Take a trip down foodie memory lane with this homemade vegetable alphabet soup recipe! With plenty of hearty veggies and alphabet pasta in a rich tomato-based broth, it’s belly-warming with every spoonful.
Hi friends!
This vegetables alphabet soup is a homemade version of a childhood favourite!
This hearty veg soup is not only delicious, but it’s also fun too!
With alphabet pasta, how can it not be fun, right?
So, ditch the canned store-bought stuff and make your own vegetable soup from scratch. You’ll never look back!
How To Make Alphabet Soup
Full details on how to make this soup are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- In a pot, cook some onion and garlic in a little olive oil.
- Add tomato paste and stir to incorporate.
- Next add veggies and seasonings.
- Pour in the tomatoes and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook.
- Stir in alphabet pasta and cook.
- Add peas and corn, then cook until warmed through. Remove bay leaves and discard those.
Do I Have To Use Alphabet Pasta?
Well, it technically won’t be an “alphabet” soup, but you sure can!
If you don’t have alphabet pasta on hand, use orzo, ditalini, or another small pasta.
Tips for Making This Recipe
- Cut your veggies relatively the same size so they cook evenly.
- I used store-bought veggie broth, but you can use homemade veggie broth if you like.
- Depending on your tomatoes, you may want to add a pinch of sugar to counterbalance some of the acidity. Just add to taste, if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Sub out the sweet potato for regular potato, if that’s what you have on hand or prefer.
- Instead of frozen peas, try green beans instead (if they’re on the larger or longer side of things, just chop smaller before adding to the pot).
- Diced tomatoes are recommended here. These little pieces of tomato add texture and flavour, in my opinion. However, if you don’t have those, you can use whole peeled canned tomatoes and just break up with your hands or a potato masher before using.
What To Serve With This Soup
Any of these are delicious with soup:
- Homemade bread
- Crackers
- Veggie sandwich
- Grilled cheese sandwich
- Green salad
More Vegetable Soup Recipes
If you make this vegetable alphabet soup recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Vegetable Alphabet Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced (about 1.5 cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced no more than ¼-inch thick or diced small (about 1 heaping cup)
- 2 ribs celery, sliced no more than ¼-inch thick or diced small (about 1 heaping cup)
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 (28-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes
- 8 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup alphabet pasta
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup canned or frozen corn kernels
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. (I used an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven.)
- Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion has softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add sweet potato, carrots, celery, basil, thyme, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat (to about medium-low heat) to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until veggies are almost done.
- Add alphabet pasta, stir in, and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add peas and corn, stir in, and cook for 5 minutes or until warmed through. Remove bay leaves and discard. Serve and enjoy!Note: Properly store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3 to 4 days. Because of the pasta, leftovers may thicken. You can thin the soup with more vegetable broth or water should you wish. Reheat before serving.
Notes
- Cut your veggies relatively the same size so they cook evenly.
- Depending on your tomatoes, you may want to add a pinch of sugar to counterbalance some of the acidity. Just add to taste (if desired).
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Amy
I just made this for our sick toddler. He hasn’t been eating much. He gobbled this up! This is delicious. I didn’t have alphabet pasta, so used macaroni. This will go into the rotation.
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Awww, hope your little one feels better soon!! So happy to hear that it was enjoyed! Nothing like a comforting bowl of soup, is there? Thank you very much, Amy!!
Ashlyn @ F5 Method
Love this hearty, homemade take on a canned classic Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Ashlyn 🙂
David @ Spiced
I love that you used alphabet pasta here, Dawn! Talk about a trip back to childhood for sure. 🙂 I don’t know if they sell alphabet pasta here, but you better believe I’m going to look! Plus, Robbie would lose his mind if his pasta was shaped like the alphabet. 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Right??! Thank you David! Hope you guys enjoy 🙂
Never Ending Journeys
This soup looks so heartwarming and delicious!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you 🙂
Marissa
How fun is this! Love this playful and delicious soup, Dawn! My kind of comfort food!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Marissa! Mine too 🙂
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
How fun is this, Dawn?! Absolutely love this – and so much better than the canned version with all of those preservatives! Healthy and delicious! YUM!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you kindly, Haylie 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I haven’t had alphabet soup in years Dawn. You;re bringing back the memories! Delicious. Pinned!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Happy to hear that! Thanks Mary Ann 🙂
Valentina
You should be jarring and selling this. What a comforting and delicious recipe! (P.S. I LOVE how you spelled out “delish” with the pasta!) 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Aww, thanks Valentina!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Oh I can’t wait to try this! Canned soup isn’t my favorite thing but I looooved alphabet soup growing up. This is so much better than canned! I’m totally trying this asap! Have a fantastic week, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Enjoy Kelsie!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
What a fun soup! This would be enjoyed by young and old. It’s always so fun to see what letters you get in every spoonful! The broth looks so rich and delicious!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks Kathy! I think so too 🙂
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
Makes me feel all lovely and nostalgic – how lovely, Dawn! This is such a great idea!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thank you Alexandra!!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Aww Dawn! This soup totally gives me all the warm and fuzzies. I loved alphabet soup, and I bet your homemade version is so much better than the kind from a can! So many veggies! I’ve definitely got to make this for my kiddos soon!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Such a fun recipe! Adding alphabet pasta to my shopping list right now 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks Jennifer! Enjoy!