17 Easy Mason Jar Recipes

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Mason jars are an iconic part of canning and preserving.  They’re tied into the home gardening movement, which has been gaining a lot of momentum over the last few years.  It makes sense that people are finding more uses for them than just preserving some fruit.

A mason jar can, among other things, be used to store one-person meals.  They can also be used to store ingredients meant to be blended into a meal, like salads or cookies.  These can be used as improvised lunchboxes, given as gifts, or just kept in the fridge for a day when you don’t feel like cooking.

Let’s take a look at seventeen of the simplest, most delicious mason jar recipes.  The best part is that they’re not only easy to make, but can also be done in only a few minutes.

Contents

17 Simple Mason Jar Recipes

1. Instant Noodle Soup

This is a quick, healthy soup that only needs some boiling water or time in the microwave to serve.  It’s easily prepared ahead of time and lasts up to five days in the fridge.

Instant noodle soup puts vermicelli noodles together with shredded chicken, vegetables, bouillon cubes, and flavoring sauces.  Add boiling water for maybe five minutes, and you get a delicious meal.

https://thegirlonbloor.com/mason-jar-instant-noodles/

2. Burrito Bowl

Imagine a burrito, but without the wrap.  Just vegetables, rice, salsa, guacamole, and a few other foods all layered into a mason jar.  You can eat it cold or if you wait before adding some ingredients, heat it in the microwave.

A burrito bowl is a healthy way to eat your vegetables.  It might take some time to cook everything, but this dish is worth the wait.

3. Egg Casserole

Here’s a filling breakfast dish to start your day!  An egg casserole is a dish that’s easy to make and reheat for later.  It’s also the kind of meal that sticks to the jar, so don’t forget the non-stick spray.

This casserole blends scrambled eggs with crunchy bacon, milk, cheese, salt, and vegetables.  It’s good for those morning days when there’s too much of a rush to cook anything.

https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-mason-jar-egg-casseroles/

4. Spinach Salad

Salad is one of the most common mason jar dishes, mostly because it’s easy to make and doesn’t need any cooking.  That means preparation will be a breeze.

Another benefit of salad is that there is no set way to make one.  With spinach salad, for example, you only have to find foods that go well when eaten with spinach, like eggs or onions.

https://www.theseasonedmom.com/spinach-and-bacon-mason-jar-salads/

5. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie isn’t actually a “pie” as much as it’s a casserole.  It’s a veggie-packed meal with a mashed potato crust and a type of meat, like lamb or beef.

The beauty of mason jar meals is that they allow you to divide up your food better.  So, rich food like shepherd’s pie won’t weigh you down as much, especially if you use a smaller jar.

https://carmyy.com/mason-jar-shepherds-pie-meal-prep/

6. Key Lime Pie

Desserts are another common mason jar food because there isn’t much baking involved.  In this case, key lime pie is a quick dessert that needs a couple of hours to chill, but that’s it.

These little cups of sweetness are bracketed between a graham cracker base and whipped cream topping.  Between is a creamy rich filling that will keep people coming back for more.

https://inspiredbycharm.com/no-bake-key-lime-pie-in-a-jar/

7. Pasta Salad

A mix of vegetables, cheese, pasta, and seasonings in a homemade vinaigrette.  This layered salad is ready to eat within the hour and did I mention it’s healthy?

One reason for the layering in mason jar dishes is that some foods tend to become soggy after being in water or oil for too long.  The lowest layers are more resistant to soaking which keeps the higher layers dry.  In the case of pasta salad, it means that if you put chickpeas on top, they’ll remain crunchy.

https://cozypeachkitchen.com/vegetarian-salad-in-a-jar/

8. Banana Pudding

Talk about a jar full of sweet stuff, banana pudding is an easy-to-make dessert that can be made at home from scratch.  The pudding is placed around layers of bananas and vanilla wafers then topped off with homemade whipped cream.

Of course, you don’t have to make it all; ready-to-make packs of banana pudding and whipped cream are found in the supermarket, too.  Homemade pudding is worth the effort, though.  It’s tastier and comes with the satisfaction of a job well done.

https://lovelylittlekitchen.com/best-ever-banana-pudding/

9. Taco Salad

Putting an actual taco into a mason jar sounds great on paper, but the juices would make the shell soggy.  So, here’s the next best thing.

