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Comforting and healing, this Italian Pastina Soup Recipe, or Pastina in brodo, is just what the doctor ordered when you are feeling a little under the weather. This pastina soup is made with wholesome ingredients and homemade chicken broth.
In the mood for another cozy Italian soup recipe? Try my Authentic Italian Pasta e Fagioli Recipe (soup) and No Potato Leek Soup Recipe (Creamy and Easy).
This simple pastina soup will warm you up from the inside out during the colder months or any time of year. This recipe takes me to my childhood, as many young children in Italy grow up with this nostalgic soul-warming soup. This is a delicious Italian comfort food recipe. Serve with a slice of homemade Italian bread. Enjoy!
Equally comforting is Creamy Parmesan Rice Recipe (Quick and Easy Side).
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
This pastina soup is made with simple and wholesome ingredients.
- Pastina Pasta
- Homemade Chicken Broth (or good quality store-bought chicken stock or broth)
- Homemade chicken broth:
- Whole Chicken
- Onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Bay leaf
- Thyme
- Sea Salt
- Garlic (optional) I prefer the broth without
- Parmigiano (or parmesan cheese), for serving
- Black pepper (optional), for serving
- Olive oil (optional), for serving
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Pastina Soup
Making your homemade chicken broth for pastina soup is easy! You dump the ingredients in a stock pot, let it boil, then strain the broth. The extra time is worth the effort to make a rich broth for the pasta soup.
Place all chicken broth ingredients in a large pot, soup kettle, or Dutch oven. Cover with water just enough so all ingredients are submerged. Bring to a boil on high heat.
Let boil for a few minutes, then reduce heat until it is just at a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 hours, skimming foam from the top as necessary.
Strain broth through a colander or sieve. Discard the vegetables and herbs.
Bring 6 cups of homemade chicken broth to a boil.
Add the pastina pasta and boil for 3-4 minutes or until al dente (according to package instructions).
Serve with freshly grated Parmigiano cheese, freshly ground black pepper, and a good drizzle of olive oil if desired. Serve with Easy, Soft Italian No Knead Bread.
I love the little star’s pastina variety since that is what I grew up eating for this soup. Feel free to use any variety you have on hand or like best! It doesn’t matter what kind of pastina you use as long as you like it.
The small size makes pastina an excellent filler for many Italian soups. Try it in our Classic Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe, Avgolemono Soup Recipe, or Easy Tomato Soup.
Pastina FAQ’s
No, you do not drain the pasta for pastina en brodo soup. The broth is the most nutritious part, and the pasta cooks IN the broth. The pasta will absorb some of the broth, and that is normal. You can always add more broth to thin out the pasta soup if you want.
Yes, absolutely! It is not traditional in the Italian pastina en brodo soup, but you can. If you want a boost of protein, you can add shredded chicken and even cooked veggies.
There are many ways you can make homemade chicken broth. The most nutritious and rich chicken broth uses whole chicken.
This is a great way to use your leftover chicken carcass after making Perfect Roast Chicken with Citrus and Fennel. This is what I love to do. Using the whole chicken carcass with bones provides extra health benefits. You can read more about the benefits of bone broth here.
To make a lighter broth, you can use boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken tenders, or any other chicken you have on hand.
Pastina pasta refers to several fine kinds of pasta or small shapes such as tiny pasta stars, “stelline” (perhaps the most common in Italy), small tubes, alphabet pasta, or even tiny macaroni noodles with small shells. There isn’t one standard “pastina” pasta shape.
The Pasta brand Ronzoni announced in January 2023 that the company is discontinuing its pastina product, a tiny star-shaped pasta. Where can you find similar pasta that you know and love to make pastina soup? Here are some great alternatives:
Barilla Brand Pastina (identical in shape to Ronzoni brand)
Little Stars (best substitute- little stars) made in Italy
Acini di Pepe (similar- little bead shaped pasta)
Farfalline (great option- super tiny bowtie pasta) my nonna actually used these often.
I recommend making it homemade if you want the most flavorful and nutritious broth. You can certainly use store-bought chicken broth for convenience and ensure it is good quality.
Expert Tips
- If you can, make your broth for the pastina soup (pastina en brodo). It makes a rich and nutritious base for this simple soup recipe.
- You can easily freeze the chicken broth, but I don’t recommend freezing the leftover cooked pasta in the broth.
Variations
This recipe is the traditional pastina soup recipe with homemade chicken broth. If you want to try homemade Italian chicken pastina soup with a few twists, you can try these the next time you make it.
- Fresh Herbs- add your favorite herbs, such as oregano and rosemary
- Greens- add spinach, mustard greens, swish chard, or kale. Make sure to let them cook until tender.
- Vegetables- you can cut up the vegetables from the chicken broth and add them to the soup.
