There’s no stove, oven, or grill available so how do you eat well from your hotel? Surprisingly, it’s not as difficult as you think! You’ll save a ton of money and have more control over your diet.
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Hotel rooms generally have a mini fridge, a microwave, and a small coffee pot. You can structure your meal plan to fit the items you have at your disposal so you can prepare your own hotel friendly meals.
But first, a few tips before making your meal plan and grocery list. You’ll want to keep your meal plan as simple as possible, so you don’t spend too much time cooking. Additionally, you’ll want meal options that are as “mess-free” and “waste free” as possible. Remember you have limited prep space, a small sink, and a tiny trashcan to work with so plan accordingly.
Once you get to your hotel, you’ll want to stop at a nearby grocery store and pick up a few things. Keep in mind that you will need to be able to fit all cold items in your mini fridge so think small. For example, buy a quart of milk if you only need a few cups.
PRO TIP: Before I get into meal ideas, it is important to mention that your microwave at home probably cooks faster than most hotel microwaves. You’ll need to adjust accordingly to make sure your food cooks thoroughly.
Breakfast ideas so you can eat well from your hotel
Most hotels offer some type of complimentary breakfast so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about the most important meal of the day. However, you may still find yourself wanting to make your own breakfast for a variety of different reasons. Regardless the reason, below are some very thrifty breakfast ideas you can prepare in the comfort of your hotel room.
Eggs
You can prepare eggs a variety of different ways using the microwave in your hotel room. It’s surprisingly easy and creates very little mess allowing you to eat well from your hotel. Prior to traveling, try making some eggs in your microwave at home. Make sure you like the taste and texture before making it part of your hotel meal plan.
Scrambled Eggs
Scrambling eggs is one of the most popular ways to prepare eggs, and it’s certainly kid friendly if your traveling with little ones. In order to prepare these, you’ll need a microwave safe dish (bowl or mug), a fork, zero calorie butter cooking spray, eggs, and milk.
Spray your microwave safe dish with the zero calorie butter cooking spray before you break your eggs in it. Once your eggs are in the dish, add a little milk. I don’t measure an exact amount, I just splash some in so the eggs come out moist and fluffy. Gently beat the eggs prior to putting them in the microwave. You’ll want to stir them frequently until they’re done. Start with 40 seconds in your hotel microwave and preceed with caution from there.
TASTY TIP: If you think regular scrambled eggs are too boring, you can certainly toss in some ham, tomatoes, and green onions. You can even melt some cheese on top when the eggs are close to done.
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Poached eggs
Poaching eggs is one of my favorite methods because they are so easy to make! I even have a small microwave egg poacher that can fit two eggs at once, and it travels well. Open your egg poacher and spray the bottom of each egg slot with zero calorie butter flavor cooking spray. Then, crack one egg in each slot. Sprinkle each egg with salt and pepper, if you wish. Then, close the poacher and gently place it in the microwave. Start with 1:10 in your hotel microwave. When that time is up, pull them out and check them. You’ll probably need a little more cook time so put them back in for 15-20 seconds.
NOTE: Eggs cost me between $.11 and $.14 a piece depending on the quantity I choose to purchase.
Pop-tarts
These are really good and somewhat addictive when you spread butter on top and pop them in the microwave. It usually takes about 30 seconds for the butter to melt into the pop-tart resulting in a hot gooey center that’s so delicious. This method is especially good with strawberry or cherry pop-tarts.
NOTE: Pop-tarts cost me between $.28 and $.31 each depending on the variety and quantity I choose to buy.
Cold cereal
This is an excellent, hassle-free option. If you’re traveling solo, you can always buy a regular box of your favorite cereal and a small carton of milk. That’ll get you by just fine and provide a lot of meals. However, if you’re traveling as a family you may want to opt for a bulk pack of small boxes that provide a variety of options.
NOTE: The variety pack of cereal costs me around $.45 a box from my local grocery store. I usually have milk with my cereal so add another $.25 for 1 cup of 1%.
Hot cereal
There are so many hot cereal options available, and you’re bound to like one of them! You can purchase most in premeasured, individual packets that make preparation a breeze!
My absolute favorite is butter flavor grits. Add one pack of instant butter flavor grits to a microwave safe bowl. Then, add 1/2 a cup of water. Give them a stir and pop them in your hotel microwave for 1:15-1:30.
NOTE: These cost me around $.17 a pack from my local grocery store.
