7 Easy and Versatile Meals on a Boat

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When I first started cooking on the boat, the galley was a wreck after every meal. 

As with all aspects of transitioning to life aboard, it takes time to find your groove – the kitchen is no exception. The more experience you get, the more you can learn what works for preparing easy meals on a sailboat.

Some things to consider are:

• Balancing fresh, canned, and dried foods in a meal
• Using flexible, versatile recipes so you can always substitute ingredients
• Water conservation (both during the cooking process and during cleanup)
• Meal prep in a small space

There are a few simple dishes that are always in rotation and part of our meal planning onboard Sunnyside.

Below are a few of our favorite home-cooked meals on a boat that are flexible and easy to prepare onboard.

Two-Pot Boat Meals

We’re kicking off this boat food recipe list with three two-pot meals.

Each meal below requires a starch cooked in a second pot, such as rice or noodles (staples in the boat galley).

These are easy, delicious meals we typically cook on the boat once a week.

1. Curry

You can’t beat a good curry when you’re cooking on a boat. It’s an easy, flexible dish with the depth of flavor we love in a good Thai dish. 

You can make curry on a respectable timeline with the right balance of dried, fresh, and canned ingredients. 

Why It Works

• Curries contain veggies with a long shelf life – carrots, onions, peppers
• Add any greens (spinach, bok choy, kale, chard) and fresh herbs (mint, basil, or cilantro) you have on hand
• A filling meal with just vegetables or compliment with chicken, shrimp, or tempeh

CLEANUP: This is a 2-pot meal (curry and rice). You will have a few miscellaneous items from chopping veggies.

Curry Recipes

Cookie & Kate’s blog has all my favorite curry recipes (links below). As she suggests, I use the Thai Kitchen brand red curry paste and green curry paste, and A Taste of Thai brand for Panang. They all make delicious curry. Cut the paste back a little for less spice, or toss in more to bring the heat!

• Thai Green Curry
• Thai Red Curry
• Thai Panang Curry

2. Stir Fry

Stir fry is a great dish when you need to clean out the fridge. Using whatever veggies are on hand makes this a great easy boat meal.

Why It Works

• It’s very flexible – I’ve used carrots, cabbage, peppers, kale, spinach, sugar snap peas, chard, squash, bok choy, red onion, mushrooms, and green onion.
• Even with only long-lasting veggies such as carrots and cabbage, you can add canned mushrooms and bean sprouts and still make a good stir fry.
• Asian dishes are so flexible any protein would complement this meal. We eat mostly vegetarian, so sometimes I add steamed tempeh. You could also add chicken, shrimp, beef, or tofu.

CLEANUP: This is a two-pot meal (vegetables and pot for noodles). You will have a few miscellaneous items from chopping veggies and making the sauce.

Stir Fry Recipe

I enjoy Budget Bytes’ version of a stir fry. It has a small number of ingredients, and it’s quick enough that you can whip it up for lunch on a boat. View Recipe

Tips

• I absolutely love the Hakubaku Organic Udon in this dish, but any Udon or ramen noodle will work.
• Top with toasted sesame seeds, Sriracha, more soy sauce, and chopped green onions to round out this dish.

3. Veggie Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a favorite with the Sunnyside crew. Captain Ross is always requesting this dish and Augustus (our feline first mate) loves begging for spare noodles.

Why It Works

• To save time, use a jarred sauce (our favorite is Bertolli® Olive Oil & Garlic). Then spice it up with seasonings, canned veggies, and fresh produce. It gets that rich, homemade flavor without simmering for hours on the stove.
• It can be as simple or complex as you want it. Chopped onion, a can of mushrooms, and some herbs can go a long way. Get creative with what you have on hand, and don’t be afraid to experiment!

CLEANUP: This is a two-pot meal (sauce and noodles). Plus, miscellaneous items for chopping veggies.

Spaghetti Recipe

This is the most flexible recipe on the list. Below is what we work from depending on the ingredients on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 garlic cloves
• 3/4 to one whole onion, diced
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1/2 can mushrooms
• 1 cup broccoli, squash, or bell pepper
• 1-2 cups spinach or kale (if available)
• 1 jar sauce (24oz.)
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or a combination of dried oregano, thyme, parsley, and basil)
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/4 cayenne (for a little heat)
• 1 tbsp butter

Directions

Sauté onions and carrots in olive oil and garlic with a little salt. Once they start to soften, add your veggies (except for greens). Let the veggies soften for 5-7 minutes, then add your sauce, seasonings, red wine, and kale if using. Simmer for 15 minutes. If using spinach, add it near the end with time to wilt. Lastly, add a pad of butter to richen the sauce.

Tips

• Angel hair usually works best with a tomato sauce, but most any noodle will do.
• I use a manual veggie chopper to make the dicing go quick (it’s on our list of Sailboat Galley Essentials).
• For a creamier sauce, add 1/4 cup of hydrated powdered milk (I like to hydrate in vegetable broth instead of water). Or you can use fresh milk if you have it on hand.
• Top with a little grated Parmesan (or Parmigiano-Reggiano for a real treat), crushed red pepper, and fresh basil.

One-Pot Boat Meals

One-pot meals are a great option for cooking on a boat. Not only do they simplify the cooking process, but they also minimize the amount of cleanup needed afterward.

This section includes four of our favorite one-pot (or one-pan) simple meals.

4. Pizza

I’m a big fan of selecting a dedicated pizza night.

It’s a treat to look forward to and a simple boat meal to put together. And if I’m honest, we would be eating pizza three times a week without a dedicated night.

