This post contains a 15 Day Meal Plan that’s based around recipes with common ingredients that have a long shelf life, and delivers big flavours with crowd pleasing food! There’s a consolidated grocery list, all the recipes are easy to make and it’s based around a family of 4 to 5.
If we’re housebound, let’s make sure that life is extra delicious!! {Also – Meal Plan #2 now available!)
Coronavirus Quarantine Menu Plan
2 weeks ago, you might’ve turned your nose up at the thought of stocking up on food in anticipation of being housebound due to Coronavirus.
Today, I’d consider it the wise thing to do. I don’t want to be overly dramatic or an alarmist, but these are uncertain times. But one thing we can do to give ourselves a sense of security is to stock our pantries with a sensible amount of food.
So here’s a 15 Day+ Menu Plan with a consolidated grocery list for a family of 4! This is what you’ll get:
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15 dinner recipes – most will have some leftovers
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Long shelf life ingredients – all ingredients are freezable or kept in the pantry
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Family friendly – I’ve parked the more exotic / spicy dishes for another day!
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Common ingredients across recipes – for efficiency (cost and number of items)
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Highly versatile – substitute away!
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Easy to make, complete meals – so you don’t have to think about adding sides
Hope you find it useful! – Nagi x
Tip: Go to the grocery store as soon as it opens. Or ask them when they do restocking of shelves!
IMPORTANT: Read this first
Here are universal changes I’ve made to the recipes that is reflected in the grocery list, aimed at space and cost efficiency, and shelf life of ingredients. I’ve also listed some useful substitutions.
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Stock cubes / powder instead of liquid broth/stock – use stock cubes / powder instead (bouillon cubes) instead of liquid stock sold in cartons. Dissolve 1 cube or 1 tsp of powder in 1 cup boiling water = 1 cup liquid stock. Much more space efficient than storing gallons of liquid stock;
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Can’t find canned tomato? (It’s hot property here in Sydney!) Here’s a substitute using tomato paste: Whisk 1.5 tbsp flour with 1/4 cup water until lump free. Then mix in another 1 1/4 cups water, 4 tbsp tomato paste and 1 tsp sugar. Bring to simmer on stove until it thickens to gravy consistency. Use in place of 1 can of crushed tomato;
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Switched short shelf life fresh ingredients for longer shelf life ingredients. For example, bean sprouts (lasts several days) switched for shredded cabbage (lasts 4+ weeks). These switches are specified in the list below;
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Skip insignificant garnishes; and
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Be prepared to substitute depending on what you can get your hands on. Don’t get hung up on using the right beans or right pasta, or exact herbs. Be flexible!
Also see my GOLD TIPS on smart food stocking(don’t hoard!)
15 Day Coronavirus Quarantine Menu Plan
Here’s an overview of the meal plan. Notes on long shelf life adjustments and substitutions for each are listed in each recipe below.
Click here to download and print the grocery list
1. Chicken Enchiladas
Filled with a juicy chicken and bean filling and homemade Enchilada Sauce!
Sub options: use any beans you have – even lentils or chickpeas, or add diced frozen vegetables instead. Or make the ground beef/mince version!
2. Creamy Chicken Pasta
Chicken, parmesan, garlic, creamy, sun dried tomatoes, and a sprinkle of bacon. Do you need anymore information? 😂
Subs: Use any pasta you can find, long or short. Also – cream and parmesan are freezable! Use frozen spinach in place of baby spinach – or any vegetable you can get your hands on. Or just leave it out!
3. Chunky Vegetable Beef Soup
Slow cooked for fall apart beef! Magnificent stew-like soup that’s hearty with a flavourful broth.
Subs: Use any vegetables you can. Switch the stewing beef for any protein suitable for stewing!
4. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Tastes like a risotto…but so much easier to make!
Subs: Skip the chicken and double up on broccoli to make it meat free. Switch the broccoli for any vegetables you have.
5. Corn Chowder
Creamy corn chowder with potato and sprinkled with bacon bits… it’s all MINE!!! Psst recipe recommends fresh corn, but just use canned or frozen (quantity is in the recipe 👍)
Subs: Switch the corn for anything you could add into soups. Diced vegetables, peas, even rice, quinoa or beans! (Ooooh…creamy bean soup….)
6. Creamy Tuna Mornay
The highest and best use for canned tuna, full stop! The creamy garlic parmesan sauce is 100% amazing (and no cream!)
Subs: Make this with any short pasta, switch tuna with canned salmon, use other chopped proteins OR stir in frozen veg and make it meat free!
7. Chicken Nachos
Imagine Friday nights in with THIS in front of Netflix……
8. Brazilian Coconut Chickpea Curry
Chickpeas made amazing, thanks to the Brazilians!
Subs: This sauce works with everything, from Fish to shrimp/prawns, chicken, beef, vegetables, any bean.
Click here to download and print the grocery list for this 15 Day Meal Plan
9. Beef Ramen Noodles
One pot wonder! Psst Recipe calls for beansprouts, but we’re going to sub with cabbage instead cause it lasts forever in the fridge (ok ok, “forever” is a slight exaggeration – but upwards of 4 weeks for sure!)
Subs: Make this with any ground/mince meat. (Fellow Aussies, there was still plenty of KANGAROO meat at the store today even though everything else was gone!)
10. Cashew Chicken
Chinese takeout gold standard! (PS Loads of sauce to soak your rice. Promise.)
Subs: Make this with any vegetables or protein you have. The sauce will make anything taste great!
