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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. sapat says

    December 12, 2021 at 5:11 am

    I’m one of your subscribers, and even though these precautions were from last yr, I still take safety measures seriously this year to be safe. The thing I’m shocked about is plunging fresh produce in hot soapy water. Yikes! I just wash and stick in fridge as usual. I do wash canned goods with soapy water, and wipe down bagged foods like beans, noodles, flour, sugar, etc. with sanitizing spray and leave on the counter to dry. Once they’re dry, I dump in sealed air-tight containers. Never in the bags.
    I see careless people at the grocery store, so even though I look stupid, I wear gloves because people touch everything and handle it. You don’t know where they’ve been.

    Reply
  2. Joanne Law says

    August 18, 2021 at 4:33 am

    Nagi, you are amazing. Your recipes work just as you describe. Wasn’t sure about the Emergency baked fried rice, but it came out perfectly. Love the menus. Got any ideas for sandwiches? So tired of tuna and baloney.

    Reply
  3. Ana Chacin says

    August 17, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    Gracias por compartir esa gran idea de un menú para el encierro.

    Reply
  4. Myra says

    August 17, 2021 at 2:44 pm

    Love !! Love !! Love !! the recipes and your kindness.
    And Dozer !!
    Signed.. A FAN !!!!!!

    Reply
  5. Jasmine says

    August 17, 2021 at 10:38 am

    You’re an inspiration Nagi, thank you. I hope your new kitchen for vulnerable people is going ok, it’s a wonderful thing you’re doing. Love your food and thanks from locked down far north NSW.

    Reply
  6. gail says

    August 17, 2021 at 1:39 am

    What a fabulous idea, to be able to have the whole week planned ahead of time. Wish there were more vegetarian meals though. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 17, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      That’s something to consider for my next one Gail – Thanks for the idea! N x

      Reply
  7. Hannah says

    August 17, 2021 at 1:12 am

    this is marvelous! we’re not on lockdown here in FL, USA, but this is still the most helpful meal/grocery planner I’ve ever seen! You should definitely do this regularly.

    Reply
  8. Maria Torrisi says

    August 16, 2021 at 8:12 pm

    Thank you for your recipes we love them made carrot cake it was delicious

    Reply
  9. Jackie Ringrose says

    August 16, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    You’re amazing Nagi. What a wonderful contribution. I know Dozer helps you….clean up that is!!!! All the best to everyone in NSW. 🦮🦮

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 17, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      Thanks so much Jackie!! N x

      Reply
  10. Virginia C Smith says

    August 16, 2021 at 6:52 pm

    I found instant refried beans at our Natural Grocer, They are shelf stable and cheap and so good. ( also available with black beans) I never use canned refried beans anymore.

    Reply
  11. Jess says

    August 16, 2021 at 6:33 pm

    Amazing! Much appreciated. I am not someone who gets excited over meal planning UNLESS someone else is doing the meal planning FOR me 🙂

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 17, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      Perfect Jess, I hope you find it useful!! N x

      Reply
  12. Carl Wesley says

    January 18, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    You spoil “Dozer” as you spoil us with all your great recipes.
    Thank you. wezlock.

    Reply
  13. Justine Whittington says

    September 29, 2020 at 8:59 am

    Thank you for your lovely website. Your recipes and tips have changed our kitchen. Your tip for velveting chicken has completely changed our cooking. Previous chicken stir fry would be dry and dull, now it is a regular. Only complaint to from the dog. No more leftovers.

    Reply
  14. Laurie Rennie (CarolinaLaur) says

    September 28, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    Thank You so much Nagi for this 15-Day Quarantine Recipe Plan with Substitutes AND shopping list!! I definitely will be trying this out! I am looking forward to your second Quarantine Recipe plan please!! 💕

    Reply
  15. JANE MERRICK says

    September 28, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    Thank you Nagi for the food plan, recipes and grocery list. Awesome.
    I have been having a hard time thinking about what to cook on a daily basis when I get home from the hospital where I work. You made it easy

    Reply
  16. Val McDonald says

    September 11, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    Nagi your recipes are absolutely incredible! you explain every thing in such detail and they are really delicious. Val

    Reply
  17. Kathy B says

    September 10, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    Thank you for the meal plan! I was stuck on food ideas and you have saved the day!! You’re the best!

    Reply
  18. Dorothy says

    September 9, 2020 at 10:56 pm

    As usual Nagi, great ideas wonderful presentation! Love the videos as well, just an excellent site you’ve built!
    Enjoy life of Dozer so much! Thank you for all

    Reply
  19. Bozu says

    September 9, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    I really like your blog, but I don’t like the huge amount of chicken you eat.
    While reading this article, I found only one meatless recipe: chickpeas and also the Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe, from which I can remove the chicken. This is what I do for most of your recipes, “Don’t put on the meat” … And a lot of “too much excess cheese”, for my waistline. ;o))
    The advantage is that your recipes can easily be changed to “vegan” … Thank you for all these fabulous recipes and ideas that I transform to our liking

    Reply
  20. Shirin says

    September 7, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    Meal plan incl grocery list? You ROCK!! Thank you for regularly spicing up our home kitchen.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 8, 2020 at 12:50 pm

      You’re so welcome Shirin 🙂 N x

      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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