15 Unconventional Mason-Jar Recipes That Are Just Crazy Enough to Work

POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff / Nicole Perry
Food Fitness Fresh Air
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff / Nicole Perry
Food Fitness Fresh Air

If you've spent any time on Pinterest in recent years, you know that mason jars are quite the craze. However, the jars are great for more than just canning and preserving; they're also wonderful for culinary exploration. Portable, sturdy, and airtight, a mason jar makes the perfect container for meals, drinks, and desserts on the go. Here are a few of the best recipes that are made with this clever container.

01
Fruit Crisp in a Jar
Food Fitness Fresh Air

Fruit Crisp in a Jar

This mason jar fruit crisp is divvied up into single servings, so there's no need to share.

02
Guacamole Mason Jar Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Guacamole Mason Jar Salad

Love chips and dip? For lunch, treat yourself to a lively guacamole salad that's conveniently packed into a mason jar.

03
Kiwi Cobbler Cocktail
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Kiwi Cobbler Cocktail

Consisting of kiwi, mint, vanilla bean, tequila, and club soda, this kiwi cobbler cocktail may sound complicated, but it's actually easy to make on the go in a mason jar.

04
Slow-Cooker Beans and Quinoa
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Slow-Cooker Beans and Quinoa

Brown-bag-ready beans and quinoa with cheddar will satisfy at lunch all week long.

05
Strawberry Shortcake
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Strawberry Shortcake

The next time you plan a picnic, tuck a few jars of strawberry shortcake into your tote for dessert.

06
Mason Jar Salad Dressings
POPSUGAR Studios

Mason Jar Salad Dressings

No salad is complete without dressing, so learn how to master three different recipes with one jar. From tangy to creamy, these dressings help you to never be bored with greens again.

07
Grasshopper Pies
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Grasshopper Pies

Mint, chocolate, and pretty presentation make this mason jar dessert a wonderful option for entertaining.

08
Grilled Beet, Chicken, Apple, and Spinach Salad With Strawberry Vinaigrette
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Grilled Beet, Chicken, Apple, and Spinach Salad With Strawberry Vinaigrette

Mixing sweet with savory is a wonderful cure to culinary boredom, and this mason jar salad nails it.

09
Funfetti Cake in a Jar
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Funfetti Cake in a Jar

The only thing cuter than funfetti cake: funfetti cake layered with frosting in a mason jar.

10
Vegetarian Taco Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Vegetarian Taco Salad

Mexican food is the last thing you'd expect to find in a mason jar, but all the taco fixings can be found inside this layered vegetarian taco salad.

11
Chocolate Frosty
POPSUGAR Studios

Chocolate Frosty

Not quite a milkshake and not quite ice cream, this ultrathick take on a chocolate Wendy's Frosty is something you'll want to make again and again.

12
Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad

Incorporate Fall flavors into your diet with this sweet potato salad. The flavors in this dish offer a change-up from your everyday salad.

13
Mason Jar Pudding Parfaits
POPSUGAR Photography | Sarah Lipoff

Mason Jar Pudding Parfaits

Mason jars are the perfect vehicle for nostalgic pudding parfaits.

15
S'mores in a Jar
POPSUGAR Studios

S'mores in a Jar

S'mores are a campfire favorite, but there's no denying that the dessert is messy. Avoid sticky fingers with this heavenly recipe for s'mores in a jar.