Soup in a Jar Recipes
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Soup in a jar recipes made easy! Perfect for gifts, busy families, and quick easy dinners. Just add water and enjoy homemade comfort food.
Why Soup in a Jar Makes the Perfect Gift
Soup in a jar recipes have become one of my favorite things to make for gifts, meal prep, and quick pantry meals. They’re simple, inexpensive, and absolutely beautiful layered in a mason jar. I started with my world famous taco soup mix in a jar, but it morphed into loving it so many ways!
Whether you’re putting together teacher gifts, neighbor treats, daycare parent thank-yous, or a cozy winter project, soup mixes in a jar are thoughtful and practical. Every jar becomes a homemade meal ready to pour into a pot and simmer, perfect for busy families.
Soup in a jar also makes meal prep effortless. You can assemble several jars at once, keep them in your pantry, and pull one out on a cold day when you don’t want to chop, peel, or measure anything. They’re shelf-stable, colorful, and customizable. Kids can help layer the ingredients, which makes this a wonderful cooking-with-kids activity too.
Tips for Making the Best Soup in a Jar
To create a beautiful and functional soup jar, a few simple tricks make all the difference.
Choose the Right Jar
Wide-mouth quart jars work best for family-size meals. Pint jars are great for single servings or smaller gifts.
Layer Carefully
Keep powders at the bottom, then dried vegetables, beans, pasta, and rice on top. This prevents seasonings from coating everything and helps keep your layers crisp and colorful.
Pack Gently
Lightly press each layer to remove air pockets, but don’t push too hard or ingredients may mix.
Keep It Colorful
Alternate colors for visual appeal: green split peas, orange lentils, white rice, dark beans, and rainbow pasta make gorgeous stripes.
Include Instructions
Tie a tag or sticker on the jar with cooking instructions. this is essential! You can also include optional add-ins like cooked meat, canned tomatoes, or fresh vegetables.
Ingredients That Work Well in Soup Jars
Dried ingredients are the magic behind long shelf life. Here are ingredients that layer beautifully:
- Dried beans and lentils
- Split peas
- Wild rice, jasmine rice, or brown rice
- Small pasta like orzo, ditalini, macaroni, or egg noodles
- Dried vegetables (carrots, celery, onions, bell peppers, peas, potatoes)
- Powdered bouillon or broth base
- Dehydrated herbs and spices
- Freeze-dried chicken or vegetables for extra protein
- Optional add-ins like barley, quinoa, or couscous
This makes soup jars customizable for dietary needs. Gluten-free, vegetarian, or high-protein versions are easy to assemble.
I love buying my dried ingredients at bulkfoods.com. I always find they have great products, and the prices are reasonable. They even have beef and chicken base that I use for bouillon, and things like onion soup mix that make a great ingredient in lots of things.
1. Classic Chicken Noodle Soup in a Jar
This nostalgic, comforting soup is always a hit. It’s mild, kid-friendly, and perfect for cold nights.
Ingredients for one quart jar:
- 2 tbsp chicken bouillon granules
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried celery flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup dried carrots
- ½ cup dried peas
- 1 cup dried egg noodles
Instructions to attach:
Pour jar contents into a pot with 8 cups of water.
Bring to a boil, then simmer 15–20 minutes until noodles and veggies are soft.
Add cooked chicken if desired.
Makes 4–6 servings.
This is the best starter soup jar if you’re new to making these kits.
2. Hearty Cowboy Chili in a Jar
If you want something bold, filling, and full of protein, chili jars are a great choice. They’re perfect for gifting to families who like cozy, stick-to-your-ribs meals.
Ingredients for one quart jar:
- ½ cup pinto beans
- ½ cup black beans
- ½ cup kidney beans
- ¼ cup lentils
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp dried onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Optional: 1 tbsp beef bouillon
- 2 tbsp dried bell peppers
Instructions to attach:
Rinse beans, then add to a pot with 10 cups water.
Simmer 1–1½ hours until beans are tender.
Add 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 pound cooked ground beef.
Simmer 20 more minutes.
Salt to taste.
Chili jars look extra beautiful because of the contrasting bean colors and layers of spices.
3. Rustic Minestrone Soup in a Jar
This vegetarian soup is colorful and hearty, loaded with pasta, beans, and vegetables.
Ingredients for one quart jar:
- ½ cup dried kidney beans
- ½ cup dried split peas
- ½ cup small pasta (ditalini or macaroni)
- ¼ cup dried carrots
- ¼ cup dried celery
- ¼ cup dried onions
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp vegetable bouillon
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions to attach:
Add jar contents to a large pot with 10 cups water.
Bring to a boil, then simmer 45–60 minutes until beans are tender.
Add 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 can green beans.
Simmer 10 minutes more.
This is a gorgeous layered jar full of greens, yellows, oranges, and whites.
4. Creamy Potato Soup in a Jar
Potato soup jars are perfect for people who want something creamy and smooth without much chopping.
Ingredients for one quart jar:
- 2 cups dehydrated potato flakes
- ¼ cup dried onions
- ¼ cup dried celery
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp parsley
- Optional: 1 tbsp bacon bits
Instructions to attach:
Pour contents into a pot with 8 cups water.
Bring to a simmer and stir for 5–7 minutes.
Add ½ cup cream or milk at the end if desired.
Add shredded cheese or more bacon on top.
This one is quick and comforting—great for lunch on a busy day.
5. Lentil Vegetable Soup in a Jar
If you want a “just add water” vegan soup, this lentil version is perfect.
Ingredients for one quart jar:
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1 cup green lentils
- ½ cup dried carrots
- ½ cup dried peas
- 1 tbsp vegetable bouillon
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions to attach:
Add jar contents to a pot with 8 cups water.
Simmer 25–30 minutes until lentils are tender.
Add salt to taste.
Optional: stir in spinach or kale at the end.
This one cooks fast and is full of nutrition.
How to Pack Soup Jars for Gifting
Once your jars are assembled, the fun part is decorating them! Tie twine or ribbon around the lid, add a cute tag, or attach a wooden spoon. Add a label with the recipe name and ingredients so people with allergies can check what’s inside.
These jars make wonderful holiday gifts, teacher treats, neighbor surprises, or cozy wellness gifts when someone is under the weather. You can also make a “Soup Jar Bar” at parties where guests assemble their own jars.
Make-Ahead Meal Prep for Busy Weeks
Soup in a jar is also fantastic for meal prepping. Make a batch of 4–6 jars on the weekend and store them in the pantry. On nights when you’re busy, all you need is boiling water and a few minutes of simmer time. It’s an easy way to keep homemade meals on hand without extra work.
More Ideas for Meals in a Jar
For more ideas for soups and other main courses in a jar, check these out:
- Bean and Rice Fajita Casserole Mix
- Creamy Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup
- Chili in a Jar
- Creamy Tomato Soup Mix
And for more mason jar ideas, check out these desserts and more.
