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You are here: Home / Food Storage / Get Your Jars Ready: 101+ Meals in a Jar Recipes

Get Your Jars Ready: 101+ Meals in a Jar Recipes

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February 19, 2015 By Prepared Mom Team 8 Comments

Meals in jar are a great way to put aside whole meals for your food storage. Through the canning or dry vacuuming process, you can put a meal up to help create long-term food storage.

While there are all sorts of fun things you can store in a jar in the fridge or keep on a shelf for a short period of time (like salads in a jar, etc.), I’m going to concentrate mostly on those food storage meals that you can put up for long-term storage.

I have all these #10 Cans? Can I use them?

If you’re sitting on a ton of #10 cans full of freeze-dried foods, what do you do with it? This method allows you to create meals from that food storage so that you can rotate this into your daily meals. Some of the links will be made by folks who sell certain freeze-dried food products.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a part of those companies to create these meals on your own, with your own supplies, or your own vendors. These are also a mix of Youtube videos and blog posts because there’s so much available everywhere!

While using your #10 cans to create stored food for basic meals, your long-term shelf life will be reduced. Since you’re reusing the cans the food you put inside them won’t last as long as the original product. Your foods will only last a few years as opposed to a suggested 25 years of the original product.

But you can create a shelf full of ready meals that are quick to put together and makes mealtime a snap on busy nights when you just don’t have time to cook a whole meal. You can also use your ready meals if you’ve forgotten to pull something out of the freezer.

Give the Gift of Meals in a Jar to Others

Think what a blessing a few of these meals would be to someone who is homebound from sickness or has lost a job and could use a nice meal or two to help them out! You can also give these meals in a jar as wedding gifts to a newlywed couple to help them establish their food storage (think of the old-fashioned pound parties) or even to new parents to give them some quick meals for hectic nights when Mom needs a break!

These gifts would be so much better used than simply a few #10 cans of ‘raw material’ (i.e. freeze-dried foods) that may not be understood nor may the recipient be knowledgeable about how to use them in their everyday life.

But a jar they can pour out, add some water and a few fresh ingredients, and wham! Dinner is served! That’s how Hamburger Helper became famous!

Ready to begin? Let’s get started!

Breakfast Meals in a Jar

Almond Pancake Mix

Apple Pie Oatmeal (Instant)

Blueberry Scones (not shelf-stable for long-term)

Breakfast Omelet

Camper’s Eggy Delight

Cherry Chocolate Pancakes

Cinnamon Pancakes

Cranberry Almond Cereal Mix (not shelf-stable for long-term)

Hearty Pancake Mix

Homemade Granola (*NST) This is good to make and to store for breakfasts and snacks, but because of the fat content in the granola, it’s not great for long-term storage.

Oatmeal (make your own flavored varieties to store)

Pancakes

Whole Grain Pancake Mix

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancake

Ball Mason Jar-32 oz. Clear Glass Wide Mouth - Set of 4
Ball Mason Jar-32 oz. Clear Glass Wide Mouth - Set of 4
  • Made in America by the Ball Mason Jar Company
  • Great for candles, lotions, jams and jellies, preserves, herbs etc.
  • Lid and airtight band included
$24.00
Buy on Amazon

Main Course Meals in a Jar

Baked Ziti

Beefy Spanish Rice

Cheesy Sloppy Joe Hotdish

Chicken Alfredo

Chicken and Rice

Chicken Broccoli Cheese

Chicken Chili

Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry  | Video

Chili

Chili Mac

Double Cheeseburger Sauce Mix – like Hamburger Helper

Hamburger Stew

Hawaiin Style Teriyaki Beef

Hearty Chili

Instant Chicken Salad

Jambalaya

Kansas City Chicken BBQ

Kicked Up Mac n Cheese

Mac and Cheese

Quiche

Rosemary Chicken and Rice

Sausage Frittata

Sausage Lasagna

Sloppy Joes

Spaghetti Sauce with Meat

Stroganoff Skillet

Stuffed Chicken and Gravy

Taco Beef and Cheese  |  Video

Thai Chicken in Spicy Peanut Sauce

Turkey Noodle Casserole 

Ball Regular Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Bands, 16-Ounces (4-Pack)
Ball Regular Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Bands, 16-Ounces (4-Pack)
  • Made in America by the Ball Mason Jar Company
  • Great for candles, lotions, jams and jellies, preserves, herbs etc.
  • Lid and airtight band included
$17.49
Buy on Amazon

Soup Meals in a Jar

Beef Barley Soup

Beefy Bean Soup

Buffalo Chicken and Rice

Chicken and Rice Soup

Cream Soup Mix

Creamy Tomato Soup

Creamy Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

Curried Lentil Soup

Ham Sausage and Bean Soup

Instant Cheese Soup  |  Video

Layered Dried Bean Soup

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Love Soup

Minestrone Soup

Painted Desert Chili in a Jar

Palouse Soup

Potato Soup

Soup Starters

Split Pea Soup

Taco Soup

Tortilla Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

Zombie Soup Mix

Sides in a Jar

Curried Rice Mix

Cranberry Orange Rice

Creamy Herbed Rice Mix

Herbed Rice Mix

Lemon Dill Rice

Pot Roast Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes

Refried Beans (this is basically just dehydrated refried beans, but when all you have to do is add water, it makes a quick and easy side or protein replacement!)

