A Guide to Choosing Pasta Shapes
Here’s a guide to help you choose the right pasta for the occasion, although ultimately there are no rules.
- Most dried pasta can be categorized into the following categories. Go to the store and try new pasta shapes to find what you like.
1. Long, Thin Pasta
Popular shapes
Spaghetti, Linguine, Angel Hair, Bucatini
Best use cases
Light, smooth sauces like marinara, olive oil-based sauces, and seafood sauces.
- Why? These shapes can be evenly coated in sauce without overpowering their delicate structure.
Example dishes
Spaghetti with marinara, linguine with clam sauce.
2. Wide, Flat Pasta
Popular shapes
Fettuccine, Pappardelle, Tagliatelle
Best use cases
Rich, creamy, or meaty sauces like alfredo, Bolognese, or ragus.
- Why? The broad surface area holds heavier sauces well.
Example dishes
Fettuccine alfredo, pappardelle with beef ragu, cumin lamb noodles
3. Tubular or Concave Pasta
Popular shapes
Penne, Rigatoni, Ziti, Shells, Lumaconi
Best use cases
Chunky sauces with vegetables, meat, or cheese, as well as baked dishes.
- Why? The tubes or concave spaces trap sauce and ingredients inside, ensuring flavor and texture in every bite.
Example dishes
Penne arrabbiata, baked ziti, rigatoni bolognese, ricotta stuffed shells
4. Small Shapes
Popular shapes
Orzo, Ditalini, Farfalle, Macaroni, Orechiette
Best use cases
Soups, salads, and light, creamy sauces.
- Why? Their size makes them versatile for dishes with smaller, bite-sized ingredients where you can get everything in the same spoonful.
Example dishes
Orzo in soup, farfalle pasta salad, elbow mac & cheese
5. Twisted or Spiral Shapes
Popular shapes
Fusilli, Rotini, Cavatappi, Vesuvio
Best use cases
Hearty, chunky sauces or creamy dishes.
- Why? The twists trap bits of sauce, ensuring flavor in every bite.
Example dishes
Fusilli with pesto, cavatappi mac and cheese
6. Sheet Pasta
Popular shapes
Lasagna
Best use cases
Layered baked dishes
- Why? Large sheets are perfect for stacking and holding hearty fillings.
Example dishes
Classic lasagna with bechamel and ragu.
Weeknight lasagna with ricotta, meat, and tomato sauce.
Casseroles
Weeknight Pasta
Sausage & Cream Pasta
Pasta Alla Checca
Cacio e Pepe (The Foolproof Way)
Fiery Carbonara
Spinach Carbonara
Marcella Hazan's 3 Ingredient Tomato Sauce
Green Chile Chicken White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
Cilantro Avocado Pasta & Chicken Salad
Deli Style Pasta Salad
One Pot Italian Sausage & Broccoli Pasta
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