The present invention relates to a machine (1) for producing food products (11, 11, 11 ") comprising a supporting structure (2), a loading portion of a precursor (10) of the food products (11) and a moulding station (4) of the food products (11, 11, 11"). The moulding station (4) comprises a first (142) and a second (142") plurality of half-moulds opposite each other and movable in succession between a first rest position, in which at least one of the first (142) and second (142") pluralities of half-moulds is not in contact with the precursor (10), and a preforming position, in which the half-moulds (142, 142") are positioned opposite each other to exert a first forming pressure on the precursor (10), and between a second rest position, in which at least one of the first (142) and second (142") pluralities of half-moulds is not in contact with the precursor (10), and a forming position, in which the half-moulds (142, 142") are positioned opposite each other to exert a second forming and cutting pressure on the precursor (10) for producing the food products (11, 11 , 11"). In a further aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a method for producing food products (11, 11, 11") using at least two half-moulds (142, 142") opposite each other and movable, acting on a precursor (10) of the food products (11, 11 , 11"). The method comprises the following steps: adjusting the preforming distance to which to move, and/or the preforming pressure to apply to, the half-moulds (142, 142") for movement to the preforming position adjusting the forming distance to which to move, and/or the forming pressure to apply to, the half-moulds (142, 142") for movement to the forming position loading the precursor (10) to be formed into the half- moulds (142, 142") moving the half-moulds (142, 142") from a first rest position to the preforming position, and/or applying the preforming pressure to the half-moulds (142, 142") moving the half-moulds (142, 142") from the preforming positi