If you own one of the many food trucks in the United States, you will know that it is indeed a more profitable idea to put your food into the hands of your customers. However, the open-air nature of your enterprise introduces a dilemma during the cold season as the temperature decreases.
Clients are less likely to queue in snowy or cold weather, irrespective of how much they enjoy your food. Revenues may suffer if you do not have a hot dining room.
However, rather than packing up for the winter or going to look for a normal job, you could use some winter tactics to boost off-season revenues.
It is worth noting that when winter arrives, it arrives in great strength, and the warm and sunny days of summer are forgotten.
When developing new recipes, consider providing menu items that are weather appropriate and celebratory. On your winter menu, for example, you could introduce a New Mexican hot chocolate or a hearty turkey chili. You should avoid trying to serve iced or cold foods and instead serve relatively warm options.
Rather than running away the cold, incorporate it into your seasonal food truck marketing strategy. A winter menu or a few modifications to your regular menu can easily attract customers.
Trying new food truck menu ideas is among the most effective ways to keep your food truck business operating all through the winter.
Best Food Truck Winter Menu ideas
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Pumpkin Pie
A food truck can, in fact, serve pumpkin pie. It falls under the umbrella of cult-favorite, and around the holidays, appetites run wild for a slice of pie.
You should notify folks that the holiday season has arrived, and you should take advantage of this by serving your famous pumpkin pie (or any pie).
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Chicken Soup
Chicken soup, despite being among the most basic soups anyone can make, is a delectable and flavorful option. It’s a swift and nutritionally balanced appetizer that can be crafted in 30 minutes with onion, celery, carrots, and shredded chicken in chicken broth.
If your food truck focuses on rice dishes, you could substitute them with chicken and rice soup. Italian wedding soup is a must-order for any food truck trying to serve Italian cuisine.
It only requires mini meatballs, a pith of Parmesan cheese, orzo, and shredded escarole. You can also add peeled ginger and sliced scallions, as well as soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil.
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Popsicles
Although people are mostly advised to avoid sweet treats, but popsicles are an idea to get around that rule. The chilly, flavored ice will help to calm your customers’ sore throats and, based on the fruit substance, can provide them with vitamins.
However, remember to check your local forecast for any upcoming heavy snow so you can start stocking up on foods that are appropriate for treating and/or preventing flu.
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Vegetable Noodle Soup
The primary components in this soup are vegetables and noodles, as the title indicates; therefore it’s a fantastic way to utilize any vegetable tops and leftover veggies in your food truck’s fridge.
Simply create a vegetable broth with whatever vegetables you have on hand, and after that add the noodles. By introducing additional ingredients such as mini meatballs, shredded chicken, or sliced beef, you can end up making it richer or convert it into a different dish.
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Waffles and Fudge Puppies
It’s a good idea to incorporate a warm dessert option because it tends to fall into the category of comfort foods that numerous individuals desire during the winter.
Belgian waffles, like pretzels and funnel cakes, can be served with a range of dishes with very little effort. Fudge puppies are a simple and effective way to please the chocolate lovers in your crew.
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French Onions Soup
French onion soup with sautéed onions, thyme, and cognac is produced with beef broth rather than chicken broth and is crowned with Gruyere toasts. Due to the caramelized onions, this could take longer to prepare, but the taste is worth the wait.
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Nachos
Have in mind that offering nachos with the El Nacho Grande Bag Cheese Dispenser is easily possible for your staff (and delicious for your customers!).
It does come with a pre-heating standby space for extra cheese and requires almost no clean-up at the conclusion of the night. Portion Pak Cheese seems to be another alternative.
If you use pre-measured serving cups, keep in mind that they can be reheated many times, which means that you won’t have to worry if you don’t sell your warmed stock inside one shift.
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Potato Chowder
This is an additional thick soup that is much more satisfying than clear soups, but unlike butternut squash soup, it does not need to be pureed.
Sliced bacon, leeks, chicken broth, cream, and diced potatoes are the essential components. Alternatively, consider making potato cheese chowder with grated sharp cheddar.
Consider providing two very different versions so that patrons can choose. Clam chowder can be made using the same components as potato chowder, but substituting the chicken broth with clam juice and water and then introducing clams. Corn chowder contains the same ingredients as potato chowder but includes chopped corn.
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Hot Chocolate, Egg Nog, Apple Cider
Hot chocolate helps people stay warm. Of course, egg nog is popular during holidays. Apple cider is, too. The festive season does not last all winter, but you should take advantage of it when the shops are packed.
The above three drinks and pumpkin pie may throw your menu off slightly, but it is critical that you consider offering the people what they want while also changing things up a little.
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Butternut Squash Soup
The above soup is stiffer, making it a more filling option. The basic ingredients are onions, finely sliced butternut squash, and chicken broth, and the soup must be pureed to ensure that everything is well blended.
Replace the onion with finely chopped shallots and season with sage leaves, apple cider, nutmeg, and crème Fraiche for a little bit more complex flavor.
If you want to make parsnip and bacon soup, substitute the butternut squash in the traditional recipe with parsnips, add crème Fraiche, and garnish with crumbled bacon.
Winter can be a tough period for businesses because most people remain at home to stay warm. Food truck businesses are particularly hard-hit, and many shut down for a few months.
Some, on the other hand, modify their meals. If you fall within this last category, ensure to consider some of the viable options noted above.