If you’re like me, you aren’t venturing outside often and that includes going to the grocery store. As a result, I am making meals from the ingredients I have in my pantry and/or freezer. That’s why this week’s meal plan focuses on ingredients you most likely already have. And if you don’t have one of the ingredients, improvise! Some of my best meals have been the result of improvisation. To that end, I’ve included some recommendations for alternative ingredients with each of the recipes below.
If you need groceries, I recommend InstaCart, other delivery services, or curbside pickup. As a mother of a child for whom this virus could be deadly, we are limiting our exposure to the outside world. But that said, we have needed some groceries. I’m including this video from an MD explaining how to clean your groceries before putting them away - great information!
If you make any of the recipes below, or have creative substitutions, let me know in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @kimberleykasper.
Pantry Staples
Here are the ingredients I try to keep on hand at all times:
Brown rice
quinoa, couscous
Whole wheat pasta
Corn and flour tortillas
Taco shells
Bread
Honey
Hot sauce and Sriracha
Ketchup, BBQ sauce, and mustard
Coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
Apple cider and balsamic bottles of vinegar
Canned coconut milk
Salsa
Marinara Sauce
Canned Tomatoes
Tomato Paste
Nuts and nut butters
Spices
Basic baking ingredients (flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract)
Broth
Canned beans
Canned tuna
Onions and garlic
Butter
Eggs
Cheddar cheese and feta
Lemons and limes
Nut milk
Frozen fruit
Frozen veggies (spinach, edamame, broccoli, corn)
Bacon
Chicken breasts
Salmon
Shrimp
Ground turkey
Pork loin
Sunday
Image: Half Baked Harvest
This One Skillet Greek Sundried Tomato and Farro Chicken is one of the most requested meals at our house. The flavor is absolutely incredible and it’s super easy to make. If you don’t have farro, use quinoa or couscous. And if you don’t have dill or oregano, use whatever you do have. You can adjust almost anything in this recipe and it will still come out delicious.
Monday
Image: Low Carb Maven
Breakfast for dinner? You bet! And with this crustless quiche, you will please everyone at your house. If you don’t have cream, use cottage cheese (trust me on this, it works and is really good) or plain milk. And if you don’t have zucchini, use whatever vegetables you do have. I always have some mixed frozen vegetables in the freezer and will throw these in instead of zucchini and it’s just as good. Be creative! Bacon, turkey, ham, whatever you have will work in a quiche. Leftovers are great for lunch the next day. And as an added bonus, if you’re watching your carbs, this comes in at 4 net carbs (based on the recipe as written).
Tuesday
Tomato soup is one of my biggest loves, especially when I’m seeking comfort food. This recipe couldn’t be any easier and it delivers big on the flavor. As an added bonus, it’s dairy-free! If you don’t have fire-roasted canned tomatoes, regular canned tomatoes work just fine. You may need to add some additional seasoning though.
Wednesday
Image: Skinny Taste
If you’ve followed me for long, you know this Salsa Verde Chicken is a staple in my house. Hands down, this is the easiest dinner I ever make and it’s a crowd-pleaser. I add a can of drained black beans and a can of whole kernel corn and serve this either in corn tortillas or over a bed of greens. Super easy and oh so good! If you don’t have green salsa, use whatever salsa you do have on hand. No salsa? Instead add a jar of marinara or a can of diced tomatoes, some garlic and oregano and cook in the same way for a simple Italian chicken. Shred and serve over pasta.
Thursday
Image: Pinch of Yum
It doesn’t get much easier than this 5-Ingredient Spicy Pork. Simply toss your ingredients into a jar to blend, use them to marinate your pork, and then cook the pork. And while the recipe instructs you to marinate the pork for one hour, I let mine marinate all-day. The flavors soak in and make this meat come alive. Another family favorite!
Friday
Image: What’s Gaby Cooking
My kids love fajitas so this week I’ve added them to the meal plan. And while this recipe calls for bell peppers, my family doesn’t love them so I don’t include them. Instead, I will thinly slice carrots, zucchini, or add some kale while the chicken is cooking. The kale wilts and soaks up some of the flavors and is so good! No kale? Spinach works just as well.
Saturday
Image: Half Baked Harvest
Saturday night calls for more comfort food, a good glass of wine, and games with the family so this week we will be having this One Skillet Cheesy Cuban Chicken Bake. This is not a diet-friendly recipe as written (lots of cheese and rice) so I will change it so that I’m using brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, and about half the cheese that is suggested.