Popular Meals in a Jar Recipes for Canning
Meals in a jar recipes are becoming a go-to option for families, homesteaders, and meal preppers who want to make dinnertime easier with wholesome, ready-made meals. These quick dinner solutions aren’t just convenient—they also allow you to store long-term food and stock your emergency food supply with jars filled with hearty soups, stews, and full entrées like chili con carne or chicken pot pie filling. By pressure canning complete meals, you’ll have nourishing, shelf-stable food ready at a moment’s notice, whether you’re planning ahead for busy nights, building your preparedness pantry, or simply looking for homemade meals that save time without sacrificing flavor.
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By Diane Devereaux | The Canning Diva®
Last updated: August 29, 2025
Popular Meals in a Jar Canning Recipes
There’s nothing more satisfying than opening your pantry to find a variety of ready-to-eat, homemade meals that are both nourishing and shelf-stable. Meals in a jar recipes for canning are becoming increasingly popular among busy families, homesteaders, and meal preppers alike—offering a convenient, time-saving solution without sacrificing quality or flavor. Whether you’re planning for a busy week, stocking your emergency food supply, or simply want to make dinnertime easier, having pre-cooked meals in jars means less stress and more wholesome eating.
These home-canned meals in a jar are as versatile as they are delicious. From hearty stews and savory soups to complete entrées like chicken pot pie filling or chili con carne, the options are endless. Imagine having comfort food ready at a moment’s notice—no need for thawing or long cook times. With just a quick reheat, you can enjoy a homemade meal packed with real ingredients and seasoned to perfection. It’s fast food—but better, and made with love.
As more people search for shelf-stable meals, easy canning recipes, and meal prep ideas that last, the trend of canning full meals continues to grow. In this post, I’ll share some of the most popular and tried-and-true meals in a jar canning recipes that you’ll want to preserve season after season. Whether you’re a seasoned home canner or just getting started, these recipes will help you stock your pantry with delicious, ready-made meals that you can trust.
Enjoy preserving a variety of meals in a jar this canning season and stock your pantry with wholesome, ready-made meals you and your family will love. Need more ideas? Be sure to purchase my latest book, The Canning Diva Presents Meals in a Jar, to discover meals from cuisines all over the world. Expand your palette and stock your pantry!
Click a link from the categories below for the article and recipe, which you may download into a PDF and save or print. Recipe cards are at the bottom of every article.
Meat & Poultry Meals in a Jar Canning Recipes
Spicy Chicken with Canary Beans
Pulled Mexican Chicken in a Jar
Soup & Stew Canning Recipes
Pumpkin with White Beans and Bacon
Smokey Bell Pepper Soup with Reposado Tequila
Vegetarian Meals in a Jar Canning Recipes
Butternut Squash and Chickpea Hash
If you loved have these meals in a jar at your fingertips, you’ll find even more delicious and time-saving recipes in my cookbook, The Canning Diva Presents Meals in a Jar. Inside, you’ll discover a wide variety of complete meals for every taste and lifestyle—including an entire chapter dedicated to vegetarian meals in a jar, and another focused on safe ingredient substitutions to help you customize recipes without compromising food safety.
Whether you’re canning for convenience, preparedness, or simply to enjoy wholesome homemade meals year-round, this book is your trusted guide to building a pantry full of flavor and flexibility.
For more meals in a jar canning recipes, pick up your copy of The Canning Diva Presents Meals in a Jar book! Go beyond pressure canning fruits and vegetables and learn to create and store entire meals that don’t require freezing and refrigeration. Shelf-stable meals at your fingertips! Simply pop open jar, heat, and eat!
Happy Canning!
Diane, The Canning Diva®
www.canningdiva.com
About the Author:
Diane Devereaux, The Canning Diva®, is a nationally recognized food preservation expert, author, and educator with over 30 years of home canning experience. She’s the author of multiple top-selling canning books and teaches workshops across the U.S. Learn more at TheCanningDiva.com.