Being hunkered down at home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice restaurant-quality food, nutritious meals or happy hour cocktails! This awesome collection of 58 recipes will cover everything from cooking with kids to making meals out of pantry staples, plus everything in between! 
Dining out is one of my favorite activities, but certain times call for cooking at home instead! Whether it’s a blizzard making roads unsafe, having kids that are home from school, or just trying to cut back on spending, it’s always important to have a good supply of go-to recipes to pull from when you need them.
Given our current world-wide health status, you are probably hunkered down like the rest of us, trying to stay healthy and avoid social settings. In many states, our restaurants are limited to carryout only right now.
I will always 100% push for supporting local businesses, and although restaurants are doing their best to still provide for the community, our current situation definitely requires more meals being cooked at home.
I’ve joined forces with some of the best food bloggers in the game to create this all-inclusive recipe list to help you quickly find simple dishes you can make at home. Just because you can’t dine out doesn’t mean you can’t use this time with your family or roommates to explore new recipes, cook some of your favorites right in your own kitchen, and even have some fun with some kid-friendly dishes or DIY cocktails!
Check out the categories below and be sure to save this post for future reference! Although this is particularly useful right now, this list can also be used during future cold and flu seasons when you’re trying to avoid public places! 🙂
Easy or make-ahead breakfast ideas
It’s always important to have a few go-to breakfast recipes on hand, especially when the kids are unexpectedly home from school for a few days! (Or weeks…or months…) Skip over the cereal and cook one of these easy make-ahead breakfasts instead!
Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole from Cuts and Crumbles
Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches from The Cozy Cook
Easy Mini Pancake Muffins from Cooking on the Front Burners
Dutch Oven Cinnamon Raisin Bread from A Simple Palate
Breakfast Pizza with Bacon and Eggs from 24 Bite
Breakfast Strata With Croissants from Meals with Maggie 
Cinnamon Coconut Granola from Raia’s Recipes
Loaded Breakfast Bowls from Cuts and Crumbles
Make Ahead Oatmeal Cups from Entertaining with Beth
Eggs and Baked Beans from Posh Journal
Cost-Effective Lunches
These cost-effective lunches will help feed your family without breaking the bank. Plus they’re so delicious that your kids won’t beg you to take them to McDonald’s instead! Keep these recipes on hand for last-minute lunches so you won’t be forced to order out!
Quick and Easy Flatbread Pizzas from Finding Zest
Cheeseburger Bombs from Sizzling Eats
Turkey Enchurritos Bowls from Cuts and Crumbles
Fried Chicken Meatballs from The Incredible Bulks
Nacho Quesadillas from A Taste of Madness
Easy Individual Lasagna Cups from The Cook’s Pyjamas
Restaurant Quality Canned Refried Beans by Smarty Pants Kitchen
Simple, healthy dinners
If you’re like me, you’re probably on a constant search for new dinner ideas. I’m always trying to come up with dinner recipes that are just as healthy as they are fast and easy! These dinners whip together easily and can serve the whole family (or be reheated if you’re only cooking for 1 or 2), which is ideal for any time you’re hunkered down at home!
Best Ever Gluten Free Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet from A Sprinkling of Cayenne 
The Ultimate Homemade Lasagna from Maple and Mango
Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef from Delightfully Low Carb
Easy Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup from Kitchen Gone Rogue
Easy Black Beans and Rice from Easy and Delish
5 Spice Perfect Air Fryer Chicken from JZ Eats
restaurant copycats
I will always advocate for supporting local businesses and restaurants, but if you’re unable to eat in public or simply wanting to experiment with cooking some of your favorite restaurant meals at home, then check out these copycat dishes below!
Ribeye Steak and Shrimp with Parmesan Sauce (Applebees Copycat) from Zona Cooks
Mushroom Chicken (Panda Express Copycat) from Savory with Soul
Harvest Grain and Nut Pancakes (IHOP Copycat) from Food Meanderings
Lettuce Wraps (P.F. Changs Copycat) from Couple in the Kitchen
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili Mac (Skyline Copycat) from Dad What’s 4 Dinner
Fancy restaurant meals you can make at home
Just because you’re hunkered down at home because of bad weather, in order to prevent illness, or for any other reason, that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a 5-star meal! Now’s the time to get into the kitchen and start experimenting with some of your fancy favorites! From classic Italian meatballs to duck confit, you can follow these recipes below to create a wonderful meal right at home!
Italian Lamb Shanks with Parmesan Polenta from Couple in the Kitchen
Reverse Sear Steak from Cuts and Crumbles
My Favorite Meatballs with Fresh Basil and Parmesan from Feast in Thyme
Slow Cooker Duck Confit from Emma Eats and Explores
Been Cheek Ragu from Another Food Blogger
batch cooking ideas
Batch cooking is ideal for large families but can also come in handy for times when you’re hunkered down and don’t want to keep hitting the grocery store! If you can cook some meals in advance to survive off of all week or freeze and re-heat over the next few months, you can help alleviate some of the stress of meal prepping and give the grocery store workers a breather! These meals are also ideal for delivering to those who can’t easily get to the store so they can still enjoy nutritious homemade food!
4 Keto Crockpot Freezer Meals from Low Carb with Jennifer
Three Cheese Eggplant Parmesan from Emma Eats and Explores 
Tater Tot Casserole from Feast for a Fraction
Smoked Pork Butt Tacos from Cuts and Crumbles
30 Minute Feel Better Chicken Soup from Cuts and Crumbles
Smoked/Grilled food
Luckily the weather is warming up so we can get outside and do some grilling or smoking! You can check out our complete list of recipes from The BBQ Brothers, but here are a few good ideas to try out when you’re homebound!
Grilled Fruit Platter with Two Luscious Sauces from Paleo Gluten Free Guy
BBQ Chicken Breasts-Sunday Meal Prep from Cuts and Crumbles
Mexican Carne Asada Marinade from Hilda’s Kitchen Blog
Smoked Mac and Cheese from Cuts and Crumbles
Meals made from pantry staples
If you’re feeling sick or when the weather gets nasty, going to the grocery store may not even be in the cards for you. If you’re unable to stock up your kitchen for any reason, don’t panic, we’ve got you covered with some meals that can be made with items you probably already have in your pantry right now!
Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca from Hint of Healthy
Slow Cooker No Knead Bread from Baking Queen 74
Quick and Easy Apple Cinnamon Bread from Super Golden Bakes
Chicken Soup with Spaghetti Noodles from Organized Island
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio from Simply Delicious Food
Homemade Graham Crackers from Owl B Baking
Kid-approved food
Planning a cooking session with kids is a fun way to keep them engaged if you’re trying to entertain them when they’re home from school. Keep some of these kid-approved recipes on hand so they can learn how to whip up their own snacks and meals!
Monster Pancakes from Fab Food 4 All
No Bake Sheep Grahams from Dancing Through the Rain
Sammy’s On A Stick from Bakers Beans
Homemade Gummy Bears from Chewable Structures
Cocktails
Need to bring the bar to you? Whether you’re home with the kids or just unable to get out to your favorite watering hole, you can still enjoy all of your happy hour favorites! Work on your bartending skills by whipping up one of these cocktails below!
Ultimate Cadillac Margaritas from Dishes Delish
Raspberry Gin Fizz from Savored Sips
Lemon Ginger Mocktail from Always Use Butter
Blue Lagoon Cocktail from Mom Foodie
Cherry Margaritas from Seasonal Cravings
From all of us food bloggers to you, stay healthy, eat well, and enjoy these delicious recipes while you’re hunkered down at home! 🙂 Comment below with your favorite one and share this post with your fellow hunker-downers!