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    Home » Budget Recipes

    Alphabet Soup (43 cents/cup)

    Published: Oct 19, 2021 · Modified: Nov 2, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Have a hankering for that Alphabet Soup with Vegetables from your childhood? You can make this delicious vegetable soup yourself, without the help of a can in less than 30 minutes!

    Dish up big bowls of this vegetable alphabet soup with Saltine crackers or go for the gusto with a batch of Pumpkin Biscuits. When you’ve got favorite Homemade Soup Recipes for Dinner, you’ll never need a can.

    alphabet soup in black bowl marked ENJOY with plate of saltines. this …

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    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Recipe Costs
    • Favorite Vegan Recipes
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Alphabet Soup Recipe

    I am a child of the 70s which means that carpet was shaggy (as were men’s hairstyles), pants were bell-bottomed, and alphabet soup came in a red can. I didn’t know any different for a really long time, and honestly I was fine with that.

    I loved Bean with Bacon, Chicken Gumbo, and Chicken Noodle. When we went to the store, Mom would let me pick out my flavor from the shelf. Often that was the Campbell’s Alphabet Soup, formerly known as Vegetable Soup with Alphabets.

    Since then, I’ve ditched the can, but now make my favorites at home. Turns out this is a deliciously affordable vegan soup that my whole family can enjoy, especially my teen daughter who eats only plant-based.

    Why Make This

    It’s a super versatile recipe. While following the recipe is a good start, you can stir in any bits of leftover veg to this basic soup like we do in Stone Soup.

    This is a perfect red can copycat. It took a little tweaking, but this vegan soup tastes just like that Alphabet Soup of yore, only it’s got all real ingredients and no funny business.

    It’s quick! Whip up a batch of Alphabet Soup in less than 30 minutes. Guaranteed.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need for this vegan soup:

    ingredients for vegan soup with alphabet noodles laid out on black table top.

    oil: You need a bit of fat to sauté the onion and garlic. I use olive oil, but you can use your favorite cooking oil or plant-based butter.

    onion and garlic: These sautéed aromatics add a great base of flavor to the soup. You can also use leeks or shallots if that’s what you have on hand.

    vegetable broth: You can make your own vegetable broth or use a commercial broth.

    frozen corn, peas, and beans: Frozen green beans, corn, and peas are such a bargain! I typically buy these separate in the frozen section, but if you like you can substitute mixed frozen vegetables. Likewise you can use fresh or canned vegetables if that’s what you normally buy.

    carrots: I like to use fresh carrots, but you can substitute canned or frozen if you like.

    tomato sauce: A small can of tomato sauce adds great flavor to this vegan soup. You can also use leftover Marinara Sauce.

    herbs and spices: dried dill, paprika, ground cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper – You can make swaps based on what you have in the spice cupboard, but this mix is a winner.

    alphabet pasta: Alphabet noodles add a bit of whimsy to your vegan soup, but you can also use orzo, salad macaroni, or stars. Any small pasta will do, but of course, then it won’t technically be alphabet soup.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    sautéing onions and garlic in heavy pot on medium heat.
    adding vegetable broth to the soup pot.
    adding vegetables and spices to vegan soup.
    vegan soup with alphabet noodles simmering on stovetop.
    1. Saute onion and garlic. In a large stockpot, heat the oil over high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion starts to turn translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Watch for scorching.
    2. Add the vegetable broth. Add the broth, to taste, scraping up any browned bits.
    3. Add veggies and spices. Add the corn, peas, green beans, carrot, tomato sauce, dill, paprika, cayenne, and salt and black pepper to taste. Bring to a low boil. (This may take up to 10 minutes.)
    4. Boil the pasta. Add the pasta and cook until tender, another 7 minutes or so. Adjust the seasonings and serve.

    This alphabet soup can be cooled and stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Homemade soup is always one of the foods I love keeping my freezer.

    Follow these Tips for Making Soups for the Freezer.

    FAQs

    What is alphabet soup made of?

    Alphabet soup, as Campbell’s has made it, includes vegetables and alphabet noodles in a savory tomato-based broth.

    How can you make a soup vegan?

    There are a number of simple swaps you can make to veganize a soup recipe. If you see a recipe that calls for chicken or beef broth, you can swap in vegetable broth. If it calls for milk or cream, substitute a plant-based milk such as almond or coconut. If butter or ghee is listed in the ingredients, substitute oil or a plant-based butter.

    Where can I find alphabet pasta?

    It’s actually fairly common in most grocery stores. I’ve found it with the pastas on the Latin American aisle, or you can buy it online. But if you can’t find any you can substitute it with another small shaped pasta like orzo, stars, or salad macaroni. 

    Is alphabet soup a pasta?

    No, alphabet soup is not a pasta, but a soup featuring alphabet shaped pasta.

    Recipe Costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • oil – $0.02
    • onion – $0.50
    • garlic – $0.05
    • vegetable broth – $1.99
    • vegetables – $0.78
    • tomato sauce – $0.44
    • dried dill – $0.09
    • paprika – $0.02
    • ground cayenne pepper – $0.01
    • salt – $0.02
    • black pepper – $0.01
    • alphabet pasta – $0.38

    While your cost may vary depending on how or where you shop, you can expect to pay about $4.31 for a big batch of this Vegan Alphabet Soup, about 43 cents/cup.

