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Home Coronavirus Food

Coronavirus Menu Plan 1 – Family Favourites

By:Nagi
Published:22 Mar '20Updated:5 May '20
302 Comments
Video v Dozer v

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!)

Corona virus quarantine menu plan

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

Creamy Corn Chowder with Bacon, with a couple of simple tips for make it extra tasty! recipetineats.com

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.

  1. 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;

  2. 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;

  3. 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;

  4. Skip insignificant garnishes; and

  5. 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!

  6. Know how to sanitise groceries

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.

Pan of Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Enchiladas
Close up of Chicken Pasta recipe with creamy alfredo sauce, sun dried tomato, spinach and bacon in a rustic black bowl, ready to be eaten
Chicken Pasta of your dreams!
Close up photo of Vegetable Beef Soup with tender, slow cooked beef
Vegetable Beef Soup (Fall apart beef!)
Close up of spoon scooping up One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Creamy Corn Chowder with Bacon, with a couple of simple tips for make it extra tasty! recipetineats.com
Corn Chowder with Bacon
Tuna Casserole in a rustic blue bowl, ready to be eaten
Tuna Mornay (Tuna Casserole Pasta Bake)
Close up of Chicken Nachos made tin Doritos corn chips
Chicken Nachos recipe
Close up of Brazilian Chickpea Curry in a bowl
Brazilian Coconut Chickpea Curry
Close up of Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles fresh off the stove, ready to be served
Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles
Chinese Cashew Chicken with sauce on a white plate, ready to be served
Cashew Chicken
Chili Mac in a white cast iron pot, fresh off the stove ready to be served
Chili Mac and Cheese
Close up of Lo Mein in a wok, ready to be served
Lo Mein Noodles
Tender insides studded with flakes of salmon, golden on the outside, these Salmon Patties are baked, not fried. Ultimate transformation of canned salmon - or use fresh! recipetineats.com
Salmon Patties
Lifting a cheesy piece of Baked Spaghetti from casserole dish
Baked Spaghetti (Epic!)
Close up of Mexican Ground Beef Casserole with Rice in a pot, fresh off the stove
Mexican Ground Beef Casserole with Rice (beef mince!)

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!

Get the recipe >>

Plate of juicy Chicken Enchiladas, ready to be devoured

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!

Get the recipe >>

Close up of chicken pasta with creamy alfredo sauce, sun dried tomato, spinach and bacon

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!

Get the recipe >>

Vegetable Beef Soup in a pot, fresh off the stove ready to be served

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.

Get the recipe >>

Overhead photo of One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, fresh off the stove

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….)

Get the recipe >>

Creamy Corn Chowder with Bacon, with a couple of simple tips for make it extra tasty! recipetineats.com

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!

Get the recipe >>

Close up of Tuna Mornay fresh out of the oven being served

7. Chicken Nachos

Imagine Friday nights in with THIS in front of Netflix……

Get the recipe >>

Close up of Chicken Nachos made tin Doritos corn chips

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.

Get the recipe >>

Close up of Brazilian Chickpea Curry in a bowl

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!)

Get the recipe >>

Close up of Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles fresh off the stove, ready to be served

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!

Get the recipe >>

Chinese Cashew Chicken served on rice in a white bowl with chopsticks, ready to be eaten

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 😇)

Get the recipe >>

Chili Mac in a white cast iron pot, fresh off the stove ready to be served

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).

Get the recipe >>

Tossing Lo Mein noodles in a wok

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.

Get the recipe >>

Tender insides studded with flakes of salmon, golden on the outside, these Salmon Patties are baked, not fried. Ultimate transformation of canned salmon - or use fresh! recipetineats.com

14. Baked Spaghetti

A vision that makes me weak in the knees…

Subs: Make this with any pasta, and any ground/mince meat.

Get the recipe >>

Lifting a cheesy piece of Baked Spaghetti from casserole dish

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 😉

Get the recipe >>

Close up of Mexican Ground Beef Casserole with Rice in a pot, fresh off the stove

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

Coronavirus quarantine meal plan 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:

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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302 Comments

  1. Vanessa says

    March 16, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    You are lovely for thinking to do this for your most appreciative followers.
    Stay healthy Nagi xx

    Reply
  2. Sue C says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Just received your fab email in my inbox. What an absolute star you are. I’ve made so many of your great recipes and never left a comment…so this is to put that right.
    THANK YOU NAGI👏👍🎉😘

    Reply
  3. Josie says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Thank you so much! This is fantastic, and maybe it will help calm the farm!

