Van life cheap recipes: 3 ingredient, simple, and fast meals for the road

Vanlife cooking doesn't have to be daunting! Cheap, easy, and fast meals are always ready to go in my van because honestly, sometimes I ignore my hungry to to point where I get hangry- then its an immediate count down for food. My Vanlife kitchen tour is also included in here! I prefer to cook inside so no extra eyes are on me, but I love having the choice to cook outside with more room if I choose to. Cooking essentials for vanlife are honestly just the cheap things in the store already: cans, oil, spices, and fresh fruist/vegs - so lucky us! I hope you enjoy these recipes, and if you wan to see more cooking budget videos for the road- let me know!
CAN STRAINER: amzn.to/3gDN68v
COLLASPABLE STRAINER: amzn.to/3rGKMEf
SPICE ORGANIZER: amzn.to/3HEKWBz
Other gear I use from Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/madisonrm...
Recipes:
COOKED CHICKPEAS:
.olive oil
.one can of chickpeas
.1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
.1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
.1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
.1/2 teaspoon of cumin
Instructions-
heat oil on medium heat and put in your chickpeas.
Saute for two minutes before adding spices.
Cook up till 10 mins or until slightly browned.
Turn off heat and enjoy.
MORNING HASH:
. olive oil
. 1/2 cup of sweet potato
. half of an onion
. water
. garlic powder
. one egg (optional)
Instructions-
Heat oil over medium heat.
Peel/dice sweet potatoes and add to pan.
Slice onions and add to pan once potatoes have slightly browned.
Add salt & garlic powder to taste.
Slowly add water and let it cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once water is evaporated, add egg and continue stirring until fully cooked.
turn off heat and allow to sit for a minute or two, plate and enjoy.
Recipes:
COOKED CHICKPEAS:
.olive oil
.one can of chickpeas
.1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
.1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
.1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
.1/2 teaspoon of cumin
Instructions-
heat oil on medium heat and put in your chickpeas.
Saute for two minutes before adding spices.
Cook up till 10 mins or until slightly browned.
Turn off heat and enjoy.
MORNING HASH:
. olive oil
. 1/2 cup of sweet potato
. half of an onion
. water
. garlic powder
. one egg (optional)
Instructions-
Heat oil over medium heat.
Peel/dice sweet potatoes and add to pan.
Slice onions and add to pan once potatoes have slightly browned.
Add salt & garlic powder to taste.
Slowly add water and let it cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once water is evaporated, add egg and continue stirring until fully cooked.
turn off heat and allow to sit for a minute or two, plate and enjoy.
BLACK BEAN TACOS
.oil
.one can of black beans
.onion
.tortillas
.spices of choice
Instructions-
Heat tablespoon of oil on medium heat.
Add black beans and smash 25% of the beans.
Let cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Add sliced onions and seasoning, stirring continuously.
Turn off heat and let cool for a minute or two.
Add bean mix to a tortilla and enjoy (included any condiments you enjoy as well)
Let’s keep in contact💌
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[@debmoore629]

Eggs and sweet potato, perfect sweet and savory!

[@Tony-um2el]

A no cook black bean salad: Black beans {drained and rinsed}, Onion.{chopped}, Shredded cheese, and Zesty Italian dressing, Mix in a bowl and let set for 30 minutes. Wonderful and NO cooking required Can be put in a tortilla shell Add salsa and sour cream to taste.

[@firequeen2194]

Yum 😋

[@user-we2vq7op4p]

Can of drained corn is good to add too. Plus diced red onion yummy!!

[@Living_in_the_silver_lining]

The collapsible strainer was perfection.

[@user-we2vq7op4p]

Love my collapsible strainer. Same colour as yours.

[@davidmurling4252]

A baked sweet potato is awesome with some butter and a little brown sugar

[@mjd2491]

Athena is AWESOME! My late Xena was a Cairn Terrier and she was the best sidekick ever..

