Description
This comforting Homemade Alphabet Vegetable Soup combines hearty vegetables, savory broth, and fun alphabet pasta to create a nourishing meal perfect for any day. Made from scratch with simple ingredients like onions, garlic, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning, it simmers to a flavorful medley that’s both kid-friendly and satisfying. Enjoy it topped with fresh parmesan cheese for an extra touch of richness.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion (about 1/2 of a large onion)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 cups beef, chicken, or vegetable broth
- 3-4 cups frozen, canned, or fresh vegetables
- 1 medium potato, peeled & chopped (about 1 heaping cup)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice, do not drain)
- 1 cup dry alphabet pasta
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatics: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a 5-quart or larger pot or Dutch oven. Add the minced garlic, chopped onion, Italian seasoning, salt, dried thyme, and black pepper. Stir frequently and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onions soften and become fragrant.
- Add broth and vegetables: Pour in the beef, chicken, or vegetable broth followed by the vegetables of your choice, chopped potato, bay leaf, tomato paste, and canned diced tomatoes (including the juice). Stir well, then bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook the pasta: Once boiling, add the dry alphabet pasta to the soup. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer gently for 30 minutes to allow all flavors to meld and the pasta to cook through. After simmering, remove the bay leaf.
- Serve and garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and serve warm. Optionally, sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese for added richness and flavor.
- Storage and reheating: Store any leftover soup covered in the refrigerator for up to one week. When ready to reheat, pour the soup into a pot over medium heat and warm through. If the soup has thickened in the fridge due to the potatoes and noodles absorbing liquid, add extra broth to loosen the consistency as it heats.
Notes
- You can use any combination of frozen, canned, or fresh vegetables based on your preference or what’s available.
- Italian seasoning blends may vary; use one that includes oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme for the best flavor.
- Adjust salt to taste, especially if using store-bought broth which can be salty.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and omit any meat-based broths.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute with gluten-free pasta instead of regular alphabet pasta.
- Leftover soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