There’s a ton of flavors of instant oatmeal you can choose from. Preparation is easy because you simply combine the premeasured package of oatmeal with 2/3 cup of cold water in a microwave safe bowl. Cooking time varies depending on how you like your oatmeal. Follow the package instructions starting with the least amount of cook time and proceed with caution so you don’t over cook it.
NOTE: These cost me between $.15 and $.20 a pack from my local grocery store. Actual price depends on the flavor and quantity I choose to purchase.
Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders
These are so simple and so delicious! You’ll need a pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls, a pack of low-fat ham, and a pack of slice cheese. Take a Hawaiian sweet roll and cut it in half so there is a top and bottom. Lay a piece of ham on the bottom. You can layer the ham or scrunch it up. Then, place 1/2 a slice of cheese on top of the ham followed by the top of the roll. Wrap the slider in a slightly damp paper towel and microwave it for 20 seconds. Check the slider to see if it is warm enough for you. If not, add a little more time but proceed carefully so you don’t overcook the roll.
Not a fan of ham and cheese? Substitute low-fat turkey and Swiss cheese.
Corned Beef Hash
I never said everything in this post would be super healthy. This is one of those guilty little pleasures I allow myself to splurge on every once in a while. In any case, it is so very good and easy to warm up right in your hotel room.
You simply open the can of corn beef hash and place a serving in a microwave safe bowl. Most importantly, you’ll want to place a paper towel over the bowl because corn beef hash pops a lot when it cooks in a microwave. For a small serving, start with 45 seconds to 1 minute. When the time runs out, give it a stir and check it. If it needs to cook a little more, add more time but proceed with caution. You don’t want to dry it out.
NOTE: A can of corn beef hash costs me between two and three dollars depending on brand and quantity.
Eat well from your hotel by making breakfast quesadillas
There are a ton of ways you can make quesadillas with varying levels of difficulty. You’ll certainly want to choose easy options that do not require a lot of ingredients.
Ham and Cheese Quesadilla!
Take a small flour tortilla and lay it on a microwave safe plate. Lay ham and cheese on top of the tortilla making sure to cover it entirely. Place another small tortilla on top of the ham and cheese. Then, place it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. When the time is up, check to see if it is hot enough for you. If not, flip it over and put it back in the microwave a little longer.
Not a fan of ham and cheese? Substitute low-fat turkey and Swiss cheese.
Pizza Quesadilla!
Yes, my boys love these for breakfast. Take a small flour tortilla and lay it on a microwave safe plate. Then, lightly spread pizza sauce over the tortilla. Next, add pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Top with another small flour tortilla. Place in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. When the time is up, check to see if the cheese is melted properly. If not, flip it over and put it back in the microwave a little longer.
Apple Cinnamon Quesadilla!
This is a tiny bit messy but oh so worth it! Take a small flour tortilla and lay it on a microwave safe plate. Then, spread a thin layer of apple pie filling on top. Next, lay a small flour tortilla on top of the pie filling. Lightly spray the top of the flour tortilla with butter flavor cooking spray and sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar. Pop it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. When the time is up, check to see if it is warm enough. If not, put it back in the microwave for a little longer but do NOT flip it over.
Not a fan of apples? Try cherry pie filling or blueberry pie filling. Just omit the cinnamon and sprinkle the top with sugar only.
Lunch ideas so you can eat well from your hotel
Rotisserie chicken
It’s amazing how many meals you can get out of a precooked rotisserie chicken allowing you to really eat well from your hotel. They fit well in a mini fridge and end up being a very thrifty option. Furthermore, they create very little mess for you to clean up which is a huge bonus!
NOTE: These cost me about $7.00.
Chicken Ranch Wraps
Remove the amount of chicken you want and place it on a microwave safe plate. Put it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until it is warm enough for you. Be very careful you don’t heat it so long it dries out. As soon as you pull the chicken out, put a flour tortilla in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. When the cook time is up, remove the flour tortilla from the microwave. Place the chicken on top of the tortilla in a line down the center. Top with shredded cheese, lettuce, and light ranch dressing. Roll the tortilla up and enjoy!
PRO TIP: Buy a bag of shredded or chopped lettuce. It’s not as messy as trying to deal with a head of lettuce from your hotel room.
Chef Salad
Place some lettuce in a bowl or on a plate. Top it with tomatoes, cucumber, boiled egg, rotisserie chicken, shredded cheese, croutons, etcetera. You can eat it plain or drizzle it with a dressing of your choice.