    Reply
  4. Hollis Ramsey says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    My pantry is awesome: 2 kinds of dried mushrooms, many kinds of rice-pasta-beans-lentils, etc., dried hominy, sun dried tomatoes, anchovies 3 ways, olives, several kinds of canned tomatoes, canned artichoke hearts, canned salmon, dried raisins-cranberries-barberries, saffron, cardamon (whole pods + ground), cinnamon, black peppercorns, many kinds of salt, pomegranate and date syrups, and loads of other exotic spices, chicken stock + beef broth cubes, powdered heavy cream and powdered milk, several kinds of flours (including chickpea, almond, bread, and cake), yeast, lots of fats, oils an. vinegars, tubes of pureed herbs, SPAM (for my Hawaiian scramble, with canned pineapple, fresh jalapeños — ALWAYS on hand, and red onion), plenty of sour cream, milk, and eggs. My freezer is full of the usual meat-poultry-fish and veggies, but I also have foie gras in cubes and torchons (because I’m extremely self-indulgent). I can bake breads and biscuits, cakes and pies, cookies galore!

    And all of this was compiled WELL BEFORE the pandemic! I cannot believe how lucky I am!!!

    Reply
  5. Tracey McGreevy says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Thank you ! We love your recipes here – our entire 7 day menu plan last week featured RecipeTin dinners – and we enjoyed each and every one. This list is just what I need today – I’m sitting here trying to work out what to buy to have for current meals and storage meals for if (when) school is closed here in Australia and we go into isolation. It’s overwhelming so to come across your email tonight with a pre-prepared menu AND shopping list is just beyond generous. Thank you so much Nagi 😀

    Reply
  6. Sue R says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    Thank you for this Nagi. It made me a little less worried since I have just about most things of the list. Really glad you mentioned things that can be frozen too. Take care x

    Reply
  7. Amy says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    Thank you Nagi for thinking of us all in these worrying times and for all the hard work you put into these two posts……much appreciated x
    We enjoy your meals on a very regular basis here and no doubt will be extra grateful of them over the coming weeks. Stay safe. X

    Reply
  8. Ann says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    Love your grocery list, Nagi – especially for the wine! Have already several of these on my weekly menu.

    Reply
  9. Bonnie says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    Thank you! Please do the adult focused one too 😀

    Reply
    • Net says

      March 16, 2020 at 9:19 pm

      Nagi, you are a legend. I cook your recipes ALL the time. So nice to see helpful suggestions amongst all the craziness! (I also thought “must make sure I can make Charlie if things get really tough”)

      Reply
  10. Evelyn Hughes says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    Thank you so much for your helpful suggestions.

    Reply
  11. Ben says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    Fantastic! Genius idea.

    Reply
  12. Julie says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    This is an awesome idea! Thanks so much for your ideas. Only trouble I have here is the shortage of food in the supermarkets!

    Reply
  13. Psophia says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    Wow you are a gem thank you for being so caring. Have tried a lot of your recepies love the simplicity of them with fabulous tast.

    Reply
  14. Nancy Bellamy says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:24 pm

    Dear Nagi.
    Thank you from the UK. I have been stressing a wee bit about what to do about food and your recipes and ever thoughtful shopping list as got me heaving a huge sigh of relief. All l have to do now is taking my shopping list to the store. Thank you. I love your recipes.

    Reply
  15. Margie says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    Thank you so much Nagi and Dozer.. Love receiving your recipes Always tasty and very reliable.
    Cheers Margie Xx🐶xx

    Reply
  16. Lisa says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    Thank you! I’m particularly pleased to see that Dozer is fully stocked with his beloved stuffed toys. Most important of all 🙂

    Reply
  17. Claire says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    Wow! Thank you so much! You’re a star!

    Reply
  18. kim says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    I love your website in good and bad times. Thank you for all of your hard work. Your recipes will be well used.

    Reply
  19. Whitney says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:13 pm

    Thank you Nagi! , I work in ICU in a rural town and this was so helpful. I have been surreally buying an extra pack of pasta or canned tomatoes with my usual shopping but am worried what my family will eat during this uncertain time! I dont want to randomly panic shop so this was so great to have some calm, specific, realistic advice ! Thank you ! Stay safe, stay healthy x

    Reply
  20. Vicki Powell says

    March 16, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    You are such an angel . How thoughtful and caring Let’s hope more people look outwards instead of inwards and make a difference Onya!

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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