Recipe Ideas & Meal Prep Tips for Social Distancing at Home


When you’re planning to spend extended time at home, meal planning, ingredient prepping, and cooking may seem overwhelming. Whether you’re learning to work from home, creating new routines with kids, or adjusting your daily habits to maintain social distancing, Panera has shelf-stable food options and recipe ideas that can bring good flavors—and a bit of creative fun!—to your COVID-19 social distancing efforts.

Recipe Ideas & Meal Prep Tips for Social Distancing at Home


When you’re planning to spend extended time at home, meal planning, ingredient prepping, and cooking may seem overwhelming. Whether you’re learning to work from home, creating new routines with kids, or adjusting your daily habits to maintain social distancing, Panera has shelf-stable food options and recipe ideas that can bring good flavors—and a bit of creative fun!—to your COVID-19 social distancing efforts.

Recipes to Cook with Kids at Home

Cooking together is a great activity to engage kids during long periods at home. Involving children in the cooking process is not only a productive way to occupy their time, but it gives you the opportunity to teach them valuable skills that they can carry with them later in life. Collaborative cooking can demonstrate food preparation skills like measuring ingredients and monitoring cooking times, as well as safety and hygiene practices like washing hands and avoiding cross-contamination.

 

Here are a few recipe options to try with your little chefs:

 

Simple Recipes For Picky Eaters

Tomato Basil Pizza Toast (8 minutes)

Mac & Cheese Grilled Cheese (10 minutes)

 

Tasty Recipes For Adventurous Kids

Peach & Prosciutto Grilled Cheese (10 minutes)

Ultimate Avocado Vegetable Sandwich (10 minutes)

Chipotle Chicken & Ranch Flatbread  (26 minutes)

 

Quick Recipes For the Whole Family

Summer Vegetable Caesar Pasta Salad (10 minutes)

Asian BBQ Lettuce Wraps (15 minutes)

Lemon Chicken & Rice Skillet (30 minutes)

 

If you are at home with babies or toddlers and don’t have time to get creative in the kitchen, you can always heat up a Panera at Home soup or Mac & Cheese for a quick meal in under 10 minutes that’s both filling and flavorful.

 


 

Easy Snack Ideas

Snacks can be a fun way to add some variety into your food routine when social distancing at home. Whether you’re prepping snacks to share with the kids, or just want some fun treats for yourself, here are a few quick snack ideas to liven things up:

 

Snacks To Make on the Spot

Lemon Broccoli Hummus (5 minutes)

Southwest Caesar Dip (5 Minutes)

Southwest Black Bean Salad (10 Minutes)

 

Snacks to Make Ahead

Tangy Mango Poppyseed Salsa (15 Minutes)

Tomato Ricotta Wonton Bites (20 Minutes)

Chicken Tortilla Dip (25 Minutes)


 

Meal Prepping Tips for Breakfast & Lunch

You may not be as on-the-go in the mornings and at lunch time as you used to be, but it can still be helpful to free up some extra time during the day for walks outside, journaling, crafting, or any other activity that will give you a little boost. To create that sense of balance, meal prepping breakfast and lunch options for the week can be a helpful practice.

 

Here are a few make-ahead breakfast and lunch recipes that you can whip up in batches on the weekend and enjoy throughout the week.

 

Breakfast Meal Prep Suggestions

French Toast & Turkey Sausage Roll Ups (15 minutes)

Broccoli Cheddar Frittata (30 minutes)

Bacon, Corn & Cheddar Strata (50 minutes)

 

Make-Ahead Lunch Ideas

Primavera Mac & Cheese (25 minutes)

Mediterranean Lemon Grilled Chicken Skewers (45 minutes)

 

 

Quick Dinners in Under 30 Minutes

If you’re working from home, you would think you’d have all the time in the world to cook, right? But, when you’re really trying to focus on work it can be distracting to move back and forth between the kitchen and your workspace. If you’re still pressed for cooking time in the evenings, try incorporating quick dinner recipes like these under-30-minute meals:

 

Salmon & Quinoa Bowl (15 minutes)

Asian Seared Tuna Stack (25 minutes)

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Skillet (25 minutes)

 

Wholesome Recipes to Make with Shelf-Stable Food

As many people are buying groceries to prepare for social distancing or quarantine at home, some grocery stores may be running low on the ingredients you normally cook with. This can be your opportunity to try new recipes that combine wholesome shelf-stable products with fresh (or frozen) produce you’ve never tried before.

 

Here are a few calorie conscious ideas that combine Panera at Home’s shelf stable salad dressings and soups with fresh fruits and veggies:

 

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup (8 Minutes)

Lentil Barley Salad (12 minutes)

Thai Tomato Coconut Soup (15 Minutes)

Roasted Beet & Farro Salad (30 Minutes)

Fuji Apple Quinoa Grain Bowl (35 Minutes)

 

To help you accommodate your dietary needs, we also have other recipe collections curated by wellness category, including gluten conscious recipes and vegetarian recipes.

 

 

Grocery Delivery & Grocery Pickup Options

If you’re excited to try these recipe ideas, but you’re not able to easily visit the grocery store at this time, you may want to consider the contactless grocery options available to you. You can find select Panera at Home products online through services like:

For availability in your area, visit our where to buy Panera at Home page and locate a store near you. From the store’s page, be sure to check for low-contact or contactless delivery and pickup options.

 

 

Other Low Contact Ways to Enjoy Panera at Home

If you plan to keep contactless food delivery or drive-thru food pickup as parts of your weekly routine, Panera is here to help. We can also suggest a few at-home date night ideas that give you a break from cooking and mix up your routine. Throughout your at-home food journey, Panera will be here, where and when you need us.