Whether you’re traveling for the long holiday weekend or you’re full-timing in your RV, you can still enjoy a memorable holiday in your RV. We’re sharing our favorite Thanksgiving tips for your RV. Yes, you can even cook a turkey in your RV! Follow our RV Thanksgiving tips for a delicious and memorable holiday.
Can You Cook Thanksgiving Dinner in an RV?
Yes, it is possible to prepare and enjoy a full Thanksgiving dinner aboard your RV. Today’s RVs for sale feature well-designed kitchens that rival residential spaces. With surprisingly spacious and unique RV kitchen features such as full-sized appliances, kitchen islands, and even dishwashers, it’s easy to prepare a Thanksgiving feast in your RV.
Convection Oven Turkey Tips
The biggest worry when it comes to having an RV Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey. Most RV kitchens feature a convection oven, which is a popular appliance that allows owners to cook multiple dishes simultaneously with improved crisping and overall better cooking when compared to other oven types. Cooking turkey in a convection oven is easier than you may think. After trying convection oven turkey for the first time, you may only want to use your RV’s convection setup for prepping all Thanksgiving turkeys!
Ready to enjoy your very own Thanksgiving turkey from your RV’s convection oven? Follow these tips for cooking your turkey in a convection oven and you’ll be enjoying your delicious meal before you know it!
How to Cook a Turkey in a Convection Oven
- Prep your turkey through your preferred method, which may include brining, stuffing, or other techniques
- Place the turkey in your roasting pan
- Preheat the convection oven to 325°F
- Once the turkey is prepped and the oven is preheated, put the turkey in the center of the lowest rack
- Allow the turkey to cook until its internal temperature reaches 180°F in the thigh, the breast should reach 170°F
How Long to Cook a Turkey in a Convection Oven?
The exact cooking time for your turkey will depend on its weight, whether or not the turkey is stuffed, and what else you have cooking in the oven at the same time. In general, a 6-10 pound turkey should take about 2 hours to cook in a convection oven. A 10-18 pound turkey should take about 2 ½ hours, and an 18-22 pound turkey should take 2 ½ to 3 hours to cook. If your turkey weighs over 20 pounds, it will likely take closer to 3 ½ hours to cook.
If you’re cooking a stuffed turkey, expect to add an additional 30-60 minutes to your turkey’s convection oven cooking time. It’s always important to use a meat thermometer to measure your turkey’s internal temperature to ensure it has reached a safe temperature for consumption.
Enjoying RV Thanksgiving Recipes
When cooking Thanksgiving dinner aboard your RV, you won’t need to modify most existing recipes. You’ll be happy to find that your RV’s convection oven makes cooking easier and often faster than other oven types, and many RV kitchens also feature multiple burner cooktops that make stovetop sides easy to prepare. With a larger RV such as a diesel pusher, 5th wheel RV, travel trailer, or camper van or pop-up camper, there are plenty of techniques for easily preparing your favorite Thanksgiving recipes with the help of your RV kitchen. Smaller kitchens mean you’ll need to get a bit more creative with your preparation techniques, such as using the dinette as an extension of your countertop. Some RVers with smaller rigs also choose to cook outside, which is perfect if you’re planning on making a fried turkey.
Decorating Your RV for Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is a holiday that’s all about family, with loved ones sharing a delicious meal together. A cozy RV dining area is the perfect place for Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re dining with the extended family, consider visiting our RV accessories store for outdoor seating options that can help make room for the entire family.
If you’re enjoying your RV Thanksgiving holiday in a colder climate, you may want to keep everything indoors. Consider decorating your RV’s interior with classic items such as fall-focused leaves, gourds, or other seasonal items.
From our Lazydays RV Family of Experts to your family, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
