Favorite Alphabet Soup (20 Minutes)

Cook up this cozy Alphabet Soup recipe the next time you want an easy meal that’s also fun! ABC pasta is a perfect addition to this kid-friendly soup—and you can tailor the veggies to the likes (or dislikes!) of your own kiddos. It’s so versatile!

My kids are huge fans of buttered pasta, and while we do have that regularly (comfort food for the win!), I do also like to make sure I’m offering them veggies, too (at least some of the time!).

This kid-friendly Alphabet Soup is easy, straightforward in flavor and is a fun way to change up their plain pasta. I keep the veggies simple in this recipe so that the kids can clearly see what’s in it. This method is also easier if you want to swap them out for other veggies.

It reminds me of the pastina soup that my mom made for me as a kid (with tiny star pasta!) and so it makes me happy to serve it to my kids.

This is a favorite fast kids meal that works for lunch or dinner, so I hope it’s helpful for streamlining your time in the kitchen!

(You may also like my Chicken Noodle Soup, Turkey Noodle Soup, Macaroni Soup and Chicken and Stars Soup recipes.)

Ingredients You Need

To make this Alphabet Soup recipe, you’ll need the following simple ingredients on hand and ready to go.

• Butter: I like unsalted so I can season to taste with salt as needed.
• Diced carrots: Dicing them fairly smalls helps ensure that they cook quickly.
• Reduced sodium vegetable or chicken broth: Either one works here.
• ABC pasta: This is such a fun shape and it cooks really fast.
• Frozen peas: If you want to save a step, you can start with a frozen peas and carrots mixture.
• Salt, marinara sauce, and Parmesan: These are optional to add more flavor.

TIP: We like to add the marinara and Parmesan for a little extra flavor, but it’s also good without them!

Ingredient Swaps

• Use olive oil in place of the butter to make this dairy-free.
• You can use another small pasta shape if you like.
• If your kids don’t like peas, you can leave them out.
• The marinara and Parmesan add really nice extra flavor, but they are optional if you want this simpler.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process involved in making this Alphabet Soup recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.

Step 1. Heat a pot over medium heat. Add the butter or oil to melt and warm.

Step 2. Add the carrots and stir to coat. Cook until just softening. (You can skip these two first steps if using all frozen veggies.)

Step 3. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.

Step 4. Add the pasta to cook.

Step 5. Stir in the peas and marinara sauce, if using.

Step 6. Season to taste with salt and serve with Parmesan, if desired.

TIP: The soup thickens as it sits and absorbs the broth, which we don’t mind (and it’s easier to serve to little kids when there’s less broth). You may want to add a little more broth if you’re reheating leftovers to return it to a more soup-like consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store and Reheat

Store any leftover Alphabet Soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Warm to serve for 1-2 minutes in the microwave.

If the pasta has absorbed all of the broth, add a little more (or use water) when reheating to return it to a more soup-like consistency. (My kids like it without much broth, so they don’t mind!)

(You can also try my Pasta in Broth, which is similarly yummy.)

Best Tips for Success

• If using any other pasta shape, check the cooking time on the package.
• Use just carrots and double the amount.
• You could add some corn, diced zucchini, diced green beans or diced tomatoes if desired.
• The pasta continues to absorb the liquid as it sits, so the soup will continue to thicken. You can add more broth if desired, though the thicker soup does make it easier for the kids to eat.
• Find Alphabet Pasta on Amazon, or look in the pasta aisle in your store or in the “ethnic” foods aisle—one of the larger brands that makes it is Mexican (La Moderna), so sometimes it is shelved with other Mexican foods.

I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share.

Get Recipe Ingredients

• Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add the butter or oil to melt and warm.

• Add the carrots and stir to coat. Cook for 4 minutes.

• (To make this with frozen carrots and peas, skip Steps 1 and 2 and start with Step 3.)

• Add the broth and turn the heat to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat back to medium so it’s a simmer with regular small bubbles.

• Add the pasta and cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender.

• Stir in the peas and marinara sauce, if using.

• Season to taste with salt and serve with Parmesan, if desired.

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm to serve, adding more broth or water as you like (the pasta will likely absorb all of the broth in the storage container).
• If using any other pasta shape, check the cooking time on the package and adjust accordingly.
• Use just carrots and double the amount.
• Use frozen carrots and peas and skip Steps 1 and 2.
• The marinara sauce adds nice extra flavor, but you can skip it if you don’t have it. 
• The pasta continues to absorb the liquid as it sits, so the soup will continue to thicken. You can add more broth if desired, though the thicker soup does make it easier for the kids to eat.
• Find Alphabet Pasta here or look in the pasta aisle in your supermarket.

Calories: 295kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 494mg, Potassium: 557mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 5777IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 2mg

This post was first published November 2020.