Minestrone Soup in Jar (Printable)

Hearty vegetable and pasta soup layered in jars. Make ahead, store, and enjoy by simply adding water and heat for quick meals.

# What You Need:

→ Base Layer

01 - 1/3 cup small pasta (ditalini, elbow macaroni, or mini shells)

→ Dried Beans & Legumes

02 - 2 tablespoons dried red lentils
03 - 2 tablespoons canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

04 - 1/3 cup zucchini, diced
05 - 1/3 cup carrots, diced
06 - 1/3 cup celery, diced
07 - 1/4 cup frozen green peas
08 - 1/4 cup baby spinach, chopped

→ Tomato & Flavor

09 - 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (oil-packed, drained)
10 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 1 vegetable bouillon cube, crumbled

→ For Serving

17 - 2 cups boiling water per jar
18 - Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, omit for vegan)

# How To Make It:

01 - In each clean quart-size mason jar, layer ingredients from bottom to top in this order: pasta, lentils, beans, carrots, celery, zucchini, peas, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, seasonings, and bouillon cube. Press down gently to compact if needed.
02 - Seal jars tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
03 - When ready to eat, remove the jar from the refrigerator. Add 2 cups boiling water to cover the ingredients. Stir well or screw the lid back on and shake gently to mix.
04 - Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked and vegetables are tender. Alternatively, microwave the open jar (without the metal lid) for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring halfway through.
05 - Stir again, season to taste, and top with grated Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • Everything goes into the jar raw, so there's no standing over a hot stove when you're already exhausted.
  • You can see every ingredient through the glass, which somehow makes eating vegetables feel like opening a present.
  • It reheats in minutes and tastes like you simmered it for hours, which feels like cheating in the best way.
  • One batch gives you four ready-to-go meals that don't get soggy or sad in the fridge.
02 -
  • Use boiling water, not just hot tap water, or the pasta will stay chewy and the vegetables won't soften properly.
  • Layer the ingredients in order so the pasta cooks first and the delicate spinach doesn't get buried under heavy beans.
  • Don't overfill the jars past the shoulder or the water won't have room to circulate and everything will cook unevenly.
03 -
  • Use wide-mouth mason jars so you can actually fit a spoon in there without scraping your knuckles on the sides.
  • Add a drizzle of good olive oil and a few torn basil leaves right before eating to make it taste like you put in way more effort than you did.
  • If you're giving these as gifts, tie a little tag on the lid with reheating instructions so people know exactly what to do.
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