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:
-
15 dinner recipes – most will have some leftovers
-
Long shelf life ingredients – all ingredients are freezable or kept in the pantry
-
Family friendly – I’ve parked the more exotic / spicy dishes for another day!
-
Common ingredients across recipes – for efficiency (cost and number of items)
-
Highly versatile – substitute away!
-
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.
-
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;
-
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;
-
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;
-
Skip insignificant garnishes; and
-
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:
Very cool for you to put this together.
Things have been getting really serious here (closures, travel bans, and such) over the past 48 hours (Ontario/Canada), as I know they are everywhere, and it’s awesome that you care so much about all of us to put this together.
Thanks for being awesome Nagi!
Becca 🙂
Thank you Nagi your recipes are so delicious and easy to make. Definitely trying the Irish bread.
Hi , im from Cape Town South Africa and i love your recipes, makes feeding my family such a breeze and i love this meal plan and there is plenty of leftovers!
Hi Nagi, I’m looking forward to making some of these recipes. They look & sound delicious.
Hi Nagi, thank you for a great blog. I have been preparing for the past three weeks, prepared food, stocked up in both freezer and pantry, have my list and as of today have enough food to last us for a couple of months. At our age we needed to prepare just in case they eventually tell us seniors to stay home!
Nagi- this is so kind and thoughtful of you! I actually had done a similar menu plan/grocery run, and your corn chowder recipe was already on it!! Excited to add these others. Stay safe & healthy xo
This is amazing! Thankyou. And YES YES YES to the adult version. Also Nagi what recipe is the ham hock for I couldn’t find it?
Hi Casey! It’s for the pea and ham soup. It’s a magic one – you literally put everything in a slow cooker or pot and cook it until the ham meat is falling off the bone. No need to sauté onion or anything beforehand – it self sautés! N x
I always love your recipes, and particularly love that you are giving us the tools and encouragement to get through this craziness together. Thank you so much. Love to Dozer from my Girl Molly, and. stay healthy and safe.xx
Thanks Nagi for putting out a great list. I had already done mine with many of your recipes included in my plan. I am even able to substitute and mix them around with your suggestions. Thanks for sharing your recipes.
Thank you so much for the great assortment of recipes. This will surely be used in our home!! Very helpful.
I really want to do this menu but there are so few ingredients are available. I can only improvise. Luckily, you have taught me how to make so many sauces, marinades, side dishes and clever little tricks to be able to feed my fussy family nutritious and interesting meals with whatever I can find. Nagi, you are the best. Take care. xx
Nagi, You are an angel. This is amazing. We are in lockdown on Vancouver Island feeling sad because we will miss the birth of our first grandchild in Brisbane in April. I love your recipes and your blog. Bella the blue heeler sends her love to Dozer. Sending you positive vibes for good health and may life be back to normal soon.
This is fantastic. Wonderful tips Nagi. Thank you so much Stay safe !!
Nagi, thank you so much for putting together this!!! It’s one less thing we need to think about!
Every recipe of yours I’ve tried has been amazing – can’t wait to try these!
Thank you again!!!
Thank you so much for this! you are a life saver! Stay healthy!
Thanks for all the good advice.I e joy all your recipes. Look forward to more.Stay healthy.
Nagi your spreadsheet is awesome and so handy. I’m going to use this going forward it’s so good.
Thank you Nagi! We have a few bits and bobs and I’m going to make Tuna Mornay tonight. Thanks for your positivity during these scary times.
Fantastic idea. Your recipes have become family favourites and I’ve passed on the site to lots of friends too. Thank you
Thanks Always enjoy reading your recipes online Staple items certainly make quick easy meals.Keep Healthy all
Thank you from Seattle! I was needing some motivation to keep cooking good food. You arrived in my inbox on the perfect day. Thank you.