[@MyVanlifeChronicles]

I have never washed canned beans, the only time I would wash beans is when you cook them from dry in an instant pot. Nice video.

[@rhylin26]

Onions ARE the best part of a meal. Great video! 👍

[@valerief1231]

Hey there! I like your kitchen set up, and the fact you can sit right there and eat. I know you were in a hurry so this tip might not always apply, but you were 100% right about cooking with a kid covering your pot/pan when you want to soften potatoes, onions, cabbage etc. and just turn your heat down a little. I really liked these basic recipes, that don’t have a bunch of hard to find or pretentious ingredients. One of my favorite dishes is to cut 1/2 a cabbage (when it’s just me) 1/2 an onion, and wash and cut, leaving the skin on, one potato of your choosing although I’ve never tried it with sweet potato 🍠…yet, but now I’m intrigued. Just do your oil on the bottom, warm it on medium heat, add your chopped veggies, S&P, garlic, and whatever other spices strike your fancy, like turmeric, a dash of curry, more pepper, season salt, or Mrs. Dash. Cook covered, only opening to flip the bottom ingredients to the top, and top to the bottom so everything gets a little caramelization. Once your potatoes are tender it’s done. I bet it would be good to swap the garbanzo beans with potatoes, or that could be another dish with the other half a head of cabbage. Happy trails 🌺 Edit…not kid LID, I mean you COULD cook with a kid, but it’s gonna get sweaty!

[@kimdagnillo8246]

Try a small insta pot / pressure cooker , makes delicious rice, sweet potatoes and dried beans too . Cooks fast and infuses flavor , you can sauté in it also, just need a 500 or bigger watt power station to plug into.

[@patsykluting-lucas3804]

I've been a Pescatarian for almost 50 years. As a solo female I'm a terrible cook. So simple meals work best especially camping.

[@kings5223]

Great meal ideas. Thanks for putting the video out you have a real great energy about you.

[@rvrb8673]

Just what I was looking for! Thanks!

[@ilianadiaz8039]

You might want to cook a little extra and put the mix in your cooler, then just heat up in your next meal, it’s quicker.

[@setsailatnoon]

onions, garlic, shallots, and any other alliums are good for your health.

[@ashleyxblanco]

Love these recipes! Going to try the garbanzo beans one, have never made that! Looks yummy

[@SalPane1224]

You cook too ,alright im ready

[@tartanrambo]

These little gas stoves are great for micro-campers. My only niggle, and I see you have the same issue, is flame/heat adjustment. It's just not sensitive enough to cook anything gently. I'm searching for a hack for this. If I find one I'll come back and share!

[@lizf3325]

These WORK!

[@lizf3325]

❤️gas stove diffuser/simmer plate/flame guard.

[@rejn1420]

Yep washing beans is totally stupid. I don’t know who started that idea. Bean water is called aqua fava And people cook with it!

[@krisandbrandyblomquist3364]

It came about because canned beans often had salt added to the water (aquafaba). Many docs and nutritionists recommend rinsing that off to lower the sodium if you need to watch your sodium intake due to hypertension or whatever.

[@rejn1420]

@@krisandbrandyblomquist3364 of course there may be salt added, or you can get beans with no salt or salt, but if there is salt, you can simply not salt when the recipe calls for it and then add salt later. It’s all kind of irrelevant now because it seems like nobody cooks anymore in the US anyway even people like me eat out every day. so it seems it’s only the homeless, me,, and foodies that are still cooking. :-) Especially beans.

[@glennasandhoff245]

Easy recipes - my favorite. Thanks for sharing

[@vleldaddio210]

Love your tude !

[@williamsuttle3645]

Sweet potatoes aren't sweet unless they are baked in the oven- they are great that way, only add butter. Back to your recipe, cook the potatoes first (like you said, with water), once the water cooks off then add onion, then egg. But I know you know that. I really like your rig, I need to do the back of my truck like that.

[@sineadocean6716]

Loved this!