    How to Save Even More

    By their very nature, soup recipes are very budget-friendly. However, here are some of the strategies you can use to make this recipe even more economical:

    • Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. When you see a good price on tomato sauce, broth, or your spices, buy a few extra to stash for later. You know you’ll use them. Stocking up can save you money.
    • Buy spices in bulk. I regularly buy larger containers of spices I use frequently, like pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. I store excess dried herbs and ground spices in the freezer if I know it will be awhile before I go through the large container.
    overhead shot of vegan soup in black bowl on black plate of saltine crackers.

    Favorite Vegan Recipes

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      Creamy Asparagus Soup Recipe (Vegan, Cream-Free)
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      Easy Black Bean and Rice Salad with Lime Dressing
    • overhead shot of bowl of sweet potato salad on holiday table.
      Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Warm Spices & Lemon
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    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    alphabet soup in black bowl marked ENJOY with plate of saltines.

    Alphabet Soup Recipe

    Have a hankering for that Vegetable Alphabet Soup from your childhood? You can make it yourself, without the help of a can. Just good food.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 17 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 cups
    Calories: 110kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $4.31

    Equipment

    • heavy stockpot
    • wooden spoon
    • soup ladle

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon neutral oil
    • ½ onion chopped (about 1 cup)
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 6 to 8 cup vegetable broth
    • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
    • 1 cup frozen green peas
    • 1 cup frozen green beans
    • 1 carrots peeled and diced
    • 8 oz tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • pinch ground cayenne pepper
    • salt
    • black pepper
    • 1 cup alphabet pasta

    Instructions

    • In a large stockpot, heat the oil over high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion starts to turn translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Watch for scorching.
    • Add the broth, to taste, scraping up any browned bits.
    • Add the corn, peas, green beans, carrot, tomato sauce, dill, paprika, cayenne, and salt and black pepper to taste. Bring to a low boil. (This may take up to 10 minutes.)
    • Add the pasta and cook until tender, another 7 minutes or so. Adjust the seasonings and serve.

    Notes

    The soup can be cooled and stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 cup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1675IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published on February 28, 2016. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Pumpkin Biscotti (6 cents each!)
    Pumpkin Scones (27 cents each!) »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Adrienne

      December 23, 2021 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      I puréed some leftover veggies into the broth and my children happily ate it. 🙂

      Reply
      • John Robert

        October 11, 2022 at 12:50 pm

        The recipe calls for 6 to 8 cups broth – is the 10 servings based on 6, or 8? I’m wanting to scale x 10.
        Thanks
        JRS

        Reply
        • Jessica Fisher

          October 11, 2022 at 1:21 pm

          It’s really going to depend on how much liquid is absorbed in the noodles, etc. I would scale for 6 and then add water if you want to beef it up more. And yikes! That’s a lot of soup!

    2. Jenny

      October 30, 2021 at 9:34 am

      5 stars
      This was delicious! Easy to assemble, smelled amazing. Love that it’s all things I usually have on hand. The leftovers the next day were even better.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        October 30, 2021 at 9:55 am

        Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate you.

        Reply
    3. Deja

      October 23, 2021 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      I love the updated photos, especially the ingredient snapshot so I can quickly scan to make sure I have the ingredients!

      Reply
    4. Carol B.

      October 22, 2021 at 4:03 am

      4 stars
      Tasty, easy. Hit the spot. Used gf orzo for the pasta. Worked fine.

      Reply
    5. Betsy C

      August 01, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Yum! I was looking for something to pair with the Italian Cheesewiches from your cookbook and stumbled upon this recipe when following your tips on improving my families diet. A very happy accident! Wonderful as all your recipes prove to be. I was out of dill and subbed thyme, it worked out well!

      Reply
      • Betsy C

        August 01, 2016 at 2:11 pm

        Family’s…good God! I couldn’t handle more than one! ?

        Reply
        • Jessica Fisher

          August 02, 2016 at 11:55 am

          Ha!

      • Jessica Fisher

        August 02, 2016 at 11:55 am

        So glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like a great pairing!

        Reply
    6. JessB

      March 01, 2016 at 12:00 pm

      I just found your site from thekitchn.com and it’s great! I enjoyed your periscope on the pantry challenge. We live a long way from the city so I buy in bulk when we go and have a full freezer. I printed your pantry worksheet today so that I can inventory what we have and work on using it up! That’s the downside of a chest freezer…it can be hard to keep track of what is in there. Do you have a garden?

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        March 01, 2016 at 6:53 pm

        We have a micro backyard and we’re on water restrictions right now due to the drought, so no garden this year, I don’t think.

        Reply
    7. Lori

      March 01, 2016 at 4:41 am

      Could I use chicken broth instead of veggie broth?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        March 01, 2016 at 9:07 am

        Absolutely.

        Reply
    8. Crystal Hankey

      February 29, 2016 at 8:37 am

      This is the best soup ever. I have made it 5 times since I got your new cookbook. My husband and I love it that much. Once I didn’t have the alphabet pasta so I added diced potatoes. It reheats well and the flavor is awesome. So easy.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        March 14, 2016 at 12:22 pm

        So glad you enjoy it! Potato sounds like a great addition!

        Reply

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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    labeled pinterest image featuring bowl of alphabet soup next to pile of saltine crackers.