Favorite Alphabet Soup To Share With The Kids

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 soup is easy, straight forward in flavor, and is a fun way to change up their plain pasta. 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. I kept the veggies simple in this recipe so that the kids can clearly see what’s in it and also so it’s easier for you to swap them out for other veggies if you prefer. (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. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

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 pea 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 skip adding them. 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. 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.

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 it though!)