Easy Pastina Recipe (Italy’s Comfort food)
Feb 03, 2025, Updated Nov 18, 2025
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Growing up in a Spanish and Italian family, a warm bowl of pastina was the cure for just about everything. This comforting childhood dish comes together in under 8 minutes and is made with simple pantry staples you’ll almost always have on hand. It’s silky, cosy and so easy to make and feels like the perfect big warm hug in a bowl for busy or days or anytime you need something soothing with minimal effort.
Why you’ll love pastina!
Pastina is a big warm hug in a bowl and the ultimate comfort food. It’s known as Italian penicillin and for good reason. It’s believed a bowl of pastina will cure any cold, mend any broken heart and bring a smile to your face on those busy days. This classic pastina is creamy, silky and buttery but it can be made into more of soup if you follow my pastina in chicken broth recipe.
I cannot tell you how many times I turn to pastina when I have nothing else in the house to make! It uses ingredients you will most likely always have on hand and can be made in under 8 minutes. My daughters absolutely love it making it perfect for busy parents!
Ingredients Needed for Pastina
This pastina recipe is made with simple, everyday ingredients you’ll almost always have in your fridge and pantry.
- Pastina: Pastina is an Italian word that translates to tiny pasta. It can come in a variety of shapes from little circles to little stars. The pastina I use is called Stelline.
- Chicken broth: Makes the pastina rich and flavourful, but you can swap for vegetable broth. I like to use my homemade chicken broth!
- Butter: Adds creaminess and gives the pastina that soft, glossy finish.
- Egg: Whisked in at the end to create a natural creaminess and extra nutrition (which is great when making this for young kids!) This is an optional ingredient.
- Parmesan: For that salty, cheesy finish that brings everything together. You could also use pecorino romano!
A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.
Easy to make and quick! Followed the recipe exactly as written my only enhancement was a squeeze of fresh lemon at the end. 5 stars all the way!
HOW TO MAKE PASTINA
Pastina is a very simple dish to make that can be ready in under 8 minutes!
Step 1: In a medium sized pot on a high heat, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add the pastina to the pot.
Step 2: Add the butter to the pot with the pastina and continuously stir the pastina until it’s plump and has absorbed 80% of the liquid.
Step 3: Take the pastina off the heat, season to taste with salt and stir through the cheese.
Step 4: Finish off with a sprinkling of extra cheese and drizzle of olive oil.
FAQ’s
Stelline (little stars) are classic, but any tiny pasta shape works — alphabet pasta, ditalini, orzo / risoni or acini di pepe will all do the trick.
Absolutely! Simply swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
Stir it frequently while cooking. Because it’s so small, it likes to settle at the bottom.
Yes, you can! Simply leave out the butter or use olive oil instead. You can also skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative.
Absolutely!! This is the best meal you can make when introducing food to your baby. Both my kids love pastina! If serving to babies under 12 month old, just skip the salt and use a low-sodium broth.
How To Serve
- Serve it warm straight from the pot while creamy and silky.
- Add an extra knob of butter or drizzle of olive oil right before serving.
- Finish with freshly grated parmesan.
- Stir through peas or finely chopped spinach for extra veggies.
- Add shredded chicken if you want more protein.
how To Store
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Pastina thickens as it sits, so add warm broth or water when reheating to loosen it.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until creamy again.
More Comfort Dishes To Love!
If you make easy pastina recipe, please tag me on Instagram, Tik Tok or Pinterest so I can see your wonderful creations!
If you have any questions or would like to leave a review, please do so here! I always love answering your food and recipe related questions and hearing your feedback on my recipes
Easy Pastina Recipe (Italy’s Comfort food)
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup pastina
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup pecorino romano or parmeson, grated + extra to serve
- pinch of salt
- drizzle of olive oil
Instructions
- Cook pasta: In a medium sized pot on a high heat, bring the chicken stock to a boil. Add the pastina and butter to the chicken stock and immediately turn the heat down to medium or until the stock is at a gently simmer. Continuously stir the pastina until it’s plump and has absorbed 80% of the liquid. Add more chicken stock if needed!
- Season & serve: Take the pastina off the heat, season to taste with salt and stir through the cheese . Finish off with a sprinkling of extra cheese and drizzle of olive oil.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Easy to make and quick! Followed the recipe exactly as written my only enhancement was a squeeze of fresh lemon at the end. 5 stars all the way!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the lovely feedback.
This is so delicious. Just making it now for pregnant daughter in law. Will be perfect for her 🥰
This was truly a hug in a bowl kind of pasta. I added some diced chicken and Boursin garlic cheese. Our new family favourite. Thank you xx
Salted or unsalted butter?
Either will work in this recipe! If using salted, just don’t season with as much salt!
How come in the video it shows an egg?
You can add an egg for extra nutrition! I have mentioned this in the recipe notes 🙂
Thank you. I love this recipe (as is!) I’ve eaten a lot of pastina growing up. This is just enough of a punch in the mouth with pecorino that it’s now the only way I make it. I love to make this when I have leftover meatballs…bowl of homemade meatballs with a generous scoop of pastina ♥️ I also love a big spoonful of freshly made pesto mixed in. 🤌
Thank you so much! I am so glad you love this recipe.
Everyone in my house is full of coughs and colds, so I just made this for my kids – they loved it!
I woke up feeling awful, and went in search of a pastina recipe and found yours. This came out incredible. I did add a little chicken base to it to really intensify the chicken broth flavor. I can’t believe I’ve never had this before in my life. It was so good, and so easy and quick. Thanks for not overcomplicating the recipe.
So happy to hear this!
I haven’t made this yet but why the egg in the video but no egg in the recipe? Should we be using an egg or is that just a personal taste difference?
The egg is optional and is a great way to add extra nutrition. Especially when serving to little kids! I have updated the recipe notes to outline this!
This was truly the best thing I have EVER eaten. The first time I made it, I realized too late that my Parmesan block was spoiled, so I had to use grated parm/romano, which I do not recommend. The cheese just curdled and didn’t actually melt down. The next day I bought a fancy block of Pecorino Romano and tried again, it was literally to die for. I also used finishing salt and smashed it down and used that as my salt at the end, and that kicked the flavor up a few notches. Other than that, I kept the recipe exactly as is and this will be my forever go to!!
Thank you so much! Very happy to hear you loved it.