There’s nothing like a comforting and soothing bowl of homemade chicken soup. Especially if a loved one makes it for us when we’re feeling under the weather.
Last week, I was reminded about the importance of the warmth of home and family. I picked up my son from pre-school, who came down with a fever, and my heart sank as I saw him. I was taken back to the similar times in my childhood when I was picked up sick. That sense of relief after seeing a warm and familiar face instantly filled both our hearts. As I embraced him, I immediately shared his sentiment that soon we’d be in the comforts of home sweet home.
Doesn’t home become exceptionally comfortable when you’re not feeling well? It also feels SO good to know that someone will be there to take good care of you. And it’s the BEST feeling in the world when that someone knows exactly how to nourish your soul. #TheresNoPlaceLikeHome ❤️
I placed Roy on his favorite spot on the couch with the coziest blanket, turned on a movie and started making his favorite soup.
This nourishing Toddler Approved Alphabet Chicken Soup is perfect to help fight off the sniffles. It’s also delicious and who doesn’t like alphabet shaped pasta?!?
The thing is, comfort food isn’t just about the food itself. A cup of homemade soup from a loving mother to her sick child brings an incomparable kind of healing. There’s a warm and fuzzy emotional association which makes the food oh so comforting. There’s truly no place like home when we’re not feeling oh so good.
So I start off by making my own stock. This is the best kind of stock! I simmer my bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks with some flavor boosting ingredients like parsley, green onion, celery, carrots, red onion, peppercorns, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks for 30 minutes.
Once the chicken is cooked, the stock is ready! I remove the chicken to cool down and disregard all the other ingredients. Now the veggies can be added. I use celery, carrots and zucchini. The chicken can be de-skinned and de-boned now and re-added to the soup along with the alphabet-shaped pasta. I also like to cook down some chopped tomatoes and add that with chopped parsley to the soup. The tomatoes add a bit of sweetness and acidity.
Roy’s favorite soup is ready and it looks so good! It brings me so much joy to see a smile on his face and hear his sweet voice saying in excitement: “You made me chicken soup?!”
Of course I did, that’s what I’m here for! ?Now scoot your cute little butt over and let’s enjoy our bowls of this Toddler Approved Alphabet Chicken Soup together, my sweet baby Roy.
Now, stop staring at these pics, go make this soup and tell me how you like it. K. Thanks. Bye. ?
PrintToddler Approved Alphabet Chicken Soup
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Yield: 8
- Category: Toddler Approved
Ingredients
To Make The Stock:
- Chicken Drumsticks – 5 large, rubbed with salt.
- Red Onion – 1/2 large.
- Cinnamon Sticks – 2.
- Celery Stalks – 2.
- Green Onion – 1.
- Baby Carrots – 5.
- Parsley Sprigs – 3.
- Peppercorns – 4.
- Whole Cloves – 4.
- Water – 8 cups of water.
To Make The Soup:
- Carrots – 1 cup, thinly sliced.
- Zucchini – 1 small, cubed.
- Celery Stalks – 2, thinly sliced.
- Alphabet Pasta – 1/4-1/3 cup, dry.
- Tomato – 1 medium, chopped. (I only had cherry tomatoes this time, so used a handful)
- Parsley – 3 tbsp, chopped. More for garnish.
- Salt – 1 tsp or to taste.
Instructions
To Make The Stock:
- Place all the stock ingredients into a large pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, partially cover and cook until the chicken is tender. About 30 minutes.
To Make The Soup:
- You can prep the ‘To Make The Soup’ ingredients as the stock is cooking.
- Once chicken is tender, Remove and set aside to cool.
- Strain the broth through a very fine sieve into a large bowl. Discard the remaining ingredients.
- Re-add the broth to your large pot along with the sliced carrots, cubed zucchini and sliced celery. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, remove and discard the skin and bones from the chicken, cut meat into bite-size pieces, and add to pot.
- Add the alphabet pasta.
- In a small pan, sautee the chopped tomato in a little bit of olive oil until soft (5-8 minutes) then add to soup.
- Add the chopped parsley, and season with salt to taste.
- Soup is ready! Garnish with parsley & freshly cracked black pepper.
techlazy.com says
You must have had my husband in mind when you made this recipe! It is the most perfect bowl of deliciousness for my pickle loving guy. I must admit I’m intrigued and will have to make this to see for myself 🙂 Thanks for stirring up the flavors today Sue
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Lucas Ferguson says
I didn’t even know you could buy dry alphabet pasta… that’s so awesome. I bet my little girl would get a kick out of using it to make crafts and stuff.
Oh, and nice recipe too 🙂 I think it’s safe to say just by looking at it that it’s way better than any of the canned stuff!
Christine says
Thanks, Lucas! Definitely better than any of the canned stuff 😀
Stephanie says
My toddler has his first-ever cold. Other than breastmilk, this is the first meal he has made it through in 24 hours. I made enough for the whole family..it is delicious! I added some apple cider vinegar to the broth and find it irrestable! I’m going to dig for more recipes now. Thank you!
Christine says
Hi Stephanie! Thanks for leaving this comment….it warmed my heart! I’m so happy to hear I was somehow able to help your little one and hope he’s feeling much better now! I will add apple cider vinegar next time. That sounds amazing! Happy New Year! 🙂
Sandra says
Wow this soup is something unreal is so tasty all family liked it my 2 and nearly 5 year old loves it too and the stock we made is so delicious I can just have it on its own. This is so healthy and one of my favourite soups I make this soup quiet often. And the stock I make I ussually double it , I use for other soups too. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe.
Christine says
Isn’t it so good??? Thanks so much Sandra for your comment and I’m so happy your kids love this soup!❤️
Monica says
This recipe sounds amazing! My daughter has many food allergies and one of them is celery. What would you try substituting to still get a good flavor?
Christine says
Hi Monica! So sorry I’m late to respond but I would use fennel or leeks instead of celery as a flavorful substitute. Let me if you try/tried this soup and how it turned out. How your daughter likes it ❤️
Araz says
Hi! We love this recipe and it has become a family favorite. Our 22 month old always finishes his bowl and asks for more. If I wanted to make more, would I just double all of the ingredients?
Christine says
Hi Araz! Thanks so much for the comment and it’s so nice to hear your family loves it! Yes, double it all up for more!! Enjoy!!
Maija says
Love that includes bone broth and no canned ingredients! The cinnamon was a wonderful twist. Lovely soup I will be making for years!
Kimi says
Absolutely yummy and toddler approved! The cinnamon and cloves added lovely earthy notes to the soup.
India Williams says
I came to google to find a toddler friendly soup after my son started experiencing a fever/cold. My first thought was to check out a few different recipes and pick things that I liked from each but plans changed after seeing this unique recipe. It was a joyful experience making my own broth and experimenting with cinnamon in a soup. I’m here to say I truly love the flavorful notes in this soup. My 3 years old son likes it too.
Christine says
Hi India! Thanks for the review. 🙂 I’m glad you and your son liked the soup and hope he’s feeling better!