Save yourself hours in the kitchen and shelves of pantry space with these small-batch canning recipes. Each recipe is a preserve or uses a standard, freezer or fridge canning method, so you can try one out no matter your skill level.
21 Small-Batch Canning Recipes
Updated on Apr. 23, 2021
Cut down on the time and expense of traditional canning by trying one of these smaller-scale canning recipes. You’ll still get the preserving power and homemade taste of your go-to canning recipes without being stuck with the same flavor of jam for weeks on end. Each of the following small-scale canning recipes make just a few cans of jelly, jam, pickles or veggies each. New to canning? Make sure you read our canning 101 guide.
1/20
Homemade Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a scrumptious spread for scones, biscuits or other baked goods. You can find it in larger grocery stores alongside the jams and jellies or with the baking supplies, but we like making this lemon curd recipe from scratch. —Mark Hagen, West Allis, Wisconsin
2/20
3/20
Sweet Pickles
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I pack away homegrown cucumbers every summer. This recipe is based on the pickled veggies in Brown Eggs and Jam Jars by Aimee Wimbush-Bourque, but I’ve made it less mustardy and more garlicky to fit my family’s tastes. This method keeps them incredibly, refreshingly crunchy. —Ellie Martin Cliffe, Taste of Home Digital Deputy Editor
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 35 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 175mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
4/20
Pineapple Kiwi Jam
Total Time
35 min
Servings
8 half-pints
From the Recipe Creator:
Pineapple, kiwi and a hint of lime blend nicely in this unique combination. It’s especially good slathered on biscuits. —Sondra Rogers, Columbus, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 83 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
5/20
Spiced Pickled Beets
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
With sweet, tangy and spiced flavors, these pickled beets are so good that they'll win over just about everyone in your house. Jars of colorful beets make great gifts, too! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 53 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch.
6/20
Green Tomato Jam
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3 cups
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 81 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
7/20
Sweet & Smoky Salsa
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I love the roasted flavor that grilling gives food, so I decided to make a salsa from grilled vegetables. I think this recipe would also taste great using plum tomatoes. Also, if you can't use wood chip charcoal, you might try adding a little liquid smoke to the salsa while it cooks. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 49 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch.
8/20
Pickled Green Beans
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe produces zippy little pickled green beans, preserving my veggies for months to come ... if they last that long. I crank up the heat a bit with cayenne pepper. —Marisa McClellan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
8 green beans: 9 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 83mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Free food.
9/20
Fig Jam
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I have had a love of figs ever since I had an amazing appetizer that used a combination of them with blue cheese and prosciutto. Since then, I created this fig jam and have used it as a glaze on our Easter ham, smeared it on a bagel with cream cheese and dolloped on pizza. &mdashMonica Keleher, Methuen, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 61 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 39mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein.
10/20
Canned Nectarines in Honey Syrup
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 pint jars
From the Recipe Creator:
Nectarines are in season for such a short time, you'll want to do whatever you can to extend the season. With this quick method for canning nectarines, you'll have delicious fruit all year long. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 64 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
11/20
Pickled Grapes
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
Most people don't think about grapes when creating a canned pickle recipe. The pickling liquid for these grapes includes red wine, vinegar and common pickling spices like coriander, mustard seeds and hot pepper; it also contains warm spices like cinnamon and star anise along with brown sugar. These flavor-packed grapes are unique and delicious on a fab antipasto, pickle or cheese tray. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 32 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 7mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
12/20
Apple Butter
Total Time
11 hours 20 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
I make several batches of this simple and delicious homemade apple butter recipe to freeze in jars. Depending on the sweetness of the apples used, you can adjust the sugar to taste. —Betty Ruenholl, Syracuse, Nebraska
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 68 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 9mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
13/20
Chunky Ketchup
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
3-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this chunky homemade ketchup to jazz up chopped steak sandwiches and hot sausage sandwiches for my family. It's so delicious and fresh-tasting. I gave some to our friends, too, and they enjoyed it on hamburgers and even stuffed peppers. —Susan Stahr, Driftwood, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 40 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 258mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
14/20
Pickled Peaches
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Fresh peach quarters soaked in vinegar, sugar and warm spices are a classic southern treat. Serve with ice cream, pound cake, roasted meat and veggies, or mix into your favorite salad greens.—Nick Iverson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
4 pieces: 78 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, 19g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein.
15/20
Rose Petal Honey
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 1 cup
From the Recipe Creator:
This delicious recipe is a perfect topping for toast or English muffins. It is so simple to make and will impress guests at tea.—Mary Kay Dixson, Decatur, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 39 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
16/20
Pickled Carrots
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother is the only other person I've known to make this recipe. In fact, when I take it to a potluck or picnic, no one has ever heard of pickled carrots. But once they try them, they are hooked. —Robin Koble, Fairview, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1/4 cup: 30 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 170mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
17/20
Peach Jam
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
3 half-pints
From the Recipe Creator:
Bourbon has been popular at our house since we visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail a few years ago. Every bite of this jam reminds me of that fun trip. —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 88 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
18/20
Rhubarb Raisin Marmalade
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 pints
From the Recipe Creator:
At a retreat in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, I sampled a marmalade combining rhubarb and raisins. I loved it so much that I went home and tried to duplicate it. I added the strawberries to make the marmalade even sweeter. —Carmen Tuck, Airdrie, Alberta
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 168 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 7mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (41g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
19/20
Canned Marinara Sauce
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
9 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I developed this marinara sauce recipe with a friend to make the most of a bumper crop of tomatoes. Now we like to make huge batches—we’re talking 220-pounds-of- tomatoes huge—and then give jars along with a pound of pasta as gifts around the holidays. Knowing this sauce is made from the heart with the best possible ingredients makes me feel good about giving it to my family and friends. —Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 131 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 348mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 6g fiber), 5g protein.
20/20
Rhubarb-Cherry Chutney
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I love surprising recipes like this chutney with rhubarb, apple and cherries. Try it with cream cheese and crackers or as a condiment for grilled chicken. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
