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 help balance 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.
- Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat (to about medium-low) to maintain a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the 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 refrigerator and enjoy within 2 to 3 days. Reheat before serving. Upon reheating, you can add more vegetable broth or water to the soup if it's too thick (because of the pasta, the soup thickens in the refrigerator). Leftovers can be reheated in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
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.
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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!
Patricia says
I made it, not the same taste but it did turn out yummy either way and a homemade veggie soup is healthier than store bought so I’ll keep this recipe. I didn’t add any potatoes to it, I just really wanted a simple and easy and this was, veggie soup.
Patricia says
Slightly different than what I remember but then again I was about 6yrs old and I’m 60yrs now. My Gran would make the most wonderful veggie soup and I’ve been hunting down a recipe that could at least come close to hers, yours is the closest I’ve found and I’ve been hunting for a long time.She was from England and it would of been made for her in the early 1900’s. I omitted the taters, gran never put taters or meat and I don’t care for taters much. I also omitted the celery and pepper flakes and used a bag of frozen veggies, gran used all garden veggies, and chopped them all up, opened up pea pods for the peas, I assume she bought the alphabet noodles as that was the only none homemade item in the bowl. Yours is great and now my go to for a decent well vegged out bowl of soup. Thank you.
Dawn | Girl Heart Food says
Sounds like your grandma’s soup was wonderful (most grandmas’ recipes certainly are, aren’t they?). And I’m so happy that you enjoyed this recipe, Patricia! Thanks so much. 🙂
Amy says
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 says
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 says
Love this hearty, homemade take on a canned classic Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thank you Ashlyn 🙂
David @ Spiced says
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 says
Right??! Thank you David! Hope you guys enjoy 🙂
Never Ending Journeys says
This soup looks so heartwarming and delicious!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thank you 🙂
Marissa says
How fun is this! Love this playful and delicious soup, Dawn! My kind of comfort food!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thanks so much, Marissa! Mine too 🙂
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl says
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 says
Thank you kindly, Haylie 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I haven’t had alphabet soup in years Dawn. You;re bringing back the memories! Delicious. Pinned!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Happy to hear that! Thanks Mary Ann 🙂
Valentina says
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 says
Aww, thanks Valentina!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
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 says
Yay! Enjoy Kelsie!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
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 says
Thanks Kathy! I think so too 🙂
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says
Makes me feel all lovely and nostalgic – how lovely, Dawn! This is such a great idea!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Thank you Alexandra!!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
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 says
Such a fun recipe! Adding alphabet pasta to my shopping list right now 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thanks Jennifer! Enjoy!