Best Food To Eat On A Boat – Your Guide Ideas!

Maybe you are getting tired of the same old sandwiches, or maybe it becomes hard for you to come up with new ideas when planning your sailing holidays, or maybe you simply would like to get some good suggestions and tips about the best food to eat on a boat. Whatever the reason, this article will answer all your questions!

List of food

Not everyone has the time or the mood to cook on a boat, this is why it is better to take food that doesn’t need to be cooked on board or can be prepared quickly and simply! Also, Some boats don’t possess a galley or simply don’t have all the accessories required for cooking. So here is a list of foods that are easy to bring, to keep and to cook!

  • Pre-sliced bread
  • spreads
  • Crackers
  • Almonds
  • Nuts
  • Sandwiches
  • Cheeses
  • Canned tuna
  • Granola bars
  • Apples
  • Oranges
  • Grapes
  • Slices of cucumbers
  • Slices of carrots
  • Pizzas
  • Caleslow
  • Rise
  • Pasta
  • olives
  • Eggs
  • Potatoes
  • Powder milk
  • Dry spices
  • Frozen meals
  • Cookies

 

Freezable Recipes 

Frozen meals are very useful especially when sailing. You don’t need to prepare them on the boat to have delicious meals. The only thing you have to do is to reheat the dish, and you are good to go!

#1 Beef and sweet potatoes

This recipe is very easy to prepare, but the cooking takes few hours.

Check cookware for boats

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef chuck cut into piecesBeef and sweet potatoes on a plate
  • 2 to 3 sweet potatoes cut into 4 or 6 slices
  • 30 – ounces of peeled tomatoes
  • 1 big red onion cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup of dried apricots
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups of box couscous (Alternatively, you can use rice)
  • 20 – ounce bottle chickpeas
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 1/2 of roasted almonds and chopped
  • 3/4 cup hot water

Preparation:

1.In a slow cooker, put the olive oil and cook the onion first. When the onion is golden add the tomatoes, beef, potatoes, apricots, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and 3/4 cup hot water

2. Cover the cooker and cook on high heat until boiling, then cook on small heat for 6 to 7 hours.

3. 15 minutes before the beef is ready, make the couscous according to the directions on the package.

4. Put the chickpeas into the cooker and cook for 3 minutes. Add the spinach and serve with the couscous and combine with the almonds.

Freeze: Cool and divide the beef with the couscous into equal parts in small freezer containers. It can be frozen up to 6 months

Reheat: Reheat in a microwave or bain marine

Shakshouka

This recipe is not only very healthy, but it is also incredibly delicious and easy to prepare. You can eat the Shakshouka whenever you feel like it. Whether it is for breakfast, lunch or dinner, this meal will always fill up your stomach!

Check cookware for boats

Ingredient:

  • 12 tomatoes cut into small piecesShakshouka on a plate
  • 6 garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/2 red pepper cut into small pieces
  • pepper
  • salt
  • 3 tablespoon paprika
  • Coriander
  • 1/2 tablespoon Cayenne pepper (not necessary)
  • 3/4 tablespoon curcumin

Preparation:

1. Heat the olive oil in a metal pan and add the garlic, cook until it is golden. Combine the tomatoes, red pepper, salt, pepper, paprika, curcumin, cayenne pepper, mix well and cover. Cook on small heat for 15 minutes.

2. Freeze: Cool, and pour the shakshuka in a freezer container. You can freeze it for 6 months.

3. Reheat: Heat the shakshuka in a pan and break 6 to 8 eggs on it. Cover and Cook on a small heat until you see the eggs are ready.

4. Eat with bread or pita!


 

Desserts

Seedless dates with dry fruits

This is one of my favourite desserts because it is not just delicious, but it is also very easy to do and to bring. You don’t need any fridge to keep them fresh and most importantly, it is healthy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 Kg Seedless Dates (Packed)Dates with nuts
  • 200 gr walnuts
  • 200 gr almonds
  • 200 gr cashew nuts
  • 150 gr flax seed
  • 200 gr raisins

Preparation:
1. combine all the fruits with the seedless dates and mix them with the hands or with a mixer.

2. After you have mixed all the ingredients,
make a sausage of it and roll it in shredded coconut or sesame seeds, then cut into slices.

3. Put the slices in a container keep them in a fridge or a freezer. You can freeze it up to 6 months if you want.


 

Cool snacks

Fruits

It can be quite hot in the summer, and it is always good to have some refreshing snacks to keep you cool!

Plate of fruits


1. Watermelon cut into cubes
2. Melon cut into cubes
3. Grapes
4. Cherries and strawberries
5. Fruit salad in a container


 

Salads

Very easy to prepare and always delicious, salads makes a perfect accompaniment to any dish!

Mozzarella pasta salad

Check cookware for boats

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces of rotini pastaMozzarella salad on a plate
  • 1/2 of green onion cut into slices
  • 2 cups of cherries tomatoes cut into half
  • 2 1/2 ounce of black olives, drained
  • 1 lb of mozzarella cheese cut into small cubes
  • 3 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of oregano
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Preparation:

1. Cook the pasta for about 6 minutes, drain and cool.

2.Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl

 3.Put in a container, and it is ready to eat!

