22 Types of Pasta

Variety is the spice of life, and what better way to add some spice than with the multitude of pasta options out there in the world. From classic spaghetti to ditalini and more, there’s a perfect type of pasta for any recipe you’re looking to make. Learn about some of the most popular types of pasta and find the right one for your next meal.

Long Types of Pasta

Spaghetti

One of the most common and beloved types of pasta, spaghetti is a form of thin, long pasta. Not quite as thin as angel hair and not as thick as linguine, spaghetti is perfect for classic spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce. However, spaghetti is a versatile pasta and it can be combined with a variety of sauces, proteins and veggie options.

Angel Hair Pasta

Angel hair pasta is a thinner version of spaghetti, and is usually paired with lighter cream- or oil-based sauces. Since it’s more of a delicate pasta, it’s perfect for seafood or chicken dishes.

Lasagna

Large, flat pasta sheets, lasagna noodles are the foundation to this Italian favorite. With wavy sides, they’re capable of holding all the good stuff like ricotta, sauce and more.

Linguine

For those who want a fettuccine alternative, linguine is a perfect option. It looks similar to fettuccine but it’s not as wide. However, it’s great in alfredo or seafood entrées.

Fettuccine

Often served with an alfredo sauce, fettuccine is a hearty, flat, thick noodle. On top of alfredo, fettuccine can also be used with other thick sauces.

Shaped Pasta

Ditalini Pasta

One of the smallest pasta offerings available, ditalini is a short tube-like type of pasta. Because of its size and shape, ditalini is ideal for soups like