Looking for a soup your kids will not only devour but have fun eating, too? Then this Alphabet Soup is for you! It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is loaded with veggies that get blended into a smooth, flavorful base, leaving the spotlight on the fun alphabet pasta. My kids like to spell out every.single.word they know with their noodles, which makes for a slightly longer-than-usual dinner. 

A green and teal bowl and plate full of alphabet soup sitting on my white marble counter with a hand holding a kids spoon with the letters Yum spelled out with alphabet pasta.

My kids are not big fans of hearty veggie soups – the kind with actual chunks of vegetables floating around in them.

And instead of shaming them, bribing them, or banging my head against the wall trying to convince them to eat chunky veggie soup, I just pivot. I make the soup in a way that works for them right now.

Is this placating them? Am I setting them up for veggie failure later in life? Am I the problem?

Yeah… probably.

But here’s the win: when I blend the veggies into this soup, my kids absolutely love it and devour every last drop. There’s not even a conversation about vegetables to be had. They see me adding the veggies when I make the soup, but once everything is blended together, to them, it’s a completely different ballgame.

And honestly? I’m okay with that.

The first time I served this soup, it took my kids over an hour to eat it. Not because they were dragging their feet or didn’t like it, but because they were having SO much fun making words on their spoons with the little alphabet noodles.

Every spoonful that went into their mouths had to have a word on it.

Every. Single. Spoonful.

Super cute!

At least it was cute for the first 25 minutes. Eventually, I had to get up and clean the kitchen because I was ready to move on with my night.

Let’s just say, you’ve been warned. 

I do add peas to this soup, so maybe one day my kids will decide they like chunky veggie soups after all. For now, they simply eat around the peas – which is totally fine by me because I scoop those peas right into my bowl.

Because unlike my kids, I am very much Team Chunky Veggie Soup.

#mymomhack – I always make a double batch of this soup so I can freeze half for another meal later in the month or thaw it out for school lunches. Future Me is always very happy to find a container of Alphabet Soup waiting in the freezer.

Alphabet Soup Video

The Kids Are Hungry, Let’s get Cooking –>

Spread of ingredients on a white countertop with graphic labels, telling everyone what the ingredients are.
a gray start pod, fall of cooked onion, carrots, celery, and garlic.
A large gray sock pot on the white counter with ingredients for alphabet pasta with an immersion blender ready to blend them up so the veggies are hidden.
A large gray stockpot on a white countertop with a wooden spoon, showing the cooked alphabet pasta.
A large gray stock pot on a white counter, full of veggie broth and alphabet pasta with a hand holding a cup of frozen pe
A green and teal kids plate and bowl full of alphabet soup with a hand, holding a teal kids spoon staring at the soup.
  1. Gather your ingredients.
  2. Heat the oil over medium heat and then sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Add the spices.
  3. Puree with an immersion blender or transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.
  4. Add in the pasta and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  5. Optional: Add frozen peas and simmer for 2-3 more minutes.
  6. Serve and enjoy!
A green and teal bowl and plate full of alphabet soup sitting on my white marble counter with a hand holding a kids spoon with the letters Yum spelled out with alphabet pasta.

Get the recipe: 25-Minute Alphabet Soup with Hidden Veggies

5 stars (1 rating)
Looking for a soup your kids will not only devour but have fun eating, too? Then this Alphabet Soup is for you! It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is loaded with veggies that get blended into a smooth, flavorful base, leaving the spotlight on the fun alphabet pasta. My kids like to spell out every.single.word they know with their noodles, which makes for a slightly longer-than-usual dinner. 
Yield: 6 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
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Ingredients 

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 white onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 sticks celery, diced
  • 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning or dried Oregano
  • 1 – 14oz can diced tomatoes
  • 6 cups chicken or veggie broth
  • 1 cup alphabet pasta
  • 1 cup frozen peas, optional
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Sauté: In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-low. Add in the onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add in the garlic, and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add in the carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and sauté for another 3-4 minutes, or until tender.
  • Add Ingredients: Add the broth and diced tomatoes, and it bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Puree: Meanwhile, while the soup is coming to a boil, use an immersion blender and puree until smooth. You can also transfer the ingredients to a blender and puree. For a chunky soup – omit this step.
  • Pasta: Once the soup is at a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and add in the pasta. Simmer for 8 minutes.
  • Add-Ins: Add in the frozen peas (if using) and simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Simmer until ready to serve. If the soup gets too thick, add in a little additional broth.
  • Serve: let cool slightly if serving to kids. Enjoy!

Notes

Age: 9+ months. It’s best to drain some or all of the liquid off for babies and young toddlers before serving. 
How to Store: Store any alphabet soup leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This soup stores well in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Recipe Tips:
  • You can substitute another small pasta shape if you can’t find alphabet soup or if you’re looking for a gluten-free option that isn’t chickpea-based.
  • Top with a little parmesan cheese or panko breadcrumbs for extra flavor.
  • You may need to add a little more broth if you’re reheating leftovers to help thin out the soup to your liking.
  • If your child is hesitant to try soup, consider serving it with bread or crackers to dip into it. Serving soup in a much smaller bowl than your child is used to (think cooking prep bowl size) can also make it seem less intimidating.
  • For babies, it may be beneficial to drain the liquid to help them with self-serving.
Course: Main Course

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Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).