NOTE: You can buy eggs that are already boiled from the grocery store. OR you can save a little money and poach an egg. But, you’ll want to make sure the yoke on the poached egg is completely done.
Chicken Sandwiches
You can rarely go wrong with sandwiches, and they really allow you to eat well from your hotel. They rarely get boring because you can change the ingredients giving them entirely different flavors. Perhaps you make one chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato. Another may be on white bread with mayonnaise, honey mustard, and pickles. Or perhaps you want a simple sandwich on honey wheat bread with just chicken and Swiss cheese. They’ll all have completely different flavors so experiment with it and see what you like best.
Eat well from your hotel by making tuna wraps
Take a can of tuna and drain the water off of it. Then, lay a flour tortilla on a plate and top it with tuna. From here you can add a variety of different toppings so choose which ones you like best. You can add boiled or poached eggs, light mayonnaise, and a tiny bit of sweet onion. If you don’t like those ingredients, try lettuce, tomato, and light mayonnaise. Once you have all the toppings you want, you can roll it up and enjoy!
Ramen Noodles
These come in a variety of different flavors, and they are insanely filling. You’ll need a microwave safe bowl and a spoon (or fork if you prefer). Put the noodles in the bowl. You can drop the block of noodles in whole or break them up a bit. Cover them well with water and put them in the microwave. Start with 3 minutes. When the time is up, check them. If you want them softer, you’ll want to cook them another 30-45 seconds. When you have the noodles the consistency you like, you can drain off some or all of the water. Mix in your flavor pack and enjoy!
NOTE: These cost me $.49 a pack if I purchase them individually so I can get a better variety. However, they cost me $.31 a pack if I buy one flavor in a bulk box of 12.
Soups
There are many different brands and flavors of soup so you shouldn’t have trouble finding something you like. You can opt for light options such as a simple chicken and noodle or opt for heavier options like chunky baked potato with cheddar and bacon. Cook times will vary depending on what soup you choose, and how much you put in your bowl to heat up. Cover the bowl with a paper towel to minimize mess. Stir frequently until your soup is the temperature at which you like to eat it. Most soups pair well with crackers.
Mac and Cheese Cups
When it comes to mac and cheese cups, you can choose from a variety of options. In fact, there’s Three Cheese, White Cheddar, Original, Shells and Cheese, etcetera. Furthermore, they come in their own handy microwaveable bowl with a line measuring how much water you need to add.
You’ll cook them according to package instructions and serve. These are definitely kid friendly, and you can even spruce them up a little if you want! By all means, try chopping up some ham or a hotdog and mixing that in. It’s so simple and so good allowing you to eat well from your hotel.
Eat well from your hotel by making loaded baked potatoes
One of my favorite things are loaded baked potatoes. You can make them so many different ways! From the simplicity of just butter, sour cream and bacon bits to loading them with ham, cheese, broccoli, bacon and green onions. Regardless how you like them, they make for excellent hotel friendly meals.
Cook time will vary depending on the size of your chosen potato. You’ll certainly want to poke some holes in your potato before putting it in the microwave. This will prevent your potato from exploding inside the microwave and keep you in good standings with the Housekeeping staff.
Snack plates
You can basically put on your snack plate whatever you like. You can easily cover all the necessary food groups allowing you to eat well from your hotel. If you need some ideas, check out the list below. To keep it thrifty, I usually just buy what I can find on sale.
- Cut up summer sausage
- Chunks of cheese (various different kinds)
- Roll up lunchmeats and cut them in half (or quarters)
- Lite Spam
- Olives
- Pickles
- Broccoli florets
- Cauliflower
- Baby carrots
- Veggie dip
- Apple slices
- Banana slices
- Berries
- Various crackers
Dinner ideas so you can eat well from your hotel
Sausage and Taters
You’ll need butter flavor cooking spray, one package of precooked smoked sausage, a can of diced potatoes, a can of green beans, salt, and pepper.
Open and drain the diced potatoes and green beans. Then, put half the can of diced potates in a microwave safe bowl and spray them with butter flavor cooking spray. You can season them with salt and pepper if you wish. Then, you’ll cut some smoked sausage off the link and slice it. I usually cut each slice in half to make smaller, bite size pieces but that’s totally up to you.
Stir the sausage in with the potatoes and place the bowl in the microwave. Place a paper towel over the bowl to reduce mess and start with a cook time of 45 seconds. When the time is up, open the microwave and add some green beans. Stir them in and check the temperature. Add another 30 seconds.