This recipe is made from sauteed turkey with cheese, vegetables, and spices.  It’s ready to go in fifteen minutes and lasts around three days in the fridge.

https://mountainmamacooks.com/mason-jar-turkey-taco-salad/

10. Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

If you want a healthy meal, black bean and quinoa salad is a great option.  It’s vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and tastes great for something like a nature hike.

A black bean and quinoa salad adds layers of cabbage, kale, sweet potatoes, and carrots under a citrus dressing.  Oh, and of course black beans and quinoa.  We can’t forget those.

https://gina-michele.com/2020/02/black-bean-and-quinoa-mason-jar-salad.html

11. Sushi

The easiest way to enjoy sushi on the go, sushi only needs a few minutes of cooking and that’s it.  Just keep it chilled until you’re ready to eat it, or until three days go by and you have to throw it out.

Sushi might not be a staple food, but it’s made from nutritious foods like rice, shrimp, and vegetables.  These are put in the jar with a rice vinegar sauce.

https://www.theforkbite.com/sushi-salad-in-a-jar/

12. Pumpkin Cheesecake

Okay, this one’s kind of seasonal, but it’s just as tasty as anything.  It also only takes a half-hour to create this cheesecake.  They’ll be a hit at your Halloween or Thanksgiving parties.

Pumpkin cheesecake is a pumpkin filling mix sandwiched between crumbled graham crackers and a whipped cream topping.  Add some cinnamon or powdered sugar on top to make it taste better.

https://lovecreatecelebrate.com/no-bake-pumpkin-cheesecake/

13. Fruit Salad

The ultimate no-cook dish!  Fruit salad is easy to make, and even easier to eat.  It’s also simple because there is no one way to make a fruit salad.  Just get whatever fruit you want, cut it up, and put it in the jar.

You can also make toppings out of foods like yogurt, whipped cream, nuts, or any other food that goes well on fruit.  What’s your favorite combination?

https://wholeandheavenlyoven.com/2015/05/20/rainbow-fruit-salad-in-a-jar-with-citrus-yogurt-dressing/

14. Chili

A perfect gift for game day, chili is usually served in a bowl with some form of bread.  Well, this recipe really puts the bread together with the chili.

Chili is considered something like a thick stew.  It includes beef, onions, peppers, and beans, as well as cheese and in this case a cornbread topping.  Enjoy!

https://www.morewithlesstoday.com/cornbread-topped-chili-in-a-jar-recipe/

15. Miso Soup

The classic Japanese dish is made from fermented soybeans.  Miso soup is easy to make and quick since it only takes around ten minutes to cook.

Miso soup is essentially a combination of miso paste, tofu, and vegetables.  It’s a healthy soup that tastes great for lunch, or whenever you’re ready to eat it.

https://www.heynutritionlady.com/miso-veggie-soup-in-a-jar-vegan-gluten-free/

16. Omelet

Eggs are full of protein, so they’re a common breakfast food.  Eggs with sausage and vegetables combine to fill you with energy and get you through even the toughest of jobs.

If you want a meal that’s ready to go in just over half an hour, this is my favorite.  The best thing about it is that this recipe is flexible, so you can adapt it to fit your favorite vegetables in.

https://skinnyfitalicious.com/mason-jar-eggs/

17. Boston Cream Pie

Boston cream pie is a hugely decadent dessert.  Layers of cream or pudding separate two halves of spongy cake, with chocolate covering the top.  So rich, but oh so good!

It’s also very easy to make, the process taking about twenty minutes.  It can be made ahead of time, and it’s an excellent choice for a small dessert treat.

https://cookiesandcups.com/boston-cream-pie-in-a-jar/

Wrap Up

Mason jars are great for holding small portions, but they aren’t the greatest for eating dishes like salads or soups.  In those cases, it helps you have a handy bowl around.

And there you have it, seventeen mouth-watering mason jar recipes.  I hope you enjoy these dishes and don’t forget to clean your jar thoroughly after each use.

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