Van Life Kitchen Essentials Checklist: Space Saving RV Accessories & Must-Haves

Van Life Kitchen Essentials Checklist: Space Saving RV Accessories & Must-Haves

When it comes to Van Life Kitchen Essentials, space and functionality are everything. Whether you’re just starting out or upgrading your campervan, the right RV kitchen accessories and space-saving gadgets can make a big difference in daily life—even if, like us, you don’t actually cook.

We’ve never really used the built-in stovetop in our van (other than testing it when we bought it!). Instead, we rely on the microwave, quick-grab snacks, and the occasional backup gadget like a toaster oven, crockpot, or portable pizza oven. Since we’re foodies who love eating out and exploring local restaurants, our kitchen setup is more about convenience, storage, and heating than cooking big meals.

In this guide, I’m sharing my Van Life Kitchen Essentials Checklist—a real-life list of the items we actually use (plus a few “just in case” extras). From compact dinnerware and collapsible dish racks to snacks, condiments, and organizational must-haves, this is what we keep in our RV kitchen to stay organized, well-fed, and road-ready—without spending hours behind a stove.

My Van Life Must-Have RV Kitchen Essentials, Accessories & Upgrades

If you didn’t know, we actually have two RVs:

🚐 Our RV van — a 2012–2013 Pleasure Way Excel TS (Ford chassis) that we travel in.
🏡 Our travel trailer — parked full-time in an RV park and used as a stationary home when living at the RV Park.

We live van life with 5 dogs and 1 cat, and over the years (this is actually our third van), we’ve tested and customized tons of setups. It’s taken more than a year of adventures, trial and error, and plenty of upgrades to figure out what actually works for us—especially since we work remotely on the road in addition to traveling.

👉 Take a tour of my RV van and see all the items mentioned below here ⬇️

Why I Made This RV Van Kitchen Essentials Checklist

This is an exact list of everything we keep in our RV van kitchen—from must-have essentials and handy accessories to optional upgrades.

I created it for a few reasons:

I’m always asked: “What do you put in your RV kitchen?” or “How do you eat (much less cook) in such a small space?”
It doubles as a backup inventory list for RV insurance claims (you’ll need itemized proof if something is lost or damaged).
It helps me (and hopefully you!) stay organized by having a written record.

💡 Pro Tip: It’s smart to also take photos and videos of your personal belongings and keep receipts for everything you buy for your RV.

Cooking & Prep Essentials (for Non-Cooks Too!)

Knife Cutting Set (3) x Table & Thyme (Picked up at Walmart)
Scissors
Matches, Lighters Regular & Long BBQ Lighters
Aluminum Foil
Stove top to cook on with the propane (which we will probably never use — it stays covered up with a countertop oven cover we used in our other RV)
Toaster oven and pizza oven just in case!

Utensils & Dinnerware for Van Life

Silverware Set (picked up from Walmart as soon as we got the van)
Silverware Organizer (slim — picked up at Walmart)
Plastic Silverware, plates and cups
Plates & Bowl Set of 2
Cups Regular Drinking
Coffee/Tee Cups
Wine Glasses (Stemless)
Reusable stainless steel mug
Thermos for coffee
Straws

RV Kitchen Storage & Cleanup Supplies

Plastic Ziplock Bags (Gallon & Quart Size/Sandwich)
Paper Towels
Reusable / Washable Napkins
Kitchen towels
Kitchen Sponges
Collapsible Dish Drying / Storage Rack

Van Life Snacks & Drinks (Easy, No-Cook Options)

Food:

Food: Chips, Cookies Candy etc… We don’t cook so everything is bought to eat cold/room temp or can be heated in the Microwave. We also have a toaster over and pizza oven just in case!) Oh yeah and a stove top to cook on with the propane which we will probably never use. It stays covered up with a countertop oven cover we used in our other RV.

Chips, Cookies, Candy, etc…
(We don’t cook so everything is bought to eat cold/room temp or can be heated in the Microwave.)

Drinks:

Drinks: Coffee, Bottled Water, Creamer for my coffee ( I also keep things like cold ready drink coffee) and I have a coffee maker but I hate making coffee in the RV van, it always requires more work than it’s worth. I’ll typically just pick up a cup of coffee on the road!

Coffee
Bottled Water
Creamer for my coffee
Cold ready-to-drink coffee
(I have a coffee maker but I hate making coffee in the RV van; it always requires more work than it’s worth. I’ll typically just pick up a cup of coffee on the road!)

Condiments & Space-Saving Kitchen Extras

Condiments (we bring some basics: pepper, hot sauce, ranch dressing, ketchup, mustard, mayo, BBQ sauce, and other sauces from the house or acquired while dining out. Also, we keep small bottles or packets as we are very limited on space in our RV Van.)

Final Thoughts on Van Life Kitchen Essentials

A well-stocked RV kitchen makes van life easier and more enjoyable. Whether it’s cooking simple meals or upgrading storage and appliances, the right essentials keep your kitchen functional without wasting space. Little tweaks can turn cooking on the road into a fun (and delicious) part of your journey.

👉 What’s the one kitchen accessory you can’t live without in your van? — Drop a comment below!

📌 This post is part of my Van Life Essentials series — check out the full checklist of must-have van life gear…

Get All My Van Life Essentials

Ultimate RV Checklist for Van Life: almost everything we keep in the RV van. All our Must-Have Essentials, Accessories & Optional Upgrades

>> SHOP all our Van Life Essentials in our RV STORE

Don’t miss a thing!

Follow and stay social with @RVersity via Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Twitter (now X), YouTube! Also be sure to sign up for the RV Newsletter!

WATCH:

How I Organize My RV Kitchen: Accessories, Tips & Space Saving Ideas (for motorhomes)
Van Life – How I Eat In MY RV Kitchen
Brilliant RV Space Saving Solutions!
How To Downsize For RV Life
Also check out our other RV, which is a travel trailer we keep at the RV Park along with all our Stationary RV Living MUST HAVE Essentials & Upgrades!

>> Download: RV Essentials Checklist <<

Affiliate Disclaimer Note that blog posts and pages throughout this website all contain affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned and support the website at no cost to you. While this website may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in no way obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!

Updated: December 24, 2025

rversity

August 14, 2025