Taco Salad

Check cookware for boats

Ingredients:

  • 3 tomatoes cut into small dicesTaco salad on a plate
  • 1 pound Cheddar cut into small cubes
  • 1 onion cut into small pieces
  • 1 head of lettuce washed, and drained
  • 1 1/4 pound of ground beef
  • 1 cup of salad dressing Catalina
  • 1 cup of salsa
  • 1 bag of taco chips
  • Tortilla chips

Preparation:

1.In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, cheese, ground beef and lettuce. Pour the salad dressing over the top and mix well. Put salsa on the salad and serve with taco chips.


 

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are also very practical and having them within reach of your hands is always useful.

Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

Check cookware for boats

Barbecue sandwich on a plate

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 4 cups meat shredded
  • 5 pounds fried chicken
  • 4 hamburger buns

Preparation:
Mix the meat, chicken, and the barbecue sauce. Divide the mixture and put each portion on the buns.

Pesto Tuna sandwiches
Pesto tuna sandwish

Ingredients:

  • 2 boxes of tuna
  • 4 pieces of baguettes
  • 2 tablespoon pesto
  • 4 Hard boiled eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Preparation:
1. Mix the tuna with the pesto and put the mixture in the baguette.

2. Peel the eggs, cut them into slices and add them in the baguettes with the tuna. Put black pepper and salt.

Meals on grill

What could be better than a barbecue with a couple of friends, especially on a boat? These are the best moments in life!

Eggplant on grill
Eggplants on a grill

Ingredients:

  • 4 Eggplants
  • raw tahini
  • 4 lemons
  • salt

Preparation:

1. Make some holes with a fork in the eggplants and put them on a hot grill for about 30 minutes
2. When they are ready, take them off the grill and open them lengthwise with a knife.

3. pour raw tahini and lemon on the open eggplant

4. Salt according to taste

Cumin-Grilled Chicken Breasts
Breast chicken on a grill

Ingredients:

  • 4 slices of chicken breast ( 6 ounces for each)
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

1.Mix the olive oil with the paprika, black pepper, and the salt in a bowl.

2. Rub the chicken with the mixture and put each slice separately on a hot grill.

3. Cook on each side and serve


 

Tips

1. If you don’t have a fridge in the boat, then a cooler will be perfect to keep all your foods fresh.

2. Put some ice bags in the cooler to keep drinks and foods cold.

3. If you go for an extended sailing trip, you need to keep your ice frozen, as well. There are many coolers on the market, but not all cooler will do the job done and will keep your ice frozen during the trip. The one I would suggest you take is the Pelican products ProGear Elite Cooler. This cooler can keep your ice frozen up to 10 days in high temperatures.

4. For some reasons, it may happen the drinks spill over into the foods. So, It is preferable to avoid this kind of inconvenience by storing them into different coolers.

5. Use Ziploc bags. These are the best option to store foods and are easy to handle.

Conclusion

Now that you know what are the best food to eat on board a boat, it only remains for you to pack your favourite foods and start your sailing trip!

Want more recipes?

Subscribe to Cruising Sea newsletter to receive every two week the latest post straight to your inbox!

What about you? Do you have some good foods to add to this article? If so, share them in the comment below!

6 thoughts on “Best Food To Eat On A Boat – Your Guide Ideas!”

  1. Great recipes however, I am not so sure I would be cooking a full meal while on vacation but, I do like the figure food and different types of sandwich ideas. The frozen meal is a perfect idea that way it doesn’t tie up all my time in the galley cooking while ever one else is having fun.

    Thanks for all the great tips will defiantly use them next time I am out on the boat.

    Reply
    • Hi Rosie,

      You are totally right, I also prefer to have fun with all my friend instead of being in the galley to cook unless we all cook together. This is also a fun option!

      Frozen meals are extremely practical everywhere!

      Thank you very much for the comment.

      Have a lovely day!

      Reply
  2. I don’t go boating often but your list of foods is very helpful and something to consider checking before I go out on a boat next time! I also love how you have provided recipes for freezable dishes to prepare ahead of time. I do however do quite a lot of backpacking and car camping and the list of foods and recipes are great ideas for that too, thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Brianna,

      Definitely yes, you can cook these dishes at home or when you go camping as well. I always froze my meals no matter the reason. I find this method very practical especially on a sailing trip:) I personally don’t like to cook when I am on vacation, I prefer to rest and have fun!

      Thank you for the comment and wish you a fantastic day!

      Reply
  3. Your shopping list and recipes are wonderful! Sandwiches and bland, easy foods gets boring really fast! I really like the Beef and sweet potatoes recipe, as well as the BBQ chicken sandwich and taco salad. I have saved these for “future” use 🙂 I love everything about what you write. It is nice to be unique, as that makes for an even better experience!

    Reply
    • Hi Lea,

      I am so glad to see you again on my website. You always have kind comments:) Thank you again!

      Yes, I agree with you some foods get really boring to eat, so it is important to cook new meals, it keeps us motivated!

      Thank you very much for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!

      Reply

Leave a Comment