Continue cooking this slowly until it is ready. You’ll want to make sure it is nice and hot so the sausage flavor marries with the potatoes.
NOTE: Actual cooking time depends on how much you’re cooking at once. If you’re cooking the whole can of potatoes with both sausage links and the entire can of green beans, it will take longer than the small serving I mention above. However, I still suggest 30-45 second cooking intervals so you can stir frequently. It really helps blend those flavors.
Also, you may not want to mix your sausage and potatoes together. If you want to cook the sausage link whole and eat it on the side, you can. Just poke some holes in the link so it doesn’t explode and slowly cook it until it is hot.
Ham and Rice with a steam-able vegetable
You’ll need individual microwavable rice cups, low-fat ham, butter, and a steamable bag of frozen vegetables.
Steam your vegetables in the microwave first by following the package instructions. While they are steaming, you can chop up a couple low-fat ham slices and set them aside.
Once the cook time is over, you can remove the bag. Place it on a plate or heat safe surface as the bag will be hot. Let the veggies sit in the bag for a couple minutes while you prepare your rice and ham.
Prepare the rice cup according to package instructions. They only cook for a minute so this process will go fast. Then, stick your ham in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Just enough to warm it. Remove it from the microwave and stir it in with the rice. Put a spoon of butter on top of the rice and ham.
Open your veggies and scoop out a serving. Add some salt, pepper, and butter to those if you would like. Oh, so good!
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Cheese Dogs
You’ll need a pack of hotdog buns, a pack of hotdogs, and a pack of slice cheese.
Put a hotdog on a microwave safe dish and poke a couple holes in it. Put it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Pay close attention to it so it doesn’t explode. You want it hot, but you also want it in one piece.
When the hotdog is ready, place it on a bun and lay a slice of cheese on top. I usually break my slice of cheese in half so it fits nicely. Put the entire thing back in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Check to see if the cheese melts. If not, add another 10-15 seconds.
Serve with chips, a side of healthy fruits, or some healthy vegetables.
Beef Stew
You’ll need a can of beef stew, a pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls, and butter.
This is such a soothing option after a long day, especially in cooler weather. You just open the can of beef stew and pour it in a microwave safe bowl. Place a paper towel over the bowl to prevent any mess. You’ll start with 45 seconds. When the time is up, stir the stew. If you want it warmer, add 30 more seconds. Continue until the stew is as hot as you want it. This goes so well with a Hawaiian sweet roll especially if you put a little butter in the middle.
Frozen Chicken Pot Pie
These little boxes are small enough to fit in the freezer section of your hotel mini fridge in most cases. They’re filling, they taste good, and they come in a variety of flavors so don’t nix the idea if you don’t like chicken.
You simply take the pot pie out of the box and place it on a microwave safe dish. Poke a few holes in the top of the pot pie and cook it according to the package instructions.
TASTY TIP: The beef and turkey pot pies are good too. BUT, want a good dessert that you can warm up in your microwave? Try the apple pie!
Eat well from your hotel by making Frito pies
You’ll need a can of chili, a pack of shredded cheese, and a bag of Fritos.
Place a desired amount of Fritos in the bowl you intend to eat out of.
Heat your chili in a microwave safe bowl. Cover it with a paper towel because it will pop some during the cooking process. Start with 45 seconds and then stir. Check and see how hot it is. If you need more time, add another 20 seconds until it is nice and hot. Remove it from the microwave and spoon some chili over the Fritos. Top with a shredded cheese of your choice. OH, SO VERY GOOD!
If you’re looking for some thrifty snacks to eat on the way to your hotel, read my post on Thrifty Road Trip Snacks.
I hope these hotel friendly meal ideas help you eat well from your hotel while saving you some money! FYI, I totally gained weight creating this content. Wishing you many blessings and as always, Safe Travels!
Some great ideas here. When I travel to the US with my husband we usually book an apartment or at least a hotel with a microwave in the room. I want to spend time exploring and shopping not waiting to be served in a restaurant. Preparing food in your room frees up lots of time!
Thanx Adele! You’re absolutely right! Waiting in restaurants can be time consuming, especially in the heart of tourist season when there’s huge crowds. So why not spend that time doing something much more FUN?!!
These are some really nifty ideas…thanks for sharing!
Thanx so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
These are some great choices. I Love a good quesadilla any time of the day. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, any time of day for sure! Thanx for taking the time to comment, Kevin!