When RVers and prospective recreational vehicle owners think about the various RV dealers they have dealt with, they probably aren’t considering them due to their culinary expertise. They may have never tasted a single dish created by any of the RV dealers they’ve had the pleasure to work with. In fact, most RV dealers probably haven’t had a lot of experience in the kitchen in comparison to a lot of the individuals who wander through their lots. It’s funny then, that some of the best RV cooking advice is going to come from the “experts” otherwise known as RV dealers. They might not have the personal experience to rely on when they urge new recreational vehicle owners to look to quick and easy “home” cooked meals on the road, but they have the combined experience of the many, many experienced RVers they’ve worked with.

According to the much-lauded advice that RV dealers have gathered from their veteran RV travelers, slow cookers are a good choice for most who choose the RVing lifestyle. The slow cooker has several benefits. It’s versatile. The slow cooker can be utilized in preparing any type of food from appetizer to dessert and from Italian to Mexican. The slow cooker is also easy. Most slow cooker or crockpot recipes have a short list of ingredients and don’t require a lot of extensive culinary experience.

The slow cooker/crockpot is also quick. This seems ironic considering the name is “slow” cooker, but this refers to the fact that the food being prepared often cooks for hours in the crockpot. The quick nature of the crockpot is actually in the actual time the cook has to be actively involved in the process. For most crockpot recipes, the cook only needs to prepare a short time prepping the ingredients, they go in the crockpot for 4-10 hours depending upon the recipe at hand and the meal is ready to serve when the time is up. This makes it the perfect tool for those who are on the road in their RV and are looking for home cooked meals that won’t keep them from enjoying their vacation as a group without having to leave someone behind to cook.

RVers looking for a good beginner’s crockpot recipe can be assured that there are a multitude of recipes available online as well as in numerous popular cookbooks dedicated to crockpots in almost any bookstore across the nation. For the impatient amongst the group, here’s a tasty recipe that will be a hit amongst almost any crowd.

Crockpot Italian Chicken and Gravy

Ingredients:

2 15-oz. cans Cream of Mushroom soup

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

Chicken breasts

¼ cup sour cream

Your choice of cooked rice, noodles or potatoes

Directions: In the crockpot layer the ingredients as follows: 1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup, ¼ tsp. Italian seasoning, chicken breasts (2-4 depending upon the size), the second can of Cream of Mushroom soup and topped with the last ¼ tsp. Italian seasoning. Cook it in the crockpot or slow cooker on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 6-8 (depending upon YOUR time schedule). Right before serving, add ¼ cup sour cream. Serve over rice, noodles or potatoes.

The slow cooker is one of the most advantageous additions that an RVer can make to their recreational vehicle. It creates the opportunity for more meals prepared in the RV kitchen without decreasing the amount of time spent “out” of the RV. It’s just one more way in which RVers can maximize their enjoyment of the “on the road” lifestyle.