As I write this blog post, I’m hunkered down at home due to concerns about the Coronavirus. My pantry is well stocked, and I find myself in the kitchen more often than usual. I’m busy preparing three meals a day plus snacks, and I’m working hard to use up and repurpose leftovers with the goal of keeping food waste at bay. I heard from a reader the other day who was looking for healthy recipes she could make, pack up, and deliver to a friend in need. It got me thinking about what I would make for someone who might be sick, quarantined, or unable to prepare enough food on his or her own, and so I gathered dozens of nourishing homemade delivery dinners from some of my favorite dietitian food bloggers. You will find their recipes—and a favorite of mine!—below.
I reached out to my network of registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) food bloggers, and what follows are 40 healthy homemade dinners—soups, stews, chili, chicken dinners, vegetarian entrees, and meat-based meals—plus a bonus recipe from my kitchen for Pantry Peanut Butter & Chickpea Soup. All of these homemade delivery dinners can be made with ingredients sourced from a well-stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer including canned beans, frozen vegetables, hearty fresh fruits and vegetables—sweet potatoes, onions, and squash—whole grain pasta, rice, frozen chicken, shrimp, and ground beef, prepared meats, and so much more.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Before you cook a meal for someone else, check in first to make sure they (or their family) don’t have any allergies or intolerances. And when you deliver your meal, include a note with a list of all the ingredients used in your recipe.
Before you get cooking, please practice good food safety in your home kitchen. Here are some helpful tips that I received from the Food Marketing Institute:
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.
Ensure touch points are regularly cleaned and sanitized. That would include kitchen counters, kitchen cabinet handles, and refrigerator door handles.
Scrub and rinse produce under running water (warm or cold) to help remove germs or contaminates from the surface. You do not need any special soaps or rinses. Running water is the recommendation.
Check out my podcast this week on How to Stock a Healthy Quarantine Kitchen:
Click the PLAY button above to listen to the show.
40 Homemade Delivery Dinners from Registered Dietitians
Soups That are Good for the Soul:
Spiced Roasted Butternut Squash Soup by Kara at Kara Lydon Nutrition (shown above)
Beef Barley Soup with Sweet Potatoes by Toby at Toby Amidor Nutrition
Chicken Gnocchi Soup by Sarah at Sarah Koszyk
Lemony Chicken and Orzo Soup by Whitney at Sweet Cayenne
Mexican Chicken & Rice Soup by Karman at The Nutrition Adventure (shown above)
Roasted Tomato Soup by Judith at Foods With Judes
Rosemary Vegetable Soup by Megan at The Oregon Dietitian
Pantry Peanut Butter & Chickpea Soup by Liz at Liz’s Healthy Table (shown above)
Easy Lasagna Soup by Whitney at Sweet Cayenne
Creamy Carrot Cauliflower Soup by Amy at Amy Gorin Nutrition
Quick & Easy Vegan Tortilla Soup by EA at Spicy RD Nutrition (shown above)
Crockpot Vegetable & White Bean Soup by Karman at The Nutrition Adventure
Chili That Sticks to the Ribs:
Superfood Vegetarian Chili by Shahzadi at Desi-liciousRD (shown above)
Slow Cooker Vegan Chili by Melissa at Melissa Straub Nutrition
Easy Beef and Bean Chili by Elizabeth at Better Is The New Perfect
Easy Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili by Kara at Kara Lydon Nutrition (shown above)
Slow Cooker Chili by Michele at Fit Plate Nutrition
Spicy 3 Bean Chili by Kelly at Kelly Jones Nutrition
Hearty Stews:
Instant Pot Chicken Stew by Leanna at Leanna Rey (shown above)
Irish Stew by Laurel at Laurel Ann Nutrition
Slow-Cooker Beef and Mushroom Stew by Elizabeth at Better Is The New Perfect
Savory Chicken Dinners:
Chicken Broccoli Divan by Rebecca at Nourish Nutrition Blog (shown above)
Chicken Fajita Casserole With Quinoa by Maggie at Meals With Maggie
Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots by Toby at Toby Amidor Nutrition
Poppy Seed Chicken by Whitney at Sweet Cayenne (shown above)
Spanish-Style Chicken in Tomato Sauce by Toby at Toby Amidor Nutrition
Instant Pot Cilantro Chicken and Rice by Jenna at Make Healthy Easy
Vegetarian Main Meals:
Chipotle Black Bean Burgers by Jamie at Dishing Out Health (shown above)
Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese by Sarah at Sarah Koszyk
Vegetarian Rice & Bean Casserole by Jenna at Make Healthy Easy
Little Bit Of This, Little Bit Of That Pasta! By KeyVion at KeyVion Miller Nutrition
Mexican Casserole with Walnut Chorizo by Jamie at Dishing Out Health (shown above)
Pasta Cici by Rosanne at Rust Nutrition
Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers by Megan at The Oregon Dietitian
Satisfying Meaty Meals:
Creamy Tomato Kielbasa Pasta by Jenna at Make Healthy Easy (shown above)
One Pan Wild Rice and Cheesy Broccoli Casserole by Jamie at Dishing Out Health
Slow Cooker Picadillo by Laurel at Laurel Ann Nutrition
Cheesy Potato, Ham and Leek Casserole by Kitty at Gluten Free Slow Cooking
Gluten-Free Egg Casserole with Salmon, Dill, Basil, and Tomato by Amy at Amy Gorin Nutrition (shown above)
Turkey Meatballs with Carrots over Zucchini Noodles by Toby at Toby Amidor Nutrition
Healthy Mexican Lasagna by Jenna at Make Healthy Easy
Are you cooking meals for others? What are you making?
Leave a comment!