What to Make in Quarantine: 25+Meal and Dessert Ideas

Looking for inspiration of what to make in quarantine? From March to beginning of July I stayed with my friends in Kansas. They live on a farm and have three kids so it gets pretty busy! Since the whole quarantine/stay at home order started, we only went to the store once every few weeks. So it was so kind of fun to come up with ideas of what to make in quarantine using what we would get on each trip.

About every two weeks, we would get a produce delivery which was something fun to look forward to. We got lots of bananas, limes and potatoes. Once we got a whole box of tomatoes and a huge flat of grapes (about 8 bags!). There was also jalapenos, mangoes, a butternut squash, onions, apples, lemons, and oranges. My friends also have cows and pigs that they send to the butcher and get different cuts of meat so they had two freezers stocked with beef and pork when I got there!

I compiled a list of all the things I’ve cooked/baked and I’ll share some of the recipes with you. I’ll also share some photos as well! Hopefully this will give you some inspiration of what to make in quarantine.

Alright, let’s start with the baking/desserts because DUH!

What to Make in Quarantine: Dessert Ideas

Pies

To start with I made quite a few pies. I made pumpkin pie using canned filling and apple and blueberry pie from scratch. I also made two pie fillings from scratch: chocolate pudding pie and key lime pie. And, I also made meringue for the first time! Here is a delicious Key Lime Pie with Chocolate Crust recipe.

No-bake peanut butter cookies

This was pretty much a dessert staple here at my friends house. Everyone got super excited whenever they saw me making these and the phrase “Can I have a no bake cookies?” was very common. But I mean, chocolate and peanut butter are hard to say no to and everyone wants it!

Lemon bars

For Easter, my friend and I made some lemon bars with fresh squeezed lemon juice from the lemons in the produce delivery. They were so fresh and sweet and delicious!

Chocolate cake

I got to celebrate my friends birthday while I was there and he wanted chocolate cake. So I decided I would make it from scratch with my super simple recipe! It’s my favourite recipe for chocolate cake and I’m glad I made it because everyone loved it! Here is the recipe for Chocolate Cake Recipe. (P.s. It’s even vegan!)

Rice Krispy Treats

These are always a treat that everyone enjoys so it’s a no brainer! It’s also super simple to make which is nice for a quick treat.

Donuts in a donut maker

To me they tasted somewhat like waffles. I don’t think they were a big hit but it was fun to try making them! I think they would have been better with a glaze or icing but I just made them plain.

No bake cheesecake

Everyone loves cheesecake and a no bake recipe is almost as good as a cheesecake that you bake and way easier! We served it with a can of cherry pie filling for my other friend’s birthday.

Banana bread

Since we got so many bananas in the produce deliveries each week I made banana bread three times. Everyone always loves banana bread! The last time I made it I tried a new recipe. This one you make in a bread pan and sprinkle with brown sugar. The sugar forms a little crunch on top and adds some sweetness. It is a little more like cake than bread and so good!

Lemon poppyseed scones

This was my second time making scones and I think they turned out really well. I love poppy seeds and the lemon flavor was just right. Check out Easy Lemon Poppyseed Scones Recipe!

Homemade bread

Making homemade bread is so fulfilling! It’s a fairly easy process and it’s so satisfying when you take a loaf of bread out of the oven and realize that you made it. Butter it while still warm and no one can resist a bite. The loaf was gone within a few hours.

Cornmeal Citrus Pound Cake

My friend found this recipe and asked if I would make it. I always love trying new things so of course I wanted to! Highly recommend this for breakfast, it was devoured in one morning! It’s a “cake ” recipe but really tastes a lot like cornbread. Cornmeal Citrus Pound Cake for the recipe.

What to Make in Quarantine: Meals Ideas

Chicken and Stuffing

Stuffing… mmm. Gravy… yum. I made chicken in the slow cooker with gravy and then made some stuffing and green beans to go with it and it’s one of my favorite meals!

Southwest Quinoa

I found some packages of quinoa sitting in the cupboard that were already flavored with southwest seasonings and you just simmer it in water. I served it with chicken and some frozen veggies.

Pork liver

Liver is something that most people don’t like. It has a different texture and flavor and just the thought that it is liver turns people off. I grew up eating it and I actually love it! I have had it curried, breaded, fried and in a tomato sauce. Lately I have been making it breaded which is probably my favorite way to cook it and eat it.

Tomato grilled cheese

One week, my friend sent me a recipe video involving cheese, tomatoes and oregano. You butter slices of bread, add mozzarella cheese and slices of tomato and sprinkle with oregano. Then you broil it till the cheese is melty and the bread is slightly toasted. Ta da tomato grilled cheese – kind of tastes like a mini pizza! Makes a great lunch.

Cajun hamburger

I was always trying to think of new ways to make hamburger since we had a lot of that in the freezer. So with some inspiration from my friend back home I decided to make cajun flavoured hamburger and serve it with mashed potatoes, corn and peppers.

Beef brisket

I had never made beef brisket or had it homemade before so I really enjoyed it! We ate it with green beans and crescent rolls.

Tomato Soup

Using some of the tomatoes we got in the produce delivery, we tried making homemade tomato soup. It didn’t turn out quite the way we expected and I wasn’t super happy with it but it was neat to try and make it.

German pancake

It’s hard to describe a German pancake. It’s also called a Dutch Baby Pancake. It’s compared to a Yorkshire pudding or an American popover. Either way it is delicious with syrup and powdered sugar! An amazing breakfast option.