Why It Works

• Toppings are flexible based on what you have on hand. Even if you don’t have fresh veggies, you can still come up with pizza toppings – canned pineapple and jalapeño, anyone?
• Pizza is a quick meal to put together if you think ahead. Make the dough anywhere from two to three hours ahead of dinner to give it time to rise. You can make a big batch of sauce and freeze it for even quicker, tastier meals.

CLEANUP: Your onboard dishwasher will be dancing a jig on pizza night. You can practically wipe your sheet pan clean. You will have a few miscellaneous items from making dough and grating cheese.

Pizza Recipe

You can make pizza in various ways – from the dough to the sauce to how it’s assembled and cooked. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Dough and Alternatives

• Pizza dough is very forgiving. It’s a great place to start if this is your first venture into working with dough. I use this recipe recommended by a friend and cut it in half for one pizza.
• A tip we picked up from a fellow cruiser is to use naan bread in a pinch. Cook the naan on the stove until browned on the bottom. Flip it and add your cheese, sauce, and toppings. Put on the lid and cook until the cheese is melted.
• If you want a crisper crust and have limited time, flour tortillas are another good alternative.

Cheese & Sauce

• Melty, creamy cheeses are going to work best for pizza. We use a combination of mozzarella and Munster with a little Parmesan on top. Freshly shredded, if possible, for the best texture. Provolone, cheddar, goat, or Gruyere also work nicely.
• You can use sauce from a jar or get a little creative, starting with a can of crushed tomatoes. My favorite sauce has a little sugar and balsamic vinegar in addition to herbs and spices.

Here are our favorite topping combinations. Get creative. The sky is the limit with pizza!

Lastly, below is a video we made the first time we attempted pizza. Luckily Captain Ross has some time in pizza kitchens, so we weren’t totally clueless.

5. Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a tomato-based sauce. It is a hearty one-pot meal that originated in North Africa and is also popular in Middle Eastern countries. 

It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner on a boat. The basic shakshuka recipe includes eggs, canned tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices.

Why It Works

• Shakshuka has a short preparation time, and the cooking time is also minimal.
• Most of the fresh ingredients for this simple recipe are long-lasting, with the exception of peppers and herbs.

CLEANUP: This is a one-pot meal. You’ll also use a cutting board, knives, and other various chopping tools.

Shakshuka Recipe

No matter how you make it, shakshuka is a delicious and satisfying meal that will leave you feeling full and happy. View Recipe

Tips

• Shakshuka is typically served with naan bread for dipping, but you could also enjoy it with rice or couscous.
• We enjoy this recipe with Poblano peppers instead of red bell pepper for a little more kick and flavor.
• As suggested in the above recipe, top this with goat cheese or feta for an extra delicious treat.

6. Vegetarian Chili

Chili is the perfect one-pot meal with or without meat. It’s as delicious as it is hearty, filling, and packed with nutrients. The spice combo gives this chili great flavor, while the pinto and black beans add lots of protein. 

Not to mention, it is also incredibly easy to make.

Why It Works

• Although this recipe contains many ingredients, most are dried, canned, or long-lasting fresh vegetables. I usually have everything on hand, even if it’s been a while since our last provisioning trip.
• This chili is a great meal to make ahead for passage days, and it’s a welcome treat to enjoy a warm bowl on cooler days when you’re heading south.

CLEANUP: This is a one-pot meal. You will also have a cutting board, knife, and other various cooking utensils to clean. We recommend using an immersion blender to blend the chili at the end. These are much easier to clean than a typical blender.

Veggie Chili Recipe

We’ve tried a few different vegetarian chili recipes, but this is by far our favorite. View Recipe

Tips

• Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, cilantro, lime, and green onions. Avocado is a treat, if you have it on hand.
• We use an immersion blender instead of a traditional blender to blend the chili. It’s a great tool to have on board since it’s compact and easy to clean.

7. Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for a chilly day on the boat.

The soup is packed with nutritious vegetables, and the beans provide a source of protein. It is both a healthy and filling menu option.

The soup can be easily customized to your liking or based on the vegetables you have on hand.

Why It Works

• The vegetable combinations on this one are endless, which makes it the perfect boat recipe. Even if you are weeks out from your last provisioning trip, you can whip this up with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, or white potatoes.
• Using a combination of canned and fresh veggies will still make a great dish. We often use canned peas or collards in a pinch.

CLEANUP: This is a one-pot meal. You will also have a cutting board, knife, and a few other items for chopping vegetables.

Minestrone Recipe

This recipe is a classic and delicious minestrone. Trust me. This will become a staple in your galley. View Recipe

Tips

• Keep dried tomato powder on hand to quickly whip up the tomato paste required for this recipe.
• Make your own vegetable broth from scraps to enhance the health benefits and flavors.
• Top this with Parmigiano Reggiano to bring out the savory flavors in this dish.
• Enjoy with fresh bread or cornbread muffins for an extra yummy meal.

More Ideas for Cooking Onboard

For more great ideas for cooking good meals onboard your boat, check out the boat cookbook below for tons of cooking tips and recipes.

Cooking Good Meals on a Boat

I hope this gave you some helpful ideas for boat recipes you can make with what you have onboard on your next sailing trip.

The most challenging and rewarding part of the boat galley is pushing your boundaries as a cook.

Having limited access to provisions and the nearest grocery store forces you to step outside your comfort zone.

You’ll start cooking with different ingredients and making things from scratch that you would typically buy premade. You can even learn to catch your food! It’s a fun process if you keep an open mind.

READ NEXT: Don’t forget to check out our list of best breakfast ideas on a boat.

Want to learn more about cooking on a boat?

For more ideas on meals, provisioning, and how to outfit your galley, view our guide.

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