Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (2024)

By Laura Fuentes on Updated

5 from 15 votes

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This ditalini pasta with black olives and feta is a family favorite! Plus, you can have dinner together in 15 minutes!

Need somethingdelicious and quick for dinner?Try this ditalini with olives and feta cheese.

It’s one of the simple ditalini pasta recipes and the perfect busy weeknight meal because it takes less than 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to assemble. Not counting the salt and pepper.

Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (1)
Jump to:
  • What is Ditalini Pasta

When dinner rolls around, and you’re overwhelmed and busy, it can be easy to reach for that box of mac and cheese. Trust me, I get it and have a few boxes myself, just in case of an emergency.

But there’s something about this quick meal made with ditalini that my kids love, and I feel better feeding them.

Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (2)

What is Ditalini Pasta

Ditalini is small, tube-shaped pasta often used in soups such as pasta e fa*gioli, minestrone, and simple pasta dishes.

The small shape makes it easy to eat with a spoon and is a popular option for kids. Toss in chopped veggies and cheese, and you have a complete meal from the pantry.

How to Make Ditalini Pasta with Olives & Feta

If you can boil pasta, then you can whip up this quick dish in 15 minutes. Here’s what to do :

  1. Add some water to a pot
    Toss the pasta into the water and cook according to package directions.
  2. Make the dressing
    While the pasta cooks, whisk some olive oil with fresh lemon juice and a dash of salt.
  3. Toss it all together
    To the dressing, add the olives, feta cheese, and cooked pasta. Grate some black pepper over the top and toss it all together. *If someone in your family isn’t a fan of olives, swap them out for cherry tomatoes.

With the flavor of cooked pasta, tangy feta, and fresh lemon, you’d never guess it’s that easy to make! I’m getting hungry just writing about it.

How to Store Leftover Cooked Ditalini Pasta

Refrigerate this leftover cooked pasta in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The olive oil in the dressing will help prevent the pasta from sticking together and keep the flavors intact.

You can enjoy this ditalini chilled or reheat a portion of pasta in the microwave. Add 2 tablespoons water per cup of cooked pasta to a microwave-safe dish and cover with plastic wrap or a damp paper towel. Microwave for 1 minute or until the pasta is heated through.

Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (3)

How Long to Cook Ditalini Pasta

When cooking pasta, always cook it according to package directions unless the recipe specifies otherwise. In this case, ditalini takes about 10 minutes to cook to ‘al dente’.

More Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas

Need more quick and delicious dinner ideas for busy weeknights? I’ve got you covered. Your family will love any of the recipes below.

  • Stove-top Lasagna Skillet
  • Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Baked Chicken Tacos
  • Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Recipes like this ditalini and the ones above are similar to the dinner recipes you’ll find inside the Family Dinner Meal Plan.

Each week features delicious recipes made with fresh ingredients, a done-for-you shopping list, and an organized meal-prep guide to keep the cooking simple.

Recipes You Can Make Weekly

Want to incorporate the very best of my recipes into a weekly plan that includes meal-prep and a done-for-you shopping list? Subscribe to my Weekly Meal Plan.

Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (4)

Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (5)

Ditalini Pasta with Black Olives & Feta

Laura Fuentes

This ditalini pasta with black olives and feta is a family favorite! Plus, you can have dinner together in 15 minutes!

5 from 15 votes

Servings 6

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 16- ounce box ditalini pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ black pepper
  • 1 cup pitted whole olives
  • 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Instructions

  • Cook the ditalini according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

  • While the pasta cooks, whisk the olive oil with lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.

  • To the dressing, add the black olives, feta, and cooked pasta. Toss to combine and serve.

  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Enjoy chilled or reheat in the microwave before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 16gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 782mgPotassium: 192mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 91IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Emily

    Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (12)
    How do you think this would be with green olives?

    Reply

    • Laura Fuentes

      Oh yes! We make this with green olives as well. My youngest loves green olives. Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Tiffany's Toy Box

    Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (13)
    Hmmm, I love black olives, but not sure the kids would. Now I have the guts to try it with them since your kids like them. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Laura Fuentes

      the good thing is that if they don’t like the black olives you can take them out!

      Reply

Ditalini Pasta Recipe with Olives & Feta (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between ditali and Ditalini pasta? ›

Ditali is Italian for “small thimbles” due to its small, tube-like shape. Ditalini is a smaller version of ditali (like all pastas ending in “ini” being a smaller version of their predecessor.) It is very popular in soups and has also been called baby penne or very small macaroni.

What does ditalini mean in Italian? ›

Ditalini (Italian: [ditaˈliːni]; English: "small thimbles"), also referred to as tubettini, is a type of pasta that is shaped like small tubes.

How long do you cook Barilla Ditalini pasta? ›

For authentic "al dente" pasta, boil uncovered, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. For more tender pasta, boil an additional 1 minute.

What is one serving of ditalini pasta? ›

SOUP SHAPES
BARILLA PASTA - PRODUCT YIELDS
DRY PASTA - 2-OUNCE SERVINGCUPS COOKED PASTA
Ditalini1/3 cup1-1/4 cups
Fideo Cut Spaghetti1/3 cup4/5 cup
Orzo1/3 cup4/5 cup
1 more row

What are the 4 types of pasta in Italy? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and alla Gricia. Each uses slightly different techniques and ingredients and has its own place in the canon of Italian food. Here is a brief breakdown of these iconic Italian pasta dishes.

What is another name for ditalini pasta? ›

Ditalini pasta is shaped like a small tube and is also referred to as “l*ttle thimbles.” These tiny pastas are often used in soups, like minestrone or pasta e fa*giole.

What does Fazool mean in Italian? ›

1. Italian for bean . 2. Term used for money or a bill .

What is the Italian word for rude? ›

1. (impolite) villano/a ⧫ maleducato/a.

What does Putzi mean in Italian? ›

Putzi is a cute and affectionate term that is often used to describe little kids or pets. It's a combination of the Italian word “piccolo,” meaning small or tiny, and the suffix -uzzi, which adds a sense of playfulness and endearment to the word.

What is the smallest pasta shape? ›

Pastina, which literally means "little pasta," is the smallest type of pasta available. It comes in different shapes like stelline, pictured below. Other varieties include corallini, grattini, tempestine, and others. Pastina is normally a component of Italian soups.

How much pasta is enough for 4 people? ›

If you're having pasta as your main meal, we'd suggest the following quantities: 100g of dried pasta per person. 120g of fresh pasta per person.

Are there different sizes of Ditalini pasta? ›

Ditalini are pretty small and mostly used in soups. Ditaloni and ditali are bigger and work well in creamier soups, in salads, pasta bakes, and with a number of pasta sauces including tomato, meat, and seafood sauces. All three sizes can be found in two versions, grooved 'rigate' or smooth ''lisci'.

How many calories are in 1 cup of cooked ditalini? ›

Region: US
ServingIngredientCalories
101.6 gpasta161
Mar 7, 2017

What are the different types of Ditalini pasta? ›

So, the 'ditale' pasta group contains 3 sizes of short pasta tubes; ditaloni, ditali, ditalini; big thimbles, little thimbles, and very little thimbles!

Are tubetti and ditalini the same thing? ›

Like ditalini, tubetti are small, tube-shaped pasta (hence the name); the difference is simply in proportions. Ditalini are generally as wide as they are long; tubetti are slightly narrower and longer.

Is ditalini a pastina? ›

That's because pastina in Italian means “l*ttle pasta” and actually refers to a wide variety of pasta that is small. Orzo is pastina. Ditalini is pastina. Alphabet pasta is pastina.

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