griddle add-on

Compact · $89.97 $99.97
About 14 lb, 146 sq in, 1 to 3 people, packs about 1" thick.Full Size · $149.97 $159.97
About 27.6 lb, 231 sq in, family-size, packs about 1.25" thick.