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:
Hi Nagi, I just want to say thank you! I am so thankful to your weekly planners – they are saving me time and money during covid lockdown – it is one thing less to worry about each day and the meals are delicious. I am cooking for 6 and I love how I can alter the recipes to give me the quantities, is it possible to do this for the meal plan shopping list – thatwould really help. Once again thank you, and give Dozer a pat for me. Kind Regards, Sue
Love all the resepi
Hi Nagi
Love all your recipes and of course cute dozer. Do you have a 14 day dairy free menuplan?
I don’t Belinda but I’m sure you could use dairy free subs in this plan 🙂 N x
Nagi: you and Dozer make my day.. I’m a senior in Canada, making the best of it on my own. Your recipes and shopping tips give me great ideas, plus I adore your dog. Thank you for what you do. Judy, still strong at 80.
Hi Nagi
I am so glad I found you! I appreciate your culinary perspective and organization. Now that I am 80-um I am not looking for long involved recipes. Simplify is my motto, but not to the exclusion of nutrition and flavor. 🙂 For instance, I decided I needed a basic stir fry sauce –and there came Charlie. Wonderful! I was feeling bogged down covid menu-wise, there came your 15 day plan PLUS. Thank you. Your website et al are a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
You are the best Nagi.. thank you
Oh shucks!! Thanks Jenny! N x
Thank you Nagi. I’ve found your grocery list super helpful over the past few months and we’ve made several of the dishes. Another tip for long shelf life/space saving/I’ve run out of the real stuff and needed a back up is evaporated coconut milk. Granted not as delicious as the proper stuff, but comes in a pack of 3 satchets, each making up 250ml coconut milk. Also great for camping (when is poor victorians are allowed again)
Whilst I am totally not excited about our stage 4 lock down here in Vic, I am SUPER excited about trying this quarantine meal plan!! 😀
Thank you so much Nagi! You’ve made one part of our ‘rona misery easier Xxx
One note, in the ingredients and grocery list it includes an extra meal – Pea and ham soup! So 16 meals actually :-p
All sounds Cant wait to try
When are we getting a Part 2?
Hi Juan – it was released a while ago – here is the link! https://salesdock.info/coronavirus-pandemic-meal-plan-2/%3C/a%3E N x
Nagy gracias por las recetas! Cociné algunas recetas y salieron increíbles! Son sencillas y fáciles de hacer, me encantan las notas, explicaciones claras y precisas, aún no horneo nada, vivo a 3600 m.s.n.m Ya hornearé y te contaré los resultados.
Abrazos desde La Paz, Bolivia😘
Thanks so much Wendy!! N x
Nagi thank you so much for these recipes as always you are so awesome always the right thing at the right time
Oh shucks Rob, thanks so much! N x
Thank you for all your wonderful recipes.
These are mouth watering!
The grocery list is wonderful…such a great idea..
I look forward every day to your recipes…
Your amazing… greetings from Ireland..xxx
You’re so welcome Agnes, thanks so much! N x
Thank you for all the menu ideas. If Dozer were closer I would share my meal. hahahahahahaha Stay safe.
You’re so welcome Colleen!! N x
I just have to say this to you, I have been using your recipes for over 2 years and now my husband knows not to even ask.. If it’s a new dish.. He just says is it Nagis! You are much loved 😊 Thank you for always giving us the best and now with the meal plans, you are appreciated lovely lady! xx
Thank you so much for this. I found you website by chance when on holiday and attempting to organize my life and your recipies have never failed me. Keep the recipies coming. On a side note, my 10month old loves your food too!
i never comment on anything… but you prepare tasty, easy to follow, and easy to make meals. i’m printing your recipes steady!
keep up the good work.
i look forward to your daily emails.
john from thunder bay, ontario, canada
Thanks so much John! N x
Amazing Nagi!! I share these with my daughter and we will split a list and off we go. Thanks for your effort in putting these together. I have cooked so many of your recipes and have, without exception, always loved the results 🙂
Sounds perfect Jackie – N x
I Love these recipe and grocery list. Ive made so many and all have turned out great!!!!! When will #2 be out?? thank you so much. Loooovvee Dozer too!!
Wahoo!!! That’s great to hear Heather! N x
Love this site and all the recipies and now this grocery list, great stuff, for someone like me its alot of effort off my shoulders when i get a general list since its much easier to plan with and plan around instead of groping in the dark.
Thanks.