Favorite Alphabet Soup

4.97 from 56 votes

You can use ABC pasta, orzo, pastina, or ditalini—or any other very small pasta shape in this Alphabet Soup recipe. And you can start with fresh or frozen veggies. See below for options.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: -6

Calories: 295kcal

Author: Amy Palanjian

Equipment

Calphalon 5-Quart Pot

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1 cup diced carrots
4 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
2 cups ABC pasta (or other small pasta shape)
1 cup frozen peas
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup marinara sauce (optional)
Parmesan cheese (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

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.

Video

Notes

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.

Nutrition