Cheesy sausage potato bake

This is similar to tater-tot casserole in some ways! I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out and if anyone would like it. Turns out, everyone loved it! It was super simple, too. Cook ground sausage. Peel and cube potatoes and boil till almost cooked. Add potatoes and sausage into a baking dish. Make a cheese sauce and pour it all over. Bake and then watch everyone devour it!

Lasagna

I have maybe only made lasagna by myself one other time. Since it is not something I make a lot I was nervous if it would turn out. It did however, and was cheesy and delicious!

Steak

We had steak a few times on the grill. Once we had it with sliced grilled potatoes in foil which were good. Other times we had baked potatoes, vegetables or a salad.

Beef fajitas and Quesadillas

We used some thicker cuts of steak and sliced them up thin. I fried it with red onions and peppers and we made beef fajitas with them. Another time we had quesadillas with cheese.

BBQ skewers

One day, my friend and I grilled mushrooms, shrimp, and some veggies, so good!

Tater Tot Casserole

Tater-tot casserole is an easy dinner idea that everyone enjoys. It’s also great if you are feeding a lot of people because it’s something that doesn’t take much effort to make large amounts. You simply brown the hamburger and mix it with some sort of cream soup (I like to use mushroom). Then you pour it into a glass baking dish. Pour an even layer of tater tots on top. Then sprinkle a generous amount of cheese on top and bake. Simple!

Homemade pizza

You can’t go wrong with homemade pizza. I made it for my friends birthday and there was plenty to go around. I used Jiffy pizza dough. Funny story, I by accident added too much water and I started to panic that I had ruined dinner. But after getting some moral support from my friend, we added more flour. I was a little worried that because there was more flour and water maybe there wouldn’t be enough rising ingredients but it turned out great! We had hamburger and sausage, bacon and olives and mushrooms as toppings. Something to please everyone!

Creamed eggs and ham

I had made a white sauce lots of times. For cream soups, white gravy, cheese sauce. But I had never made Creamed Eggs and Ham Recipe. My friends call it “creamed nothing” which is funny but either way it is delicious! I am not a fan of hard boiled eggs but I didn’t mind them in this. Breakfast or even a yummy dinner recipe!

Biscuits and gravy

Biscuits and gravy is a common food in the South/Midwest (USA) and I have loved this dish the first time I tried it! I still make it back home in Canada. You can make this yummy meal for breakfast or dinner and everyone will love it!

BBQ pork spareribs

Cooking ribs seems to be something I haven’t mastered. I’ve made them twice and they are never quite perfect. Guess I will have to keep trying!

BBQ meatloaf

Meatloaf is an easy meal to prep and just stick in the oven about an hour before eating! I love making mine with BBQ sauce and serving it with mashed potatoes and/or corn.

Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a popular dish because it’s easy and delicious and very few people don’t like it. It’s also great for serving lots of people. I have made it with hamburger as well as ground sausage. The sausage adds a different flavor that I really enjoy!

Chicken drumsticks with sweet potatoes

We loved chicken with Slap Ya Mama sauce! Can’t go wrong with Cajun spice. And eating it with mashed sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar? Yum!

Mac n cheese

Recently I’ve been loving the Velveeta mac n cheese boxes. They make a great side to lots of meals. I made it with ham once which was super good. I’ve also mixed it with hamburger once and with sausage another time to make a hamburger helper type dish which is a big hit with the kids.

Hamburgers

I made hamburgers a few times and we grilled them, which is the best way to make hamburgers in my opinion! We had a salad and fries with them and it was a great meal to eat out on the deck.

Bacon on the grill

This is probably not the safest idea because of all the grease but it was cool to try! It tasted really good too. We made the grilled bacon into bacon sandwiches.

Polish sausages

We bought a huge box of polish sausages and we enjoyed grilling them. We had them with baked beans once too.

Sausage potato soup

We had some red potatoes from one of the produce deliveries and decided to make some soup with them. It was a creamy kind which is one of my favorite kinds of soup.

Chilli

Chili is a warm comfort food everyone enjoys. I love mine with cheese and sour cream. Yum!

Swedish meatballs

I had never made these before and I’m not 100 percent happy with how they turned out but they were tasty and I think I will try making them again.

Mongolian ground beef

This was interesting and I’m not sure everyone actually liked it or not. It had a different flavor and I’m not sure I got it quite right. I served it with noodles and peppers and I liked it!

Tacos

Tacos are always a favourite and I’ve made them a few times. There are so many ways to do it, with wraps, hard shells or even taco chips. And so many different topping options!

Egg salad

I’m not a huge fan of boiled eggs so I never actually enjoyed egg salad before. But my friend wanted it so I made it and bravely tried it. I discovered it was actually pretty good! I wouldn’t say it’s my absolute favorite thing but I liked it better than I thought I would. It was also the first time I’d made it and I think I did pretty good if I do say so myself. If you need a lunch idea of what to make in quarantine this one works great.

Extra Ideas of What to Make in Quarantine

Bannock

This is something you may or may not have heard of. My family and I would go camping when I was younger and my mom would make bannock over the fire. The kids were doing a camp-out so I thought it would be fun to make them breakfast one morning. I have never made bannock before and it didn’t quite turn out how my mom made it. Maybe I will have to get lessons from her!

Strawberry Limeade

We had so many limes from the produce delivery that I was desperately trying to find recipes to use them up. One day we had the brilliant idea to make a drink with them! We blended lime juice, frozen strawberries and citrus Mountain Dew into a cool, refreshing strawberry limeade.

So there you have it! Looking for inspiration of what to make in quarantine? Pin this post for later. And don’t forget to let me know what you’ve been making!