Hearty Lentil & Barley Soup Mix (Budget-Friendly Pantry Recipe)

• Why You’ll Love It
• Ingredients
• How to Assemble
• How to Cook
• Frugal Tips
• Storage
• FAQ

This lentil and barley soup mix is the ultimate frugal pantry staple. Made from inexpensive dry ingredients, it stores for months and turns into a cozy, filling soup for just pennies per serving.

Why You’ll Love This Soup Mix

• Made with low-cost pantry staples
• Long shelf life for meal prep
• High in fiber and plant protein
• Simple dump-and-simmer cooking
• Perfect homemade food gift

Ingredients (Soup Mix)

• ¾ cup brown or red lentils
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomato halves, cut into pieces
• 2 tbsp dried vegetable flakes
• 1 tbsp dried minced onion
• 2 tsp chicken bouillon granules
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried minced garlic
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup pearled barley

How to Assemble the Soup Mix

1. Add ingredients to a clean 1-pint jar.
2. Seal tightly and store in a cool, dry pantry.

How to Cook the Soup

1. Pour soup mix into a large pot.
2. Add 6–7 cups water or broth.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 45–60 minutes until tender.
4. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.

Frugal Tips

• Buy lentils and barley from bulk bins for the lowest cost.
• Swap vegetable bouillon to make it vegetarian.
• Add diced carrot or celery to stretch servings.
• Gift in jars for an inexpensive homemade present.

Storage

Dry mix: airtight container up to 6 months.
Cooked soup: refrigerate 4 days or freeze 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does soup mix in a jar last?

When stored in an airtight container in a cool pantry, this dry soup mix lasts up to 6 months.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes. Simply replace chicken bouillon with vegetable bouillon.

Can I cook this in a slow cooker?

Yes. Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until lentils and barley are tender.

Frugal Lentil Barley Soup Mix in a Jar

Make a cheap, hearty lentil barley soup mix using dry pantry staples. Just add water for a cozy budget meal that stores for months.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook time when using mix 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 5 servings

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 154

Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• ¾ cup brown or red lentils
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomato halves cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons dried vegetable flakes or soup greens
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• ½ teaspoon dried minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• ½ cup uncooked medium pearled barley

To make the soup later:

• 1 package of dry soup mix
• 5-6 cups of water
• 1 14.5 oz diced tomatoes with onions peppers, celery
• 8 oz smoked sausage cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Method

 

1. Layer lentils, sun-dried tomatoes, vegetable flakes, onion, bouillon, oregano, garlic, black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and barley in a 1-pint jar with a tight-fitting lid. You can also use a Mylar bag.
2. Seal the jar and store in a cool, dry pantry until ready to use.

To make the soup:

1. Place contents of jar, water, tomatoes and sausage in a large soup pot. Partially cover and cook for 1 – 1.5 hours. Season with lemon pepper.
2. Place contents of jar, water, tomatoes and sausage in slow cooker. Stir; cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.Season with lemon pepper.

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 6gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 582mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 64IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

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