Chicken Flavored Rice Mix

Scalloped Potatoes  |  Video

Yellow Rice Mix

Desserts in a Jar

Blondie Brownies

Cookies (lots of Betty Crocker-esque cookies in a pouch mix.)

Cornmeal Cookies

Monkie Munches Cookies

Tropical Mango-Berry Cobbler

Other Treats in a Jar

Blue Cornbread with Pineapple

Quick Bread

Savory Onion Roll

Assorted Mixes in a Jar

Alfredo Sauce Mix

Basic White Sauce Mix

Bisquick Substitute

Blue Cheese Dressing

Chicken Coating Mix

Mock Onion Soup Mix 

Ranch Dressing Mix

Taco Seasoning Mix

Drinks in a Jar

Cappuccino Mix

Chai Tea Mix

Fireside Coffee Mix

French Vanilla Cocoa Mix

Hot Cocoa Mix (you can even use dehydrated marshmallows to make it more shelf-stable)

Snowman Soup

Spiced Hot Cocoa

Mocha Cocoa

Salads in a Jar

These salads are not shelf-stable, but they are a great way to prepare a week worth of meals and have them tucked away in the fridge to save you tons of time.

Cornbread & Turkey

Salad in a jar

Wheatberry Apple salad

Sites dedicated to Meals in Jars

Rainy Day Food Storage

Mixes in a Jar

52 Method Jar

Books on creating Meals in Jars

The Meals in a Jar Cookbook

The Meals in a Jar Handbook: Gourmet Food Storage Made Easy
The Meals in a Jar Handbook: Gourmet Food Storage Made Easy
  • Hardcover Book
  • Stephanie Petersen (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
$13.70
Buy on Amazon

Meals in a Jar: Quick and Easy, Just-Add-Water, Homemade Recipes

Meals in a Jar: Quick and Easy, Just-Add-Water, Homemade Recipes
Meals in a Jar: Quick and Easy, Just-Add-Water, Homemade Recipes
  • Languille, Julie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 160 Pages - 03/18/2013 (Publication Date) - Ulysses Press (Publisher)
$15.95
Buy on Amazon

Dinner is in the Jar

Dinner Is In The Jar: Quick and Easy Dinner Mixes in Mason Jars or...
Dinner Is In The Jar: Quick and Easy Dinner Mixes in Mason Jars or...
  • Clark, Kathy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 76 Pages - 02/01/2010 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
$13.50
Buy on Amazon

Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook  (read my review here). Not only is this a great technique book on how to dehydrate those products that can build your meals in a jar, she includes a lot of “just add water” meals, too!

The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Drying Food,...
The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Drying Food,...
  • The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook The Complete Guide to Drying Food Plus 398 Recipes Including Making Jerky Fruit Leather...
  • Gangloff, Tammy (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
$19.79
Buy on Amazon

Extras:

Cooking a Meal in a Jar in a Solar Oven

Cook your “Meal in a Thermos” while you hike

How to Store Meals in a Jar

You can store them by dry, vacuum canning them in a mason jar, placing them in a jar with an oxygen absorber or by putting them in a mylar bag and sealing. (Tutorials coming soon!)

Ball Jars Regular Mouth Clear Glass Canning 32 Oz Mason Jars w/Lids,...
Ball Jars Regular Mouth Clear Glass Canning 32 Oz Mason Jars w/Lids,...
  • Keep your fruits and vegetables all year long with these dependable canning jars
  • 32-ounce jars are for preserving your favorite salsa, syrup, and sauce recipes
  • Let your creativity shine by using these durable glass jars as pencil cups, planters, and more
$45.00
Buy on Amazon

Oxy-Sorb 100-Pack Oxygen Absorber, 20cc
Oxy-Sorb 100-Pack Oxygen Absorber, 20cc
  • Eliminates the need for additives such as BHA, BHT, sulfur dioxide, sorbets, benzoates, etc.
  • Use with gas flushing/vacuum packaging to absorb virtually all oxygen and absorb any oxygen that may permeate the...
  • Significantly improves keeping qualities of polyunsaturated fats and oils
$9.99
Buy on Amazon

While they don’t last as long as the individual freeze-dried or dehydrated commercial products that are sealed in those #10 cans, if stored properly with shelf-stable ingredients, they can last up to 5-7 years.

What’s your favorite meal in a jar recipe?

You might also be interested in these other 101+ Resources:

Pin this for your food storage library!

Last update on 2021-01-16 at 03:07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Filed Under: Food Storage Tagged With: Build a Better Pantry, canning jars, christmas gifts, dehydrated meals, just add water meals, mason jar meals, meals in jars

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