[@lawrencemendez143]

I wonder what a dog did in its previous life to have a vegetarian owner lol. You two are cute!

[@strawberryroad1347]

I like the first meal, I have to get better at using different foods..

[@DavidHuffTexas]

Tried the chickpeas tonight, they were really good - and very simple to make. Thumbs up!

[@TheSapphire21onyx]

❤ love your dog

[@davidemm829]

You are cool, upbeat...🙂 Ty

[@ErinoftheValley]

The goo that is drained from the chickpeas (and other legumes? Have to double check that) is called aquafaba and can be used as vegan egg replacement in some recipes. Sounds odd, but it is really a thing. 🌸🌸🌸

[@firequeen2194]

Yup. Save it!

[@beautifuldreamer3991]

And can be whipped into a cream

[@bahedbanger]

hurray for onions🧅 but no onions or garlic for pup!

[@robinwilson8435]

Dogs can have chickpeas but not if you added onion powder! Add quinoa and some parsley (dry or fresh). Saute foods in water or broth for far fewer calories. Black beans are great with sweet potatoes. Vegans could sub Tofu for the egg in your second recipe, with some turmeric and a little black salt.

[@leecrump1921]

❤❤YOU'RE AWESOME

[@israelbarrett9988]

Love the dog 🤍 the can strainer is kinda cool too.🤓

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Great info

[@nikkipage9132]

My food bill is through the roof, I am taking notes! I live in an apartment. It seems like the options make for expensive eating. I don't even eat meat, but my food bills have been 100 a week!

[@patrickvernon4766]

Thanks

[@madisonraetogo]

You’re welcome!

[@jenniferherrington]

I love your Westie! I had one about 10 years ago and she passed of old age and natural causes. She was so smart, and I miss her so much! Her name was Madeline (Maddie) Mae. I loved her so much!!!

[@madisonraetogo]

ah thats so cute! yes, westies are the best! I miss mine so much

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Everything pretty good bye take Care

[@ancientgypsy8338]

More!!! Videos like this!! 5$or less meals

[@kennethwilson8633]

Sweet potato and eggs are both good for dogs and shouldn’t upset their tummy. Have fun traveling and stay safe.

[@theresedignard4267]

That hash looks good.

[@gabe2045]

Love these videos, good job on it!

[@sunitadwarka347]

I am giving you one suggestion for making rice or maize or semolina or millet cake in the same pan. You take aluminum cann, cut it like ring. Take cheakpeas can ,mean little larger cann , you put maize with spice and herb. Add water to flour. You put aluminum ring in the middle of pan pour the liquid flour with herb. Cover it with cheakpeas cann mean little larger cann. Heat will remain trap ,with steam it will cook, after some time turn it. Use knife 🔪 to remove cake from ring. Use remaining part of pan for grilling other article. With time you will become expert in cooking. Grade carrot ,reddish, round cabbage for adding in flour, each flour have different test. It doesn't rot easily only it dry. You will not loose money. Jay bharat.

[@SimplyCelticVanLife]

Great food ideas for the road. Love it, oh, and Athena is so cute. New subscriber. I recently saw you on other people's videos, I believe I saw in on Trent's channel, where a bunch of you were eating hot peppers, at least I think you were in that video. Well, anyway, stay well and travel on!

[@silindarobertson8366]

Good job

[@MrWiley3]

Awesome sauce 👌🏽

[@TheAdventureCloset]

Washing the beans went out the window for us because it uses up precious water. Still alive, but we should probably stop being lazy and wash our beans even though we hate refilling the water storage. Lol

[@TheAdventureCloset]

Great realistic vanlife meals btw!

[@madisonraetogo]

that makes sense! as long as it dosent kill us, skipping the washing part isn't so bad!

[@ballochmyleband1032]

Hi Madison. Watching from Scotland and enjoying your videos.

[@mytranslucentreflections8995]

Nice! All simple and cheap! I am definitely a meat eater, but I would totally eat and enjoy one of those tacos (more so if I had cheese!) Also, speaking from experience, it's always good to have some kind of canned food like that which will keep pretty much forever and is versatile.

[@ilianadiaz8039]

You might want to sauté onions, red papers, fresh garlic, cilantro. This combination is very taste. Afina cannot eat onions or garlic.

[@cookingforme4711]

I've read onions are very bad for your dog. Maybe not give her any until reading up on it. No onions, no grapes and of course no cooked chicken bones. She's super adorable

[@davidwaterhouse2552]

I definitely would have fried some chopped Onion, Peppers, and perhaps near the end add a little chopped Chestnut mushrooms to make that 'Chickpea dish' a bit more interesting, and maybe a small piece of soda bread or ciabatta? The second dish, I would 'par boil' and (season) the sweet potato for maybe five minutes before frying, again 'chestnut mushrooms' would be a good addition late in the cooking process. Third dish; wash the beans!!!! Or make sure you park next to a toilet! Your channel is GREAT you are Beautiful and so is 'Athena' ! Please can you send a link to those compact spice rack containers? Many thanks dx

[@chainstriike1741]

Nice video

[@contactjoy4140]

Notice that when you sprinkle the seasoning the air blows it into your puppy's face. She's adorable but, too close to your stove and the airblown seasoning. My Chihuahua loves all beans... especially Garbanzos ..... I always offer her the washed beans, straight from the can BEFORE I season them.... She gets first dibs on everything we eat. She's 16 yrs old and just received a perfect bill of health from her Vet! I'm a 74 yr old Nomad and your channel is the BEST!! THANKS, KIDDO!!

[@sandraatcheson5453]

My 15 year old chi mix loves all beans and peas too!

[@tinastheoutsider]

The breakfast meal looks really good, gonna have to try it. Its good to see u cooking with a stove, I watched a couple of ur earlier videos where you were afraid of using a stove. The soft taco looks good too

[@kerryparry3818]

Thank you for making this video. I am always looking for something easy to make, especially with beans or legumes. I'd really love some more cooking videos, take care and stay safe, from Western Australian 🙂

[@ritawilliams3788]

You need to cut the sweet potatoes and small chunks very small and they will cook faster it was just too big

[@strawberryroad1347]

I think the washing part is mostly crucial when eating them raw..

[@ellentracy13]

I agree onions are superior

[@madisonraetogo]

🤝 literally I could live off of them

[@cindysmithlucinda6369]

Beans and rice is a complete protein fyi

[@DavidHuffTexas]

Or the Native American take on the same: Corn and Beans, esp. nixtamalized* corn which increases bioavailability of niacin, and increased calcium intake (because of absorption of calcium during the nixtamalization process). *Think hominy, and the corn used to make corn tortillas.

[@Missprettyladi]

Omg i hate potatos that are not soft and cook through 😂 ugh this morning i was on my moms case about making sure she cooked the potatoes until their soft and she called me a back seat cooker lol . 🤣 Great video 💯

[@beautifuldreamer3991]

Genuine swiss muesli....the real muesli...which was actually invented in Switzerland. Just about any kind of fruit will do...but this is the very basic recipe you can add whatever you like......no actual measurements required...but here is a basic... 2 apples cred and grated....or finely chopped.1 cup raw oats.1 canfruit cocktail with juice. Half cup chopped nuts....the usual is walnuts,but I've used shelled sunflower seeds too....2 bananas chopped. 2 cups of different flavored yogurts. Mix together and add milk to thin it out....make it as thick or thin as you wish...dried fruits are good too

[@theremnants73]

You should cut the potatoes smaller to cook it faster

[@robinwilson8435]

You could also add tofu scramble.

[@larryhunter8245]

Onions and garlic! Washing beans makes them less gassy. Cute video.

[@mariagilmour2549]

You don’t have to wash canned beans. Dry beans, yes. Mainly to remove any dirtiness.

[@Jewelsquiss]

👍😊

[@sunitadwarka347]

I am sending you some link, You purchase corn flour, mix cheakpeas, onion and pepper. Make burger type recipe. You can eat whole day or next day with curd or mustered sauce mixed with honey. Jay bharat.

[@madisonraetogo]

Huh

[@Kimberley_Black_White_TV]

I agree that onions are the best part of any dish! Without onion, it just lacks..... well, ONION flavor!

[@mimitravels710]

And garlic. Don’t forget the garlic!

[@davidemm829]

A year ago, I know. Do you travel ? What areas do you enjoy or have enjoyed ? Do you think ppl are nicer or not so nice in dif regions ? I see palms so must be Fl...m guessing. Did you know there are a hundred dif palm trees ? I could be full of it..I'm not 🙂 you in a Caravan ? Not that it matters...questions cause you seem interesting..

[@qigongkylar944]

What state do you vanlife in? I'm thinking of Cali if it's still doable. Hear they are cracking down

[@offairhead]

8:50 😂😂 you don’t have to wash canned beans, only dried beans. Lol!!

[@OffGridAdventure]

This was so much fun to watch. You went all out with meals. Mind if I ask what kind of camera you’re using? Your video quality is clean.

[@cindiford3777]

Try adding a pineapple chunks to the sweet potato and onion with some brown sugar and butter or oil of your choice. It is very tasty.

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Madison I have to go now please do it hurry

[@andymccoid6297]

damn you are my soulmate

[@offairhead]

10:35 i still live in sticks and bricks and I have a 10 year old still at home. I spend between $25-$50 a week on groceries to feed the two of us and she does not get meals at school, everything we eat comes from our grocery budget. Could you do $25 a week with just one person?

[@sunitadwarka347]

I will request you to visit Indian grocery shop, purchase stainless steel pot,it won't break. Purchase pressure cooker, appe stand. First visit. Visit grain section. Jay bharat.

[@sunitadwarka347]

People don't like to use too many pot, because of washing issue. So use empty cann or wrapper of 🍟 chip, don't throw it ,use it for mixing ingredients. Throw after use. You will not have too many pot to clean. Cut ✂️ it a d use at base of grading vegetables. Jay bharat.

[@Droppedonmyhead1]

Enjoyed your video very much. Might want to try not cooking your food so fast. Sometimes the lower flame and a little longer cooking works out better. Good luck to you!!

[@user-fc7im5vf9z]

I dont like onions except for onion rings. I also use onion powder and onion flakes in cooking. I dont like anything spicy. I dont like peppers or sausage or pepperoni. Im not a vegetarian but i like most fruits and veggys and legumes or beans and nuts

[@madisonraetogo]

Good to know!

[@LVT2314]

Or dice tiny to cook

[@funnyfoodreviews]

why does she look like mandy moore

[@LVT2314]

Cut sweet pities in long thin ribbons cooks faster

[@user-eo6bk9sg5y]

I like to have roasted honey chickpeas

[@madisonraetogo]

Me tooo

[@yarnsalot]

Your worried about outside noises, but yet you have music play while you are talking!

[@patriciasmith4464]

I don't wash my canned beans

[@allana8253]

Did your dog eat black beans? Looks like you edited the video 10:20

[@joyce3435]

Dogs are not supposed to eat any types of onions so be careful!

[@shoshana5357]

You were worried about dogs eating garbanzo beans which are fine but onion and garlic are super bad for them and you put that in everything you made, so I hope you give your cute doggo her own stuff without that.

[@flon57]

Cut in smaller pieces, 🥕🥔, hard veggies, takes too long to cook

[@SunuFitrawan]

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[@geedman]

hello mandy moore, i missin you like candy 😘

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Hi

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Thank but I can't teste

[@user-we2vq7op4p]

You shouldn't feed onions to dogs. Among other things chocolate etc. You can google the list of what not to feed a dog.

[@madisonraetogo]

Clearly someone didn’t watch the full video 🤡