When you need an inexpensive pantry gift that actually gets used, this Layered Patchwork Soup Mix does the job. It combines barley, split peas, rice, lentils, and a simple herb seasoning packet into a hearty homemade soup mix that cooks up with onion and water into a filling pot of soup.
It is also the sort of jar mix that looks prettier than it behaves, which is handy. Layer it neatly for gifting, then include the cooking directions so the recipient can get dinner on the table without guessing.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of dry pantry staples to make this mix:
- 1/2 cup barley
- 1/2 cup dried split peas
- 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1/2 cup dry lentils
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
The mix is layered into a jar, cone bag, or vacuum bag, then cooked later with 10 cups water and 1 chopped medium onion. If you enjoy soup-in-a-jar gifts, you might also like Chicken Noodle Soup in a Jar or Layered Bean Soup Mix.
How to Assemble the Mix
- Layer the barley, split peas, white rice, and lentils in a large cone-shaped bag, jar, or vacuum-seal bag.
- Combine the parsley, granulated garlic, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and dried sage in a small packet or add them as the top seasoning layer.
- Seal the container tightly.
- Attach cooking directions to the container.
- Decorate the jar, cone, or bag if you are giving it as a gift.
How to Cook the Soup
- Empty the jar into a colander, rinse well, and pick over the legumes and grains.
- Place the mixture in a large stockpot and cover with 10 cups water.
- Stir in 1 chopped medium onion and the seasoning packet.
- Bring the soup to a boil.
- Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Check the pot after 30 minutes and add additional water if needed.
That rinse-and-sort step matters more than people like to admit. Dried beans and similar legumes can contain small bits of field debris, so giving the mix a quick once-over before cooking saves you from finding a pebble the hard way. For safe leftover handling after cooking, follow the general cooling and storage guidance from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Helpful Tips
- Use a wide-mouth quart jar if you want clean, visible layers. It is much easier to fill without wearing half the rice.
- Keep the seasonings together in a small packet if you want the grain and legume layers to stay crisp and distinct.
- Do not skip the extra water check at 30 minutes. Barley, rice, split peas, and lentils all absorb at different rates.
- Chop the onion fairly small so it softens fully within the 1-hour simmer time.
- Label the container clearly with both the soup directions and the added ingredients needed for cooking.
Easy Variations
This mix is intentionally simple, which means you can dress it up without turning dinner into a committee meeting.
- Add diced carrots and celery with the onion for a more classic vegetable soup flavor.
- Stir in cooked shredded chicken or browned sausage near the end if you want a heartier main dish.
- Finish each bowl with grated Parmesan or a squeeze of lemon to wake up the earthy flavors.
- For a gift basket idea, pair the jar with a loaf of homemade bread or another pantry mix such as Turkey Noodle Soup Mix in a Jar.
Storage
Dry mix storage: Store the sealed dry soup mix in an airtight jar or bag in a cool, dry cupboard for up to 12 months for best quality. That is a conservative estimate based on the shorter pantry life of dried split peas, lentils, and white rice in dry storage.
Cooked soup storage: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in shallow containers and use them within 3 to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 to 4 months for best quality.
Serving Suggestions
This soup works well as a simple supper with crusty bread, biscuits, or cornbread. You can also serve it alongside a green salad for an inexpensive meatless meal that still feels substantial.
