16 Mason Jar Recipe Ideas for Easy, Portable Meals Any Time of Day  (2024)

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Make one jar of soup for yourself and gift one to a friend. No one will believe this soup takes only 15 minutes to come together. As a bonus, it's packed with immunity-boosting vitamin C, thanks to ingredients including fresh orange juice and roasted red sweet peppers.

Mason Jar Omelet

Making an omelet on a weekday is no longer an impossible task, thanks to this quicker version of the comforting, hearty dish, encapsulated in a cute little jar. Make a few of these at once to have meals ready to grab from the fridge for a couple days of quick breakfasts.

Strawberry and Rhubarb With Cheesecake Cream

This easy to assemble parfait is what dessert dreams are made of. Strawberry and rhubarb filling is layered in Mason jars among generous clouds of cheesecake cream. To take it to the next level, top it in a crumble of shortbread cookies.

Carrot Cake Refrigerator Oatmeal

Yes, you can have cake for breakfast. This is one of our favorite mason jar recipes, as it takes only 10 minutes to prep and comes out tasting like a slightly healthier version of carrot cake, thanks to ingredients like shredded carrot, crushed pineapple, maple syrup, and chopped walnuts mixed into overnight oats.

Homemade Cup of Noodles

Skip the sodium-laden packaged variety and make your own healthier cup of noodles. This recipe lets you choose everything from your broth base to the type of protein and noodles, so each cup is completely customizable. We have a feeling these comforting meals will make it into your weekly rotation.

Chicken-Egg Salad

Say good-bye to soggy sandwiches. This update on chicken salad stays fresh for hours and won't have you feeling sad when you pull lunch out of the fridge. A semi-homemade dressing sits on top of layers of chopped lettuce, sweet peppers and strawberries in a mason jar, so simply shake to mix and eat.

Kiwi-Pineapple Smoothies

Get your green fix through a straw once you've thrown together this fruit smoothie and poured it into a mason jar. The recipe might even trick you into thinking you're poolside at a tropical resort, thanks to the combination of kiwi, banana, and pineapple.

Peanut Butter-Banana Refrigerator Oatmeal

Take overnight oats to the next level with the classic flavor combination of peanut butter and banana. It's hard to think of better mason jar meals for breakfast. Consider whipping up a double batch, so you'll have four meals in a jar ready to go for the week.

• Bonus: More Overnight Grain Recipes

Picnic Taco Jars

If you're planning a picnic and are bored by the same old sandwich, try this mason jar taco salad instead. Meals in a jar don't get any easier than layering your favorite taco ingredients into a single vessel that will be less messy, but just as delicious as taco night.

Mocha Smoothies

We're not sure why, but drinking a refreshing smoothie from a mason jar is just more fun than from a regular glass. This one is easy to blend up with a frozen banana, milk, honey, cocoa, vanilla, and a couple of teaspoons of instant coffee for a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

Shrimp and Broccoli Noodle Bowl

This healthy dinner has just 260 calories, but it packs in 20 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber—nutrition that's hard to beat for a meal in a jar. You'll love the Asian flair of flavorful ingredients, including snow peas, cooked shrimp, and sesame-ginger salad dressing. 

Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Soup

Instant ramen noodles aren't just for college kids, but this mason jar meal has way more flavor than the packaged version. Here, a base of fresh beef stock, fresh ginger, and cooked, shredded chicken combine for an easy, delicious meal.

Lunch Time Quinoa Salad

Step away from the usual salad—this six-ingredient recipe couldn't be easier to make (simply stir everything together and scoop it into individual pint jars), and protein-rich vegetarian ingredients like quinoa and cannellini beans will keep you full until dinner.

Apple-Berry Pie in a Jar

These easy pies-in-a-jar can be prepped up to three months in advance. Once they're assembled, pop them into the freezer, then thaw them in the refrigerator overnight once you're ready to bake. It's easy to make this dessert à la mode by prepping your own ice cream in a mason jar.

Mason Jar Lid Pie

This simple dessert is, well, easy as pie. Instead of using the whole mason jar, you'll only need the lid, which serves as a mini pie plate for these individual treats. A two-ingredient blueberry filling is bursting with fruity flavor and will have you ready to dive in after a 25-minute bake time.

Key Lime Mason Jar Cheesecakes

Key lime pie meets cheesecake in these individual desserts with a creamy, zesty filling piled high in one of the best mason jar recipes. They're the perfect sweet ending to a picnic, but they'd look great on a bridal or baby shower table, too.