One of the best perks of vacation in a rental rather than a hotel is the ability to make your own food. You can save money this way, accommodate any allergies or dietary needs, and enjoy preparing a meal that you'll love all together. For some people, cooking is a hobby and vacation means having extra time to prep your favorite dishes or try a new, intricate recipe.
If that's not you, though, you may be looking for easy meals to make in your vacation rental that meet some basic criteria:
- Simple ingredients that are easy to find or bring with you
- Quick and easy prep
- Crowd pleasers
- Adaptable for picky eaters, allergies, and special diets
If you're planning a vacation, check out these ideas to make a meal plan ahead of time. Your future self (and your budget) will thank you.
Homemade Pizzas
Pizza is a crowd pleaser and it can be customized to whatever flavor combinations or ingredient preferences you have. You can opt for gluten free crust, dairy free cheese, something extra indulgent, authentic Italian ingredient combos, or a creative flavor profiles. Bonus points if you're in a vacation rental with a pizza oven to take your pizzas to the next level!
Here are some of our favorite pizzas to make:
- Classic margherita pizza with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, olive oil, and course salt
- BBQ chicken pizza with bbq sauce, pre-cooked chicken, thinly sliced red onion, shredded mozzarella cheese, cilantro, and corn
- Carnitas pizza with salsa verde or enchilada sauce, shredded pork, monterey jack cheese, cilantro, lime, and avocado
- Meat lovers pizza with tomato sauce, a blend of cheeses, and your favorite meats like pepperoni, salami, spicy Italian sausage, bacon bits, and Canadian bacon
- Hawaiian pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Canadian bacon, pineapple, and fresh jalapeño for a kick
- Pesto chicken pizza with pesto, mozzarella, pre-cooked chicken, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, and finishing salt
We know if you're a pizza lover, you'll have your own combos to try, too. You can let everyone customize their own and cook them up in the pizza oven to enjoy outside.
Grilling
Another of our favorite vacation meals is anything on the grill. Minimal cleanup and an excuse to stay out by the pool make it slam dunk. Of course there's always hot dogs and hamburgers, but here are a few more creative options that won't take much more effort:
- Teriyaki chicken breast or thighs
- Chicken wings with a variety of sauces
- Shrimp skewers
- Bratwursts
- Greek kabobs
- Grilled veggie platter
- Steak tacos
Breakfast
If you like to sleep in and eat breakfast in your jammies, consider one of these special, yet simple, breakfasts to make:
- Dutch baby (also called a German pancake)
- French toast
- Bagel sandwiches
- Acai bowls
- Breakfast burrito bar
BYO Options
Build-Your-Own (BYO) is another genius meal solution for vacation. Everyone can customize their food to be just what they like, and all you have to do is assemble the components in a buffet style lineup. Here are some themes you can choose from:
- Hearty salad bar, like Cobb salad, taco salad, or chicken Caesar
- Taco or nacho bar
- Pasta primavera (include sautéed vegges, grilled chicken, and a few sauces and cheese to choose from)
- Stir fry bowls (chicken or steak, stir fried veggies, rice, and various Asian sauces)
Choosing Your Accommodations
Are you still on the fence about where to go, or looking for the right vacation rental? A trip to Indio can be the perfect place to relax, close to an airport and an easy drive from anywhere in Southern California. Our luxury vacation rental in Indio is perfect for an adults-only getaway or a family vacation, with all the amenities you need for preparing meals, relaxing, and having fun, including:
- 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms
- 40 foot saltwater pool with tanning ledge and lounge chairs
- Outdoor kitchen with Thor BBQ, pizza oven, and more
- Outdoor living space with HDTV
- Lawn games
- Putting green
- Movie theater
- Game room
- Gourmet kitchen
The Brooklyn Penthouse has it all, including everything you need make preparing meals on vacation easy. Check our availability as you make your plans for your Indio vacation so you know you'll have a comfortable place to stay.