If you want to stretch the pot further, spoon it over cooked rice or serve smaller cups as a starter before sandwiches. It also fits right in with other practical pantry meals like Farmhouse Soup Mix.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Layered Patchwork Soup Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barley |
$2.48 |
1/2 C. |
$0.36 |
|
Dried split peas |
$1.98 |
1/2 C. |
$0.43 |
|
Uncooked white rice |
$3.42 |
1/2 C. |
$0.14 |
|
Dry lentils |
$1.98 |
1/2 C. |
$0.42 |
|
Dried parsley |
$1.24 |
1 T. |
$0.13 |
|
Granulated garlic |
$0.68 |
1 t. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.021 cup(s) |
$0.07 |
|
Ground black pepper |
$2.48 |
1 t. |
$0.07 |
|
Salt |
$0.62 |
1 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Garlic powder |
$1.24 |
1/2 t. |
$0.02 |
|
Italian seasoning |
$1.24 |
1 t. |
$0.05 |
|
Dried sage |
$1.98 |
1 t. |
$0.15 |
|
Chopped medium onion |
$1.68 |
1 |
$0.19 |
|
Water |
– |
10 C. |
$0.01 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$2.05 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.41 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Pearled Barley, 1 lb
- Green Split Peas, 1 lb
- Long Grain White Rice, 32 oz
- Lentils, 16 oz
- Parsley Flakes, 0.4 oz
- Granulated Garlic, 3.12 oz
- Ground Black Pepper, 3 oz
- Salt, 26 oz
- Garlic Powder, 3.4 oz
- Italian Seasoning, 0.95 oz
- Dried Sage, 0.4 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Layered Patchwork Soup Mix
You should. A quick rinse washes off dust from dry storage and gives you a chance to pick out any small bits of debris before they land in dinner. Use a colander with small holes so you don’t send the rice down the drain with your good intentions.
You can, but the flavor will be a little flatter. If you need to skip fresh onion, use about 1 to 2 tablespoons dried minced onion or add onion powder to taste so the broth still has some backbone.
Because barley, rice, split peas, and lentils all absorb liquid at slightly different rates, and older dry goods can drink up even more. Check the pot around 30 minutes, give it a stir, and add hot water 1 cup at a time if it looks more stew than soup.
You can, though the stovetop gives you better control over the liquid. Add the rinsed mix, onion, seasonings, and 10 cups water, then cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, checking near the end to see if the grains and legumes are tender.
Expect about 10 cups of finished soup, which works out to roughly 5 servings at 2 cups each. That is an estimate, since some batches cook up thicker and some need extra water along the way.
Cooked meat or extra vegetables work well here. Stir in 1 to 2 cups cooked shredded chicken, browned sausage, or diced carrots and celery during the simmer so the soup turns from sensible pantry meal into proper supper.
Absolutely. Double every dry ingredient exactly and portion the finished mix into two jars if you want gift-ready batches, or keep it in one large airtight container and measure out one full recipe at a time. Just label it clearly so nobody has to solve a pantry mystery later.
A 1-quart jar is usually the easiest fit for this amount of dry ingredients plus the seasoning layer. If you use a cone bag, choose a large one and tap it gently on the counter as you fill so the layers settle instead of staging a collapse.
You can, but it changes both storage and cooking. Brown rice has a shorter pantry life than white rice because of its natural oils, and it often needs a longer simmer, so white rice is the better choice when you want a stable gift mix.
Go with bread, biscuits, cornbread, or a simple green salad. The soup is hearty but mild, so it pairs best with something that adds texture or a little crunch instead of another soft side trying to be helpful.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Layered Patchwork Soup Mix
Layered Patchwork Soup Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup barley
- ½ cup dried split peas
- ½ cup uncooked white rice
- ½ cup dry lentils
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 chopped medium onion
- 10 cups water
Equipment
Instructions
- Layer the barley, split peas, white rice, and lentils in a large cone-shaped bag, jar, or vacuum bag.
- Add the parsley, granulated garlic, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and dried sage as a seasoning packet or top layer.
- Seal the container tightly and attach the cooking directions.
- To prepare the soup, empty the jar into a colander, rinse well, and pick over the mixture.
- Place the rinsed mixture in a large stockpot with 10 cups water.
- Stir in the chopped medium onion and the seasoning packet.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Check after 30 minutes and add additional water if needed.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Prep time estimate includes assembling the jar mix and chopping the onion.
Estimated cost is based on researched current online Walmart pricing for comparable package sizes and the amount used, so your actual cost will vary by store and date.
Store the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months for best quality.
Refrigerate cooked soup within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze cooked soup for up to 3 to 4 months for best quality.
