This veggie-loaded alphabet soup is sure to become a new favorite for the whole family. Playful, kiddo-friendly alphabet pasta and a plethora of veggies float in a rich, simply seasoned tomato-based broth.
Looking for an awesome way to get your kids (and everyone else in your family, honestly) to eat their veggies? This is it. This soup has it all: a rich, perfectly seasoned tomato broth, a hearty dose of a variety of vegetables, and fun, playful pasta that doubles as a spelling lesson. See how many words you can spell in your bowl before the letters are all gone.
Why I Love This Alphabet Soup Recipe
- Vegetable-loaded. This soup is a great way to pack in your veggies. It’s got celery, carrots, zucchini, and russet potatoes.
- Rich, flavorful broth. The tomato-based broth is tasty and rich and will warm you up from the inside out.
- Kid friendly. Kids love this soup, partly because of the simple, heartwarming flavors and the cute alphabet pasta.
- Super easy. Preparing this will take you about 20 minutes of active time. The rest is just simmering the soup.
Ingredient Notes
- Olive oil: For sauteing the vegetables and for flavoring the soup.
- Aromatics: You’ll need a yellow onion and two cloves of garlic.
- Vegetables: I used celery, carrots, zucchini, and russet potato. Feel free to add other favorites to the mix.
- Seasonings: I kept it simple with salt, pepper, oregano, and Italian seasoning.
- Canned corn: You could use leftover cooked corn off the cob instead.
- Canned diced tomatoes & Tomato Sauce: Use no-salt-added variations, if possible.
- Low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth: Use a low-sodium broth, as it will give you more control over the flavor of the soup.
- Alphabet pasta: Any short pasta shape will do.
How to Make Alphabet Soup
This recipe is relatively easy, no matter your kitchen skill level. It’s a fun way to create a comforting, nutritious, appealing, homemade meal, especially if you’re cooking with or for kids.
- Sauté the aromatics. In a large pot, heat the olive oil and saute the onion until translucent. Add the garlic.
- Cook the veggies. Add the veggies, stir in the seasonings, and saute to soften the veggies a bit.
- Make the soup. Stir the corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth into the veggies. Bring the soup to a boil and reduce the heat to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the pasta. Stir in the pasta and cook to al dente.
- Final adjustments. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper if needed.
Recipe Tips And Variations
To make the best alphabet soup ever, follow these tips and tricks. Consider throwing your own spin on the recipe while you’re at it.
- Use homemade broth. If you have some on hand or have the time to make it, it is always preferable to use a homemade broth. The flavor is far superior.
- Give it time. Before adding the pasta, give the soup a full 20 minutes to simmer. This will give the flavors a chance to meld and deepen.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. After adding the pasta to the soup, simmer just until the pasta is al dente so you don’t end up with a mushy alphabet pasta.
- Add protein. To make it a full meal, add shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground beef, cooked Italian sausage, beans, or lentils.
- More veggies, please. Feel free to add bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli florets, spinach, etc.
- Consider a different pasta. Use a different short pasta shape if you’d like. You could even use rice, but note that the rice will take a bit longer to cook.
Serving Suggestions
This relatively light soup pairs well with a hearty entree salad such as this Chef Salad or my classic Cobb Salad and a hunk of crusty bread. Grab your favorite loaf from the market, or take the extra time to make this incredible Focaccia Bread or my No Knead Skillet Olive Bread. I also love serving alphabet soup with a sandwich. This Reuben Sandwich is to die for. Dip it in the tomato-y broth, and your taste buds will thank you!
Proper Storage
- To store. Once the soup has cooled to room temperature, seal it in an airtight container. You can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To reheat. Allow the soup to thaw in the fridge before transferring it to a soup pot and heating it over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warm. Alternatively, microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until heated through.
More Easy Soup Recipes
There’s nothing like a heartwarming bowl of soup to thaw you out on a chilly day. Here are a few more recipes to keep you warm this winter.
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Ham and Bean Soup
- Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Tom Yum Noodle Soup
Alphabet Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ribs celery, sliced
- 4 carrots, diced
- 2 zucchini, diced
- 1 large russet potato, peeled and diced
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup canned corn, drained
- 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½ cups alphabet pasta
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and saute for 15 seconds or until fragrant.
- Saute the veggies. Add the celery, carrots, zucchini, and potato. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and Italian seasoning, and saute until the veggies have softened a bit, about 6 minutes.
- Make it soup. Stir in the corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Bring the soup to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the pasta. Stir in the pasta and cook until the pasta is al dente, roughly 8 minutes.
- Final adjustments. Stir in the parsley and give the soup a taste. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Equipment
Notes
- To prevent mushiness, cook the pasta just until al dente – about 7 to 9 minutes, but it should be stated on the package directions.
- Add cooked chicken, ground beef, sausage, beans, or lentils for a fuller meal.
- Add more vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, or spinach.
- Substitute the pasta with other short pasta shapes.
- The recipe yields close to 14 cups in total.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