11. Chili Mac and Cheese
Nope, not spicy. Just loaded with flavour! Juicy, saucy, cheesy, beefy, it’s a cross between Chilli Con Carne and Mac ‘n Cheese.
Subs: Make this with any ground/mince meat, switch the red kidney beans for any beans you have. Or sub with diced veg. This one’s all about the sauce (eeer….and cheese 😇)
12. Chicken Lo Mein Noodles
The beauty of these noodles? You could make it with just spaghetti and cabbage, and it’s still going to be delicious (I should know, I’ve done it!). That Lo Mein Sauce ROCKS.
RECIPE CHANGE: Grocery list calls for this to be made using instant ramen / dried noodles because of long shelf life (recipe calls for fresh noodles). Also grocery list accounts for double batch to serve 5 (recipe as written serves 2 – 3).
13. Salmon Patties
Who knew you could make something so amazing with CANNED salmon!!?
Subs: Try this with any canned fish, especially tuna! Skip the fresh dill if you don’t have it, just add 1 tsp of any dried herbs you have.
14. Baked Spaghetti
A vision that makes me weak in the knees…
Subs: Make this with any pasta, and any ground/mince meat.
15. Mexican Beef Rice Casserole
This is how you take a packet of beef mince (ground beef) and a cup of rice and turn it into an amazing dinner.
Subs: Any ground/mince meat, any diced veg! Only rule – no skimping on the CHEESE 😉
Grocery List
I’ve combined the ingredients for all the above recipes into one consolidated grocery list. You can even browse the big matrix I used to calculate the totals and check the formulas I used to convert the ingredients into different metrics! 😂
Click here to download and print the grocery list
I hope you find this Menu Plan useful! If there’s enough demand, I’ll prepare another one which is more adult focussed – more worldly foods, more exciting flavours. (Think – Chicken Shawarma, Indian Chickpea Curry, Lamb Koftas etc)
And lastly, you might also find this useful – my gold tips for food stocking for Coronavirus. Sensible suggestions for space saving and cost saving food items.
Stay safe everyone! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Life of Dozer
Rest assured the Baked Spaghetti above was subjected to a thorough quality control:
Just love your work. And Dozer!
Nagi, greetings from the US, where we are just starting to get hit with what the rest of the world has been dealing with for many weeks. I couldn’t sleep, thinking about what we’ll be dealing with tomorrow. It changes every day, and this country is so unprepared (not to get political, but sheesh). Seeing your email with these lovely recipes (some of which I’ve already tried, with great results) and especially your Corona Virus Quarantine shopping list–it felt like getting a personal email from a concerned friend on the other side of the world. Like Penny, I already have a lot of this on hand, but I didn’t really have a clear plan on how to use it. Thank you for your concern and generosity, dear Nagi. We are all in this together, and hopefully we will all weather it safely. Stay safe and healthy, all of you! Praying for all.
Thx for thinking of this even if it’s not followed to the tee it gives us ideas of what to cook, what to substitute and what to have in our pantry/fridge.
Tough times ahead for us all. Take care
This is so brilliant Nagi!!! I make several of these recipes and I love your suggestions. I’m one who is nervous about feeding my family from the pantry and your substitutes make it so much easier.
I vote to see more ideas from you xx
You are my hero in this time of confusion and fear. This is exactly what I needed. Thank you.
Just what we need — ideas on what to eat and stock up on while on home quarantine. Thanks a lot for your generosity, Nagi!
You are a lifesaver Nagi! Thankyou for your kindness and taking the time to help all of us through these tricky times. I can’t wait to read through all the recipes. Takes so much stress away ❤️
Nagi — you have taken such a weight off my shoulders. I had bought most of this already without a clear plan on how to use it. This will help me stretch it out for a longer period. And allow me to just zip in and out of the greengrocer if I need to or am able to do so. The adult only plan sounds wonderful. I would love it.
This is super helpful Nagi, thanks a lot! You’re amazing as always!
This is great, anything one can do, thank you Nagi.
The Dozers of the world take loads of stress off shoulders. I always have a laugh when I read your comments and see pics of Dozer. Thank you!
Nagi for Australian Of The Year 2020! Finally some sensible and really helpful advice! I’ve been a big fan of yours since I saw you on the 7:30 report with your mum. Lovely down-to-earth interview. You are and your recipes are amazing!
You are awesome Nagi Thanks for this list and menu ideas
Hi Nagi
Thank you sincerely for the time and effort you have put into compiling a shopping list, plus recipes. Saves me from wandering aimlessly around the supermarket grabbing anything that is left on the shelves. Best wishes, and many thanks, Denise
Just wanted to extend my gratefulness towards you, this is so helpful, especially for a student as I don’t often get time to think of these things.
Keep yourself safe x
Hi Nagi, Just want to add my heartfelt thanks along with the other readers, for your effort and time taken to prepare this amazing menu plan and shopping list.
A job very well done and appreciated.
Stay Safe
Nagi thank you for the recipes and information re storing vegetables.The virus, it’s not going to really impact Australia until May June so further recipes (adult) would be welcome I’m sure
Nagi, screw Coronavirus – this looks like the ultimate family meal planning list, full stop! I’ll be using all these recipes for my weekly rotations forever. Thank you, you good thing!
Thank you! I really needed some ideas after being put into lockdown in Spain 2 days ago with limited items. 🙂
Thank you so much Nagi. This is amazing. Stay well x
What an amazing person you are Nagi, taking the stress out of what to shop and eat during these trying times. Can’t go wrong with your fabulous food.
A million thank you’s.
Wishing I could be Dozer right now, that boy has a fantastic life!
<3 Julie