Stanley Tucci’s 3-Ingredient Comfort Food Is Like a Warm Hug for the Winter

If there’s one thing beloved actor Stanley Tucci and I have in common, it’s our love for comfort food and, more specifically, pasta. Because, let’s face it, I don’t really trust anyone who doesn’t love Italian food—or, the Tucc for that matter.

That’s why when I sat down to talk with Stanley Tucci about his long-standing partnership with S.Pellegrino, I knew I was in good food-loving company—especially after he told me he eats pasta practically every day. Now, that’s a kitchen I want to be in.

Stanley Tucci's Favorite 3-Ingredient Comfort Food

Plus, have you seen his Instagram account? I can’t even name all my favorite Tucci recipes on one hand because he makes such tasty meals. And it seems like I’ll be adding another great one to that list, too, since Tucci shared his go-to three-ingredient comfort food with me.

“I have so many [favorite comfort foods that’s] the problem,” Tucci told Allrecipes in an exclusive interview. “It depends on the season [but] stelline with butter and cheese is one.” 

If you want to know another one he mentioned, it’s a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich—but we already knew that. So, back to the one I’ll be making all winter long: pastina (the star-shaped pasta), butter, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Now, you might be thinking, wasn’t pastina discontinued? The long and short of it is yes and no. One popular brand, Ronzoni, discontinued its pastina shape in early 2023; however, a few other brands still make it. And, in fact, a new brand is entering the pastina category thanks to Tucci himself.

Stanley Tucci's New Winter Meal Kit

Tucci—and S.Pellegrino—teamed up with the actor’s favorite pasta brand, Rummo, to launch a new stelline just in time for the cooler months. The pasta shape will be available exclusively in Tucci’s second-ever meal kit with World Chef, S.Pellegrino Presents: Stanley Tucci’s Stelline Two Ways.

The meal kit, which launches November 1 and will also have drops on the 8, 15, and 27, features Tucci’s favorite comfort food, Pastina Classica, plus another recipe for Brodo Di Gallina Con Polpettine Di Pollo, which is a chicken soup with meatballs.

“Pastina is something I grew up with—I think every kid in every Italian family grew up with pastina,” Tucci said. “As the weather gets colder, they’re two dishes that you’re going to just want to eat all the time.”

He also said they make great dishes for those winter days when you feel under the weather.

“[These] were dishes that were often served when you were feeling unwell in Italian families,” Tucci explained. “If you had a stomach thing, you were served the pastina with butter and cheese. If you had some sort of cold or something like that, you'd have the chicken soup.”

The meal kits, which are available for $89 on World Chef’s site, include all the fresh ingredients you need to make both comforting pastina recipes, plus a bottle of S.Pellegrino—because it wouldn’t be a Tucci project without his favorite sparkling water.

If you can’t get your hands on one of Tucci’s kits—or you just want to make his comfort meal recipe until the end of time—we’ve got the Pastina Classica recipe right here. (And if you want to go all-out with the love, make it using Tucci's Greenpan Cookware.

Stanley Tucci's Pastina Classica Recipe

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 pound dry pasta S.Pellegrino Stelline Pasta
• 1 cup + 6 tablespoons finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Directions:

1. In a large pasta pot, add 4 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt and bring to a boil.
2. Cube butter into 16 equal pieces.
3. Once the water is boiling, add pasta. Turn the heat down to a low boil and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally so pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
4. Once cooked, use a ladle to reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
5. Drain the remaining liquid from pasta and place pasta back into the pot.
6. Add cubed butter, tossing to coat.
7. Add half of the Parmigiano Reggiano and toss to coat. Then, add half of the reserved pasta water and stir. Add the remainder of the cheese and reserved pasta water and stir to form a creamy sauce.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Divide the pasta among six to eight bowls.
10. Garnish with additional grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
11. Serve alongside a chilled bottle of S.Pellegrino. Buon appetito!

This recipe was developed by Stanley Tucci and S.Pellegrino.