Many people want to start a food truck as a replacement income for their job. However, preparing, cooking, and serving food is not the easiest thing to do in the world and does require some experience.
Furthermore, not everyone can just make an Indian or Mexican food truck and make it a success. This is especially true if you’re from a standard American family that didn’t have much of a food identity when you were growing up. Put simply, you’re already at a disadvantage to someone who was raised with their parents working in a Chinese takeout.
Thankfully, we have found 10 simple food truck menu ideas that are not too difficult to make. These dishes can be sold from a food truck and are much more simple to make and sell when compared to dishes like an Indian curry or a Korean bibimbap.
1. Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Simplicity: Very Easy
- Preparation Time: 5-10 minutes
- Equipment: Grill, spatula
- A timeless favorite, the grilled cheese sandwich is simple to make. It offers room for creativity with various cheeses and bread types. Even the most novice chefs have made these in their own kitchen. Simply add extras and seasoning and you have your food truck idea.
2. Gourmet Hot Dogs
- Simplicity: Easy
- Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
- Equipment: Grill or hot dog roller, chopping board
- Elevate the classic hot dog with gourmet toppings like caramelized onions, specialty sauces, and artisanal bread.
3. Tacos with Assorted Fillings
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
- Equipment: Grill, pans, chopping board
- Tacos are versatile. Offer a variety of fillings like grilled chicken, beef, or veggies with a selection of toppings. Slightly more difficult if you’ve never made Mexican cuisine before, although if you grew up in a Mexican household these are simple to make.
4. Falafel Wraps
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 20-30 minutes (if using pre-made falafel mix)
- Equipment: Fryer, wrap station
- Serve these Middle Eastern staples in a wrap with fresh veggies and tahini sauce. If you are familiar with this kind of cuisine falafels are very easy to make.
5. Margherita Pizza
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes (excluding dough preparation)
- Equipment: Pizza oven, pizza stone, rolling pin
- A classic Margherita pizza with fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella is always a hit. As long as you own a pizza oven making a pizza is not too difficult. Once you master how to make a good base, the rest is very simple.
6. Veggie Burgers
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
- Equipment: Grill, spatula
- Cater to vegetarians with delicious veggie burgers made from beans, lentils, or mushrooms. Creating a veggie burger is very straightforward. Presentation and consistency is the most difficult part.
7. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Simplicity: Moderate (requires slow cooking)
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes (plus several hours for slow cooking)
- Equipment: Slow cooker, grill, spatula
- Slow-cooked pork, shredded and mixed with BBQ sauce, makes for a mouthwatering sandwich.
8. Crepes with Sweet and Savory Fillings
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 5-10 minutes per crepe
- Equipment: Crepe maker or skillet, spatula
- Offer a range of fillings from chocolate and fruits to cheese and ham. Once you have made around one hundred crepes this is an extremely easy food truck menu idea.
9. Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes
- Equipment: Grill, rice cooker, sauté pan
- Serve grilled teriyaki chicken over a bed of rice with vegetables.
10. Fish and Chips
- Simplicity: Moderate
- Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes
- Equipment: Fryer, grill, cutting board
- Classic British fare, crispy battered fish with a side of fries. If you have a deep fat fryer in your food truck this is extremely simple as no real seasoning is used compared to other national cuisines.
