![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.makeaheadmealmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ChickenNoodleSkilletMealinaJar_JarShot1_compressed.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
There is just something about the combination of chicken and noodles and veggies and creamy sauce that makes this Chicken Noodle Skillet Meal in a Jar a little taste of warm comfort!\u00a0 Maybe because it tastes similar to a creamy chicken noodle soup.\u00a0 Maybe because the combo of chicken and noodles and sauce always seems to have magical properties (if you don’t believe me, check out my Chicken Alfredo Bake<\/a>).\u00a0 Who knows?\u00a0 Not that I want to question a good thing… So go with me on this one when I say this is WAY better than any “completely from food storage” should ever be allowed to taste!<\/p>\n The recipe is adapted from one that I got from Chef Tess’s Turkey Noodle Skillet Meal<\/a>.<\/p>\n As with other meal in a jar recipes, this Chicken Noodle Skillet Meal in a Jar contains all the ingredients (except water, of course) needed for the meal in dried format.\u00a0 That means the meal is shelf stable for up to ten years.\u00a0 And it’s ready to go when needed.\u00a0 You just need to add water and cook.<\/p>\n It’s a great way to rotate your food storage and have a quick meal ready to go whenever needed!\u00a0 And this one is perfect when taking in a meal to a friend or neighbor, or even to give as a gift.\u00a0 I especially love that I can control the ingredients and tweak them to match my family’s tastes.<\/p>\n You’ll need to store the jar(s) where it will not be jostled as this can inadvertently pop the seal.\u00a0 And you should check on the seal periodically to make sure that it is holding.\u00a0 Most of the time this has not been a problem for me, but occasionally I find one that loses the seal over time.\u00a0 Using an oxygen absorber in combination with the vacuum sealing with the FoodSaver will help keep that seal extra tight.<\/p>\n There’s no need to get fancy with these if they are going into your food storage, but you should make sure to label them, and it helps to write the cooking instructions on the lid as well.\u00a0 If you’d like, my friend Amy at\u00a0The Happy Scraps<\/a> has designed printable label stickers that you can use, and she also has gift tags available that you can cut with a Cricut machine if you’d like to give these meals in a jar as gifts!<\/p>\n As long as they are stored properly and the seals stay holding, these jars are shelf-stable for up to 10 years!\u00a0 Shelf life for the meal is calculated using the shelf life of whichever ingredient in the meal has the shortest shelf life on its own.\u00a0 In this case, that is the freeze-dried chicken and powdered milk, each with realistic shelf lives of 5-10 years.<\/p>\n Absolutely!\u00a0 Freeze-dried meat can be very expensive, even when you can find it on sale.\u00a0 If cost is a factor, you can choose to substitute a vegetarian meat substitute called TVP or “textured vegetable protein”.\u00a0 It is soy-based, and made to resemble the taste, if not always the texture, of meats.\u00a0 Wholesome Provisions makes a version of chicken TVP<\/a> that is similar to chicken chunks (although I have not tried this brand personally).\u00a0 I have used the Augason Farms brand of chicken TVP<\/a> in years past – it is more like ground chicken, but it works just fine in this meal.\u00a0 (No more TVP for me due to a soy allergy.)<\/p>\n Update for 2020:<\/strong> As the pandemic has progressed, it has become increasing more difficult to find freeze-dried items, especially freeze-dried meats.\u00a0 And if you are lucky enough to find some, it is often marked up beyond belief.\u00a0 SO, for right now, I DO NOT RECOMMEND using freeze-dried chicken in this recipe unless you can find it at a reasonable price and have the budget for it.\u00a0 A great alternative is to use the TVP option above OR make the meal as written, but leave out the chicken all together.\u00a0 Then, purchase some canned chicken online<\/a> or at warehouse stores such as Sam’s Club<\/a> or Costco<\/a> (or even better can your own<\/a>!), and store that or gift that together with the jarred meal.<\/em><\/p>\n There is actually a big difference.\u00a0 The dehydrated vegetables are heat dried, and are more difficult to rehydrate, and they don’t taste quite the same as their original versions of themselves.\u00a0 I do not recommend using dehydrated versions of peas or corn in this recipe, as you would have to cook it so long to get the peas and corn soft that you would destroy the noodles.\u00a0 I personally use the Honeyville brand of freeze-dried vegetable mix<\/a>.\u00a0 Fresh and Honest Foods also has a version<\/a> (which I’ve never tried before).\u00a0 However, you can easily make your own “mix” using a combination of freeze dried peas and corn (and\/or dehydrated carrots and bell peppers) if you have them already in your food storage, or you can even go just straight freeze-dried corn<\/a> or peas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stove Top Instructions:<\/strong> To make the meal, remove the ring and gently pry off the sealed lid.\u00a0 Empty contents of jar (minus oxygen packet if present) into large skillet.\u00a0 Add 3 1\/2 cups water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.\u00a0 Reduce heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently.\u00a0 Remove from heat and let sit 3-5 minutes to allow sauce to thicken.<\/p>\n If you’re looking for other great meal in a jar recipes, be sure to check out these others from the blog:<\/p>\n![\"Chicken](\"https:\/\/www.makeaheadmealmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ChickenNoodleSkilletMealInAJar_Final2_compressed.jpg\")
<\/p>\nItems You Will Need:<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
![\"Collage](\"https:\/\/www.makeaheadmealmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ChickenNoodleSkilletMealinaJar_Collage1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow to Make Chicken Noodle Skillet Meal in a Jar<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
A Note on Storing or Gifting the Meals in a Jar<\/h2>\n
![\"Collage](\"https:\/\/www.makeaheadmealmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ChickenNoodleSkilletMealinaJar_Collage2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nQuestions and Substitutions<\/h2>\n
How long are these Chicken Noodle Skillet Meal in a Jar meals good for?<\/h3>\n
Freeze-dried meat is so expensive, can I substitute something else?<\/h3>\n
Where do I find freeze-dried vegetable mix?\u00a0 All I can find online is dehydrated – is there a difference?<\/h3>\n
How do I make the Chicken Noodle Skillet Meal in a Jar to eat?<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.makeaheadmealmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/ChickenNoodleSkilletMealInAJar_CloseUp_compressed.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
<\/div>![\"Quart](\"https:\/\/www.makeaheadmealmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ChickenNoodleSkilletMealInAJar_FeaturedImage_Compressed-200x200.jpg\")
<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\tChicken Noodle Skillet Meal in a Jar<\/h2>\n\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t