6 Best Griddles For Breakfast RV Cooking Nomads Swear By

There’s nothing quite like the sound and smell of bacon sizzling on a griddle at a campsite, with the morning sun filtering through the trees. For RV nomads, a good griddle isn’t just a piece of cooking gear; it’s the centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen and the key to effortless, delicious meals. It transforms a cramped indoor galley into an open-air diner, making cooking for yourself or a crowd a genuine pleasure instead of a logistical puzzle.

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Why a Griddle is an RV Kitchen Essential

A griddle is far more than a flat pan. It’s a high-volume, versatile cooking station that fundamentally changes how you approach meals on the road. Its large, even heating surface allows you to cook an entire breakfast—eggs, bacon, pancakes, and hashbrowns—all at once, something that’s nearly impossible on a standard two-burner RV stovetop.

This single piece of equipment moves the messiest cooking outdoors. Sizzling bacon or frying burgers won’t spatter grease all over your tiny living space or leave lingering smells in your cushions for days. This simple shift keeps your RV cleaner and more comfortable. Beyond breakfast, it’s a workhorse for quick lunches like grilled cheese and quesadillas or dinners like smash burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, and fried rice.

The biggest question is always about space. In an RV, every cubic inch is precious real estate, and dedicating a spot to a griddle might seem like a luxury. But consider what it replaces: multiple frying pans, a toaster, and maybe even a clunky grill. When you weigh its multi-functionality against the space it occupies, a griddle often proves to be one of the most efficient uses of storage in your entire rig.

Blackstone 17" Tabletop Griddle: The RV Gold Standard

Walk through any campground in America, and you will see a Blackstone. It has become the default choice for RVers for a simple reason: it perfectly balances size, performance, and portability. The 17-inch model is large enough to cook a full meal for two to four people but small enough to store in an external bay or even a large cabinet.

Powered by a standard 1-pound propane cylinder, it’s ready for off-grid cooking right out of the box. The rolled steel cooktop requires an initial seasoning—much like cast iron—which builds up a fantastic non-stick surface over time. This surface is the key to its performance, delivering the kind of crust on a smash burger or a pancake that you just can’t get from a typical non-stick pan.

The primary tradeoff is its outdoor-only nature. This is not a tool for a rainy day unless you have a generous awning. Its grease management system, while effective, requires you to be mindful of leveling the griddle to ensure proper drainage into the catch cup. It’s a fantastic, dedicated outdoor cooking machine, and if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s hard to beat.

Camp Chef VersaTop: Ultimate Cooking Versatility

The Camp Chef VersaTop isn’t just a griddle; it’s a modular cooking system. This is the choice for the RVer who wants maximum capability from a single piece of gear. The system is built around a powerful burner base that can accommodate various interchangeable tops, including the excellent griddle surface.

Imagine being able to swap your griddle top for a BBQ grill box for steaks one night, then a pizza oven for a homemade pie the next, all using the same burner and propane source. This modularity is a game-changer for long-term travelers who crave variety in their cooking without hauling three or four separate appliances. The griddle itself is a high-quality, non-stick seasoned surface that’s ready to cook on immediately.

The main consideration here is commitment and cost. The VersaTop system is an investment, and it only makes sense if you plan to purchase and use the other attachments. If your heart is set on only griddle cooking, the Blackstone might be a more straightforward and cost-effective choice. But if you see yourself grilling, baking, and griddling, the VersaTop offers an integrated solution that is unmatched in the RV space.

Lodge Cast Iron Griddle: The Go-Anywhere Classic

For the minimalist, the boondocker, or the traditionalist, the Lodge cast iron griddle is an unbeatable classic. It has no moving parts, requires no separate fuel source, and is virtually indestructible. This is the griddle you can throw directly on a campfire grate, use on your RV’s indoor propane stove, or place on top of an existing outdoor grill.

Most models are reversible, offering a perfectly flat surface on one side for eggs and pancakes and a ribbed grill surface on the other for searing burgers or chicken. This dual-functionality from such a simple piece of metal is a testament to its brilliant design. It holds heat incredibly well, providing a consistent cooking temperature once it’s up to temp.

The downsides are significant and can be deal-breakers for some. First, it is heavy. Cast iron’s thermal properties come from its mass, and that mass adds considerable weight to your rig. Second, it requires proper cast iron care—seasoning, careful cleaning without soap, and immediate drying to prevent rust. Finally, the cooking surface is smaller than a dedicated propane griddle, making it better suited for one or two people.

