Italian Pastina Soup Recipe (Melissa Jo’s Comfort-Style Pastina)
If you grew up Italian, you already know — pastina soup is comfort, medicine, and love all in one bowl. This is the soup we make when someone’s sick, when it’s cold outside, or when you just need something warm and familiar.
This is Melissa Jo’s Pastina Soup, my way of making it. It’s a little different than the traditional version, but trust me when I say — it’s totally better. It’s slow, layered, deeply flavorful, and honestly one of the best soups you’ll ever eat.
And if you love cozy, comforting soups as much as I do, make sure to also try my Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, Creamy Italian Sausage Soup, or my ever-so-viral Lasagna Soup. Soup season is my love language.
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👝 How to Store Leftovers
Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
👝 To Serve
Ladle into bowls and finish with:
- Freshly grated Parmesan
- A drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh basil or parsley
Serve with warm, crusty bread.
Melissa’s Tips & Notes
- Salt in layers — it matters more than you think.
- This soup thickens as it sits. Add a splash of broth when reheating.
- This is the soup Italians make when kids are sick… and honestly, it works on adults too.
🤔 Common Questions
The soup base can be made up to 2 days ahead and actually tastes better as the flavors meld. If you’re planning ahead, cook the soup without the pastina, then add freshly cooked acini di pepe when reheating. This prevents the pasta from soaking up too much broth and getting mushy.
No problem at all. You can use any small pasta like orzo, ditalini, stelline, or even broken angel hair. The key is choosing something tiny that gives the soup that creamy, comforting texture without overpowering it.
Italian Pastina Soup Recipe (Melissa Jo’s Comfort-Style Pastina)
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons good extra virgin olive oil
- I used La Española
- ½ cup finely chopped carrots peeled
- ½ cup finely chopped celery
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup sliced pepperoncinis no juice
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste (season in layers!)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 14 ounce can cherry tomatoes
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 32 ounces chicken stock + 1-2 cups more if your adding shredded chicken
- 1 Parmesan rind
- 1 cup Acini di Pepe pasta pastina (uncooked) cooks in soup
- 1 rotisserie chicken finely shredded (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
- Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
- Crusty bread for serving
Instructions
Build the flavor base (low and slow)
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium to medium-low heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and sliced pepperoncinis. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Cook slowly for 10–15 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables are soft and translucent with just a slight golden tint. You’re not browning anything here — this should be gentle, glossy, and fragrant.
Season in layers
- This soup is all about layering flavor. Season now, season again later, and taste at the end. This is how you get depth.
Cook the tomato paste
- Add the tomato paste and stir continuously over medium heat for 3–5 minutes, until it deepens in color and smells rich and slightly sweet — like a sunset in a pot.
Add the tomatoes
- Pour in the cherry tomatoes and break them up with a wooden spoon. Leave them as chunky or as broken down as you like.
Season and simmer
- Add the Italian seasoning, bay leaf, and another pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5–10 minutes.
Add the chicken stock
- Before tossing the tomato can, fill it with chicken stock, swirl it around, and pour it into the pot to get every bit of flavor. Add the remaining stock until you’ve used 32 ounces total. Season lightly again.
Parmesan magic
- Add the Parmesan rind and bring the soup back to a boil.
Cook the pastina
- Add the acini di pepe directly to the soup. Bring to a rolling boil and cook according to the package directions (mine was 9 minutes).
- The soup will thicken as the pasta cooks — that starch is exactly what you want.
Two Ways to Serve
Option 1: Simple Pastina Soup
- Remove the bay leaf and Parmesan rind. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve as is. Cozy, comforting, and unreal.
Option 2: Make It a Meal
- Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken and chopped parsley. If needed, add about 1 additional cup of low-sodium chicken stock to loosen the soup.
- Bring back to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer for 2–3 minutes, just until the chicken is heated through.
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