- Chicken- add shredded chicken for extra.
- Vegetarian- skip the chicken broth and make this recipe with homemade vegetable broth or store-bought veggie stock.
- Parmigiano or Parmesan Rind- if you have a Parmigiano rind in your freezer it for an extra. flavorful broth.
- Lemon juice- my nonna often added a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten the soup. I still do this with my soup.
- Pastina with Egg– This version of pastina soup is also nostalgic for me since my mother often used egg to add extra protein, especially when we weren’t feeling well. If you want to try Italian pastina soup with eggs scramble 1-2 whole eggs per person and drop them in the hot broth with pasta at the end of the cooking time. It is similar to an egg drop soup since the egg cooks in the hot broth.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
You can store chicken broth or stock in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze it for months. Store in airtight containers.
To reheat leftovers add to a small pot on low heat until broth and pasta are warm enough for your liking. Add more broth if pasta absorbs it while being stored in the fridge.
I do not recommend freezing the soup with the pastina pasta already cooked.
Since it only takes a few moments to boil the pastina pasta in the chicken broth I recommend making this part fresh before serving.
More Italian Soup Recipes
More Italian soups you’ll love Classic Italian Minestrone Soup, Classic Italian Wedding Soup Recipe, Tomato Soup Recipe, Pasta e Ceci, and Zuppa Toscana.
Print
Pastina Soup Recipe
Comforting and healing this Pastina en brodo is just what the doctor ordered when you are feeling a little under the weather. This pastina soup is made with wholesome ingredients and a homemade chicken broth.
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Pastina Soup Ingredients
- 1.5– 2 cups pastina pasta (depends on the ratio you like for pasta to the broth)
- 6 cups chicken broth or stock (vegetable broth or stock)
- Freshly ground pepper (optional), for serving
- Extra-virgin olive oil (optional), for serving)
- Freshly grated Parmigiano cheese, for serving
Homemade Chicken Broth
- 1 cooked whole chicken carcass, skin and meat removed
- 1 whole onion, cut in half outer layer removed
- 1 large carrot, whole or cut in half
- 2 celery ribs with leaves, cut in half
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary (add other favorite fresh herbs)
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt, or to taste
- Water
Instructions
Homemade Chicken Broth
- Place all chicken broth ingredients in a large pot, soup kettle, or Dutch oven. Cover with water just enough so all ingredients are submerged. Bring to a boil on high heat. Let boil for a few minutes then reduce heat until it is just at a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 hours, skimming foam from top as necessary.
- Strain broth through a colander, or sieve. Discard the vegetables and herbs.
Pastina Soup
-
Bring 6 cups of homemade chicken broth to a boil.
-
Add the pastina pasta and boil for 3-4 minutes or until al dente (according to package instructions).
- Serve with freshly grated parmigano cheese and freshly ground black pepper, and/or a good drizzle of olive oil if desired. Serve with Easy Soft Italian No Knead Bread.
Notes
- If you can, make your own broth for the pastina soup. It makes a rich and nutritious base for this simple soup recipe.
- You can easily freeze the chicken broth, but I don’t recommend freezing the leftover cooked pasta in the broth.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (3 hours if making homemade broth)
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
This was delicious, and devoured by all five a my kids.
Happy to hear that! My kids adore it (and so do the adults;))!
This was delicious! I make broth all the time and had a small portion in the freezer. On a night I didn’t want a huge meal I got it out and whipped up a small batch of this. I had a little chunk of Parmesan rind in the freezer and simmered it with the broth and added a splash of lemon juice. It was so good! I definitely will make this again!
Yay! It is an easy comforting meal. 🙂
Very easy to make, the interesting herbs make this such a taste delight. Glad to find this recipe
Happy you landed on this recipe. It’s a favorite.
This soup was so easy to make! It was very nourishing and healing. My husband and I ate it for several days. I used my homemade bone broth that I canned this summer. I also added some shredded chicken for some extra protein. Definitely a hit and will make this throughout the winter!
Easy and yummy! Homemade broth is the way to go!
So comforting and tasty. I’ll have to be sure to keep homemade broth on hand just for this recipe.
It is a comforting and simple meal!
I haven’t made pastine in such a long time… your recipe is delicious. Every child should eat pastine and there is not a meal better for everyone’s soul. Incredible memories from a meal.
This is a meal full of memories! Happy you enjoyed it!
Just like my NONNA used to make. Excellent!!
So happy you loved it! It is a family favorite.
How do you add parmesan to this dish without it melting into a big glob?
Make sure you use REAL, freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. It will make all the difference. All the best!
Perfect for when you are feeling under the weather and need a nourishing meal.
This is soup is just what I need when I’m feel under the weather. Simple and nutritious.
You are exactly right!