When life gets hectic, there’s nothing more satisfying than having a nutritious, homemade meal ready to go — no chopping, thawing, or stressing. This Hamburger Soup Meal in a Jar is the ultimate comfort food you can prep ahead, store for months (even years), and cook up in minutes.
Made with premium Thrive Life freeze-dried ingredients, it’s packed with flavor, color, and shelf-stable goodness.
💡 Why This Meal Works
- ✅ Complete one-pot dinner
- ✅ No mess or last-minute shopping
- ✅ Shelf-stable and great for emergency prep
- ✅ Kid-approved comfort food
- ✅ Builds your pantry with real ingredients
🍲 Hamburger Soup – Meal in a Jar Recipe
Use a clean 1-quart (32 oz) jar. Layer in this order:
Powdered Base (Mix together and add first):
3 tsp Thrive Life Beef Bouillon
1 tsp Dried Parsley
1 tsp Garlic Powder
½ tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Ground Thyme
¾ cup Thrive Life Classic Tomato Sauce Powder
Next, Layer:
- 1 cup Thrive Life Green Peas
- ½ cup Thrive Life Carrots
- ¼ cup Thrive Life Chopped Onions
- 1 cup Thrive Life Diced Tomatoes
- 1 cup Thrive Life Ground Beef
- 1 Bay Leaf
Final Step:
Place ¾ cup pearl barley in an unsealed snack-size zip-top bag. Tuck it at the top of the jar before sealing the lid.
For long-term storage, vacuum seal the jar lid.
🧑🍳 To Prepare:
- Remove barley and rinse well.
- Add barley, contents of the jar, and 8 cups of water to a slow cooker or stock pot.
- Slow cooker: Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 5-6 hours
- Stovetop: Bring to boil, then simmer 30–45 minutes until barley is tender
- Season with sea salt as desired. Enjoy!
🎥 Watch Us Make It Together – Cooking With Friends (May 2025)
Want to see this soup come together step-by-step? Watch our latest Cooking With Friends YouTube episode where we each made delicious meal-in-a-jar creations:
- 🍑 Peach Cobbler by Rob & Jara
- 🥪 Sloppy Joes by Cindy
- 🥗 Taco Salad by Kathy
- 🍲 Hamburger Soup by Karen (that’s me!)
- 💬 Testimonial by Tracy Taylor
📄 Download the Printable Recipe
Click below to grab a printable PDF of the Hamburger Soup Meal in a Jar recipe for your binder or fridge:
💡 Fun Fact: Why Prep Your Own Meals?
Prepping your favorite family meals ahead of time gives you:
- Peace of mind in an emergency
- Faster weeknight dinners
- Less food waste
- A stress-free way to nourish your family
Having ready-made meals in your pantry is one of the smartest ways to prepare—especially when you use ingredients you already love.
🔥 Thrive Life May 2025 Specials – Time to Stock Up!
Looking to build or refill your home food supply? This month’s Thrive Life specials are packed with savings — including key ingredients from this soup!
May Highlights:
- 🟢 Green Peas – 30% OFF
- 🐄 Ground Beef – 20% OFF
- 🥔 Potato Dices – 20% OFF
- 🧀 Cheddar Cheese – 20% OFF
- 🍑 Peach Slices – 20% OFF
- 🥛 Instant Milk – 50% OFF!
✅ Bulk savings available when you buy 6+ of the same-sized can
✅ Sale prices valid on Delivery orders only
🛒 Get the best prices + browse the full sale at:
👉 www.karennelson.thrivelife.com
🧡 Let’s Thrive Together!
I believe in preparing with purpose, enjoying good food, and sharing what works. If this recipe inspires you, pass it along! And don’t forget to:
- 📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for new episodes
- 📧 Join my email list for recipes and Thrive tips
- 🛒 Shop premium freeze-dried foods anytime at my store
Let’s keep thriving together – one meal at a time!