If you’ve found yourself on the canning side of Facebook or Pinterest lately, you know there are SO many interesting recipes floating around out there! From homemade soups to ready-to-eat meals in jars, I’ve been finding all kinds of things I want to try. And honestly, my collection of saved recipes is getting a little out of control. 😂

That’s where this little recipe bank comes in!

I’ve decided to start collecting some of the rebel canning recipes and old-fashioned food preservation ideas I’ve stumbled across and save them right here on Curated by Kelsey. Partly because I want an easy place to find them myself, but also because I thought it would be fun to create a collection where others can browse, discover new recipes, and print their favorites for their own recipe binders. And lastly, because with a lot of recent events in politics and the world, I just really want to depend on socials less and become more self reliant.

And here’s another little thought I’ve had lately. Social media is constantly changing. Facebook groups disappear, Pinterest links stop working, websites shut down, and who knows what our digital footprints will look like years from now? I’m not saying it’s all going away tomorrow, but I’d rather have the recipes I love saved somewhere I can find them again!

So consider this my little corner of the internet for collecting recipes, preserving inspiration, and keeping some of those good old-fashioned ideas around.

Lasagna in a Jar: A Homemade Dinner Idea

Today’s recipe find is Lasagna in a Jar, and I have to admit, this one caught my attention!

The idea is pretty simple. Instead of making an entire lasagna from scratch every time you’re craving some good old-fashioned comfort food, you prepare a big batch of homemade meat sauce with ground beef, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and Italian seasonings.

Then, when you’re ready for lasagna, you’ve already got the sauce prepared! Just add your noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and whatever other goodies you love in your homemade lasagna.

I love the idea of having homemade ingredients ready to go for those busy evenings when cooking an entire meal from scratch sounds like a whole lot of work.

And let’s be real, anything that makes getting dinner on the table a little easier is a win in my book!

Have I Tried This Rebel Canning Recipe Yet?

Not yet! But I’m excited to give it a go and will absolutely come back to update this post once I’ve tried making it myself. For now, I’m saving the original recipe here so I can easily find it again, and hopefully it’ll give a few of you some new inspiration for your own kitchens. This recipe was originally shared by Maysa Tro, and you can find the original Lasagna in a Jar recipe here. Full credit goes to the original creator for sharing the recipe and inspiration!

A Quick Note About Rebel Canning

If you’re new to the term, rebel canning generally refers to home canning recipes or methods that fall outside scientifically tested food preservation guidelines. While these recipes are popular in online canning communities, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve been tested for safe, shelf-stable storage. This particular recipe contains meat and a thick tomato sauce, so it’s especially important to understand that the original pressure-canning times haven’t been validated for this exact combination of ingredients.

I’m sharing this as a recipe I’ve discovered, not as an approved canning method. For safe pantry storage, always use scientifically tested recipes from trusted resources like the National Center for Home Food Preservation or your local university extension office. This particular sauce can also be prepared and frozen instead.

Save or Print This Lasagna in a Jar Recipe

Below you’ll find the recipe card with the ingredients, original author’s instructions, and notes so you can save it for later.

Feel free to print a copy for your recipe binder, save this post to Pinterest, or share it with someone who loves collecting homemade recipes as much as I do!

And if you’ve made something similar before, I’d love to hear how it turned out!

LASAGNA IN A JAR

Yield: About 6-7 quarts or 12-14 pints | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Process Time: 90 minutes (quarts) / 75 minutes (pints) | Total Time: About 2 hours 30 minutes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings 6 quarts

Equipment

• Pressure canner (required for safety)
• Quart or pint jars, washed and kept hot
• New lids and rings
• Jar lifter
• Canning funnel
• Bubble remover or thin spatula
• Clean dish towels
• Large pot or Dutch oven
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Ladle

Ingredients

  

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef or a blend of beef and Italian sausage
• 1 large onion diced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 cans 28 ounces each crushed tomatoes
• 2 cans 6 ounces each tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
• 1/2 cup red wine or beef broth optional
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

 

Instructions:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat.
• Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened.
• Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Add wine or broth, if using. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until thick.
• Prep jars, lids, and rings. Fill the pressure canner with 2-3 inches of water and begin heating.
• Ladle the hot sauce into hot jars, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rims. Apply lids and rings finger-tight.
• Pressure can quarts for 90 minutes and pints for 75 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure (adjust for altitude).
• Let the canner depressurize naturally. Remove jars and cool for 24 hours. Check seals, label, and store in a cool, dark place.

Notes

To use: Layer the filling with cooked lasagna noodles and cheese in a baking dish and bake at 375°F for 30-40 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

Notes: Do not add noodles or cheese to the jars — they do not can safely. 

Original Recipe Credit: This Lasagna in a Jar recipe was originally shared by Maysa Tro. I’m saving it here as part of my Curated by Kelsey Recipe Bank so I can easily find recipes I’ve discovered and share them with others!

I haven’t personally tested this recipe yet, but I’m excited to give it a try and will update this post with my experience once I do!

Original Recipe & Instructions: Lasagna in a Jar by Maysa Tro

*Important Canning Note: This is a rebel canning recipe, meaning the specific ingredients and processing method have not been verified as safe for shelf-stable storage by the USDA. The processing times listed are from the original author and should not be considered tested canning instructions. Please refer to the original post for the creator’s full explanation and consult the National Center for Home Food Preservation or your local extension office for scientifically tested canning methods.

Save This Lasagna in a Jar Recipe for Later!

One of my favorite things about collecting recipes like this is finding new ways to make homemade meals a little easier. Whether you’re interested in homesteading, learning about food preservation, or simply stocking your freezer with homemade meals, there’s always something new to discover!

I’m excited to keep building this little recipe bank here on Curated by Kelsey, and I hope you’ll find a few recipes worth adding to your own collection along the way.

Have you tried making lasagna sauce ahead of time or experimented with rebel canning recipes? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Don’t forget to save this recipe to Pinterest! I’ve created a few graphics below that you can pin to your favorite recipe boards so you can easily find this post again.

Happy recipe collecting! ❤️