Presto 22-inch Electric: For Big Indoor Feasts

Sometimes you just want to cook inside. Whether it’s a rainy day, a windy afternoon, or you’re parked at a full-hookup site, an electric griddle offers convenience that propane models can’t match. The Presto 22-inch is a legend in this category, offering a massive cooking surface that can handle a dozen pancakes or a full pound of bacon at once.

The beauty of an electric griddle is precise, set-it-and-forget-it temperature control. There’s no guesswork or fiddling with a propane knob to manage hot spots. The non-stick surface makes both cooking and cleanup incredibly simple, and the entire unit is relatively lightweight and slim for storage, provided you have a long, flat spot for it.

The limitation is obvious but crucial: it needs 120V AC power. This makes it a perfect tool for RVers who spend most of their time in campgrounds with electrical hookups. For boondockers, it’s a non-starter unless you have a substantial inverter and battery bank willing to power its 1500-watt heating element. It’s a fantastic solution for a specific style of RVing.

Cuisinart Griddler FIVE: Compact Countertop Power

The Cuisinart Griddler is the Swiss Army Knife of countertop cooking. It’s a contact grill, a panini press, and a full griddle all packed into one compact appliance. By opening the unit 180 degrees, you get two small griddle surfaces, perfect for a solo traveler or a couple.

This is another electric, indoor-friendly option. Its key advantage is its multi-functionality in a very small footprint. The removable, reversible plates are non-stick and dishwasher-safe, making it the easiest to clean of any griddle on this list. For someone in a small Class B van or a truck camper, where every item must serve multiple purposes, the Griddler is a brilliant piece of engineering.

The tradeoff is surface area. When opened flat, the total cooking space is significantly smaller than a dedicated griddle. You’ll be cooking in batches if you’re making breakfast for more than two people. It’s a master of versatility, not volume. But for a quick indoor meal without the fuss of propane or cast iron, it’s an elegant and powerful solution.

Royal Gourmet PD1301S: Portable and Budget-Wise

Not everyone needs a top-of-the-line, heavy-duty griddle. For the weekend warrior or the RVer on a tighter budget, the Royal Gourmet tabletop griddle offers fantastic performance for its price. It provides a similar experience to the big-name brands—a portable, propane-powered flat top for outdoor cooking—at a fraction of the cost.

One of its standout features is often a porcelain-enameled cooktop. Unlike the Blackstone’s raw steel, this surface doesn’t require seasoning and is much easier to clean right out of the box, offering a lower-maintenance experience. It’s typically lighter than its competitors, making it easy to move from a storage bay to a picnic table.

So what’s the catch? The build quality and materials may not feel as substantial as a Camp Chef or Blackstone. Heat distribution can sometimes be less even, requiring you to learn your griddle’s specific hot and cool spots. But for its intended purpose—making great outdoor meals without a hefty investment—it’s an incredible value that gets the job done well.

Choosing the Right Griddle for Your RV Lifestyle

The "best" griddle doesn’t exist. The best griddle is the one that seamlessly fits your specific RV, your crew, and your style of travel. Don’t just buy the one you see most often; think critically about how and where you will actually use it.

Your decision ultimately comes down to a few key questions. Answering them honestly will point you directly to the right choice for your rig.

• Power & Location: Will you be cooking off-grid with propane, or at full-hookup sites with electricity? Do you want to cook exclusively outdoors, or do you need an indoor option for bad weather?
• Cooking Volume: Are you a solo traveler making two eggs and a piece of toast, or are you feeding a family of four with pancakes, bacon, and hashbrowns?
• Storage Space: Do you have a large external bay that can fit a 17-inch griddle, or are you working with a small cabinet inside a camper van?
• Versatility vs. Specialty: Do you need a tool that does one thing perfectly (like a Blackstone), or a multi-function appliance that can grill, press, and griddle (like a Cuisinart)?

A full-time family boondocking in the desert has vastly different needs than a retired couple touring national park campgrounds for a month. The former will likely choose a large propane griddle like a Blackstone, while the latter might find an indoor electric model like the Presto to be more convenient. Match the tool to the job, and you’ll have an RV kitchen essential you swear by for years to come.

Ultimately, a griddle is about more than just cooking; it’s about creating experiences. It’s the tool that lets you serve up a hot, delicious breakfast for your whole crew while you all enjoy the view from your campsite. Choose wisely, and it will become one of the most beloved and well-used pieces of gear in your entire RV.