Make it easier to feed your family vacation meals while staying in a rental house, hotel, or Airbnb with these easy ideas. Find options for no-cook meals, assembly-only dishes, and seriously easy options for each meal of the day.
Vacation Meals
The past few years, every time I’ve traveled with my kids, we’ve stayed in a rental house. I prefer this since we have more space (and better sleep!) and we can save on eating in restaurants by shopping for groceries and eating at the house.
It can often feel overwhelming to plan meals when away from home though, especially when there are kids involved, so these easy vacation meals are here to help.
Each of these ideas uses minimal ingredients, is made with ingredients that are easy to find in any grocery store, and can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
My goal is to help you save a little money on food while traveling, but also avoid making too much work for yourself—it’s your vacation, too, after all!
(You may also like Easy Road Trip Snacks, toddler snacks to take on the go, toddler travel toys, and my favorite Beach Snacks.)
No-Cook (or Low-Cook) Vacation Meals
I like to plan a majority of meals to have minimal cooking, so I usually start with these simple ideas:
- Scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit
- Yogurt and granola
- Cereal and fruit
- Sandwiches
- Burgers and hot dogs and buns
- Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets to quickly cook in the oven
- Boxed mac and cheese
- Buttered noodles
- Hummus, pita bread, and thinly sliced raw vegetables
- Sides such as salad kits, fruit salad, corn on the cob
Vacation Breakfasts
If you’re looking for easy vacation breakfast ideas, these recipes are some of our favorite options.
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
In just a few short minutes, you can stir together nutritious pancakes for kids and cook them on the stovetop, on a griddle, or in the oven as a sheet pan pancake. A perfect vacation meal! Add sausage, bacon, ham, or any other side your family likes.
With a seriously fluffy texture, an easy one-bowl method, and the option to make them on the stove top or baked in the oven, these Chocolate Chip Pancakes are a favorite breakfast to share with the kids.
Favorite Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Strawberry Overnight Oats
Make it easy to feed yourself and the kids a healthy breakfast, no matter how busy you are, with this simple make-ahead Strawberry Overnight Oats recipe. You can make this in a big container the vacation rental likely has in the kitchen.
This recipe makes enough for one adult or for one adult and one small child serving. It’s easy to double, so make more as needed!
Favorite Strawberry Overnight Oats
Oatmeal with Fruit
Learn how to cook oatmeal with ANY fruit you have on hand, whether fresh, dried, frozen, or canned. Plus: This recipe is so easy to make and reheat for easy breakfasts, which is a perfect way to ensure you never waste any leftovers you may have.
The base recipe makes a large amount so you can use it throughout the week. Feel free to cut it in half to make less, or just make one serving at a time using the instructions in the NOTES section below.
How to Make Oatmeal with Fruit
Breakfast Burritos
These easy burritos are so straightforward to make and are one of my favorite family breakfast options. They’re easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and are great fuel for a day of exploring and play. Add fruit or avocado on the side and use any type of tortillas you like.
With just 4 simple ingredients, these easy Breakfast Burritos can be made ahead and reheated, or made in minutes and served right away. They’re a protein-packed breakfast to share with the kids.
Easy Breakfast Burritos
Vacation Lunches
Try these easy vacation meals for lunch packed for on the go in a kids lunch box or to enjoy at the vacation house or hotel.
Turkey Wrap
You can serve this wrap cut in half or cut into spirals, depending on what you think your kids might like. And this totally works as an adult meal, too, so be sure to make one for yourself!
Roll up a few simple ingredients to make this delicious Turkey Wrap recipe in minutes. It’s a great lunch wrap for home or school, and you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit the preferences of your child. This makes one wrap, so scale up as desired.
Easy Turkey Wrap Recipe
Hummus Wrap
Roll up just a few ingredients for satisfying (and really versatile) Vegetarian Hummus Wraps. This no-cook meal is an easy lunch and you can make it in less than 5 minutes!
Quickly combine a few simple ingredients to make a really yummy lunch wrap. This recipe makes one wrap, so increase the serving size as necessary.
Easy Hummus Wrap (to Share with the Kids)
Pizza Lunchable
I love how putting a few basic ingredients into a bento box instantly turns into a fun lunch for the kids. And that this is both less expensive than store bought and much easier to customize for allergies and preferences.
Have more fun with lunch with this super quick and easy Pizza Lunchable idea. It’s one of our favorite copycat recipes that makes it less expensive to recreate Lunchables at home…that you can even customize!
DIY Pizza Lunchables
Banana Sushi
This easy wrap for kids is a little unexpected, but is a seriously great way to use up pantry staples that you might have on hand. There’s nothing fussy about this idea, and it can work as a lunch, dinner, or even as a hearty snack.
Banana Sushi is a seriously fun and fast lunch for kids—that’s filling too! Plus: You only need three nutritious ingredients to make this lunch.
Banana Sushi (3-Ingredient Kids Lunch)
Vacation Snacks
I usually pick up granola bars, cheese sticks, a lot of fresh fruit, popsicles, and crackers at the store to be part of our vacation meals. And then add in simple snack options like these.
Fruit Sticks
My not-so-secret way to serve up all of the fruit that my kids have been ignoring in the fridge. Seriously, this instantly makes fruit more fun, uses up lingering fruit, and simply makes snack time more engaging.
Call them fruit sticks, fruit wands, or fruit skewers, these are a perfect way to serve up a mix of fruit. You can make as few or as many as you like—adjust the quantity of fruit as needed.
Favorite Fruit Sticks
Yogurt Dip
Fruit is delicious on its own, but it can be even more flavorful and filling when you pair it with a dip. This one, which is made with just three simple ingredients, is a favorite because it’s easy to make and pairs well with a range of fruits.
You can stir together this 3-ingredient Yogurt Dip for fruit in about a minute, then serve up a fruit plate with extra flavor. Try this with any fruit the kids like, or even with graham crackers, toast sticks, or cut up waffles.
Favorite Yogurt Dip for Fruit
Fruit Salsa
Serve up fresh fruit in a fun new form with this easy Fruit Salsa recipe. It’s great with fish tacos or chips and is a perfect way to introduce littles to salsa.
You can vary the berries in this recipe by subbing in blueberries for the strawberries if desired. And change the color of tomato if that matters to your kids.
Easy Fruit Salsa
Vacation Dinners
Try these simple vacation meals for dinner when you want something homemade and satisfying but still easy.
Zucchini Burgers
Here’s a new take on burger night—add some veggies and cheese right into the mix for extra flavor, nutrition, and easy eating.
Stretch your ground beef and add a veggie right into moist burger patties with this simple family dinner recipe.
Easy Zucchini Burgers
Best Pasta Salad
This method is my go-to for always nailing the flavor, moisture, and texture elements of an ideal pasta salad.
With one simple method, you can make the best pasta salad ever using your family’s favorite ingredients and dressing. This is infinitely flexible, it stores well so you can make it ahead, and it’s great cold or at room temperature. (See the Notes for variations!)
Best Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
Pesto Pasta Salad
Made with just a few simple ingredients, this fresh and flavorful Pesto Pasta Salad is a quick and easy family meal you’ll be able to pull together even on those nights you don’t really feel like cooking.
Snack Dinner
The next time you just cannot summon the energy to cook a meal…Snack Dinner to the rescue! I love this easy concept because it’s so easy to make one big platter for the whole family to share, or individual plates for each kiddo.
You can do a big family-style platter or individual ones for the kids depending on your preference. Add anything else that sounds appealing and know that the nutrition info will vary according to what you use.
Easy Snack Dinner (to Share with the Kids!)
Chicken in Tomato Sauce
This is an easy way to make chicken for kids since you pop it into the pan and it’s hands-off from there. And it’s super tender, so it’s easy for babies and toddlers to chew.
This is the absolute easiest way to cook flavorful chicken—it simply poaches right in the marinara sauce. This Chicken in Tomato Sauce is perfect with pasta or with a side of Italian bread and is a great easy family meal.
Easy Chicken in Tomato Sauce (with Pasta)
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
It’s such an easy method and you need only two ingredients!
With just two ingredients, you can cook up deliciously moist and tender Instant Pot BBQ Chicken to use over noodles or rice or in sandwiches. So easy—and ready in about 20 minutes!
Easiest Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Vacation Desserts
We often go out for ice cream on vacation, but for those times that we want to stay in (and maybe get some sleep!), these are my favorite vacation desserts.
Ice Box Cake
Quick, easy, and no baking required? Yes, please! This easy Ice Box Cake is a delicious dessert to share with the kids—and it’s so darn simple to make.
With just graham crackers and pudding, you can make the most delicious Ice Box Cake—no cooking or baking required. It’s a deliciously easy dessert to make and share with the kids.
3-Ingredient Ice Box Cake
Ice Pops
They take about 10 minutes to prepare and are so versatile that you can make them with almost any fruit you have. Win!
These Ice Pops take about 10 minutes to make and are so versatile that you can make them with almost any fruit you have. Use apple juice or coconut milk (for a little creaminess) if desired. I used the plastic ice pop sleeves and made 3. Smaller popsicle molds may result in more.
Whole Fruit Ice Pops
Chocolate Mousse
This might be my favorite fast dessert ever, especially because I can make it whenever the urge strikes and enjoy it minutes later.
With just a few pantry staples, you can make the creamiest, most luxe vegan Chocolate Mousse to share with the kids …o r to just enjoy yourself. This takes minutes to make and is downright dreamy.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
Best Tips for Success
- Keep your food plan simple. Vacation is just a short period of time, and it’s okay if meals are different than they are at home.
- Try local seafood if you are staying in a place with that option.
- Go for takeout if that simplifies your life even more.
- Try to keep to somewhat of a regular meal schedule so the kids know what to expect.
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