The Ultimate Guide To Your Favorite Pasta Shapes

Deciphering Different Pasta Shapes

Ditalini

Something about tiny shaped pastina just tastes better. Ditalini is also referred to as tubettini, which is a short macaroni that looks like small tubes. This is a versatile pasta shape, with dinner possibilities from a classic tomato sauce and feta cheese dish to peas and parmesan. It’s actually a common pasta to be used in soups like pasta e Fagioli — pasta and beans — being a popular Italian meal.

Elbow

There’s a certain nostalgia that comes with elbow pasta. It’s basically the same shape as ditalini, but curved and slightly longer. Elbows are often used in mouth-watering macaroni and cheese recipes and spring pasta salads, but you can easily get creative with a crisp tomato basil sauce.

Gigli

There is no fun pasta like gigili. The floral-shaped noodles pretty much look like a conch shell and pay homage to Florence, Italy, as “gigli” translates to “lilies” in Italian (the city's national flower). Gigili pasta makes for a lovely pairing with a bolognese or pesto sauce. Oh, and wine.

Farfalle

Farfalle, arguably one of the more popular of the pastas, is bowtie shaped and dangerously delicious. It’s the perfect option for a pasta alla vodka dish creamy mushrooms and spinach. The indents towards the center of the pasta allow it to soak up the sauce for the tastiest bite every time!

Mezzelune

Mezzelune, literally meaning “half moons,” is a stuffed pasta similar to ravioli. However, this pasta shape has circular edges versus raviolis' well-known square cut-out. Mezzelune soaked in a sun dried tomato sauce will make your taste buds very happy. Trust us.

Gemelli

Something about gemelli pasta just absolutely hits different. Often used in casseroles and pasta salads, the spiral pasta is twisted to look like two noodles intertwined. The crevices allow the sauce to soak in, like a classic tomato or lemon and garlic sauce.

Caramelle

Caramelle pasta is speculated to have originated from Northern Italy and is shaped like caramel candy. It’s a filled pasta that goes well with a delectable lemon and ricotta pairing for the summer or a brown butter sauce and squash filling for the fall months.

Pastina

Pastina, aka the tiny star-shaped pasta from the gods, doesn’t need much more than a little butter and parmesan cheese. You can also opt for a creamier pasta sauce, like this TikTok favorite recipe that includes chicken broth and an egg.

Cavatappi

The ultimate spiral pasta, cavatappi, is the Italian word for corkscrews. Cook this pasta in a decadent cacio e pepe sauce with your favorite sausage and broccoli for a little protein and vegetable boost.

Gnocchi

We all know and love gnocchi. The starch is made with three simple ingredients: mashed potato, flour and egg, then shaped like small lumps of dough. It’s a popular recipe to toss with tomato sauce and mozzarella, with some of its most notable recipes being Gnocchi alla Sorrentina or a beef and barolo wine ragù. Make sure to check out these 10 restaurant-worthy potato gnocchi recipes to impress your guests.

Shells

Shells plus meat sauce equals one insanely tasty dish. The pasta imitates the look of literal beach shells, with the concave shape being ideal for stuffed macaroni recipes. The carb is normally drowned in some sort of marinara and ground beef sauce for a dish that you can count on.

Mafaldine

Picture traditional lasagna noodles—then cut them in half. Mafaldine is a long ribbon-shaped pasta with curled edges that is top notch for a variety of sauces: seafood, meat, tomato or cheesy. A creamy lemon sauce with fresh shrimp and mafaldine pasta is an absolute chef's kiss!

More Classic Pasta Shapes

Spaghetti

Who doesn't love a big bowl of spaghetti? This classic pasta shape is so good for a thicker sauce like a bolognese. It's easily twirlable, it holds onto sauce well, and it just always hits.

Linguini

Think of linguini as the go-between for spaghetti and fettuccini. It's not totally flat, but it's also not totally round. This versatile pasta shape is great for tomato sauce, wine sauce, seafood pastas, and beyond.

Fettuccini

Fettuccini is most typically paired with alfredo sauce, being wide enough to handle a heavier cream sauce like that. But, it's also great for tomato-based pastas, too!

Penne

Penne is a tubular pasta that's cut at an angle on each end. You can pair it with just about anything, but I love it with a simple, spicy arrabiata sauce. Penne's also great for creating the perfect bite with something like sliced sausage or veggies.

Rigatoni

Much like penne, rigatoni is another tubular pasta shape without the angular ends! As pictured above, it also works well with chunkier ingredients like sliced veggies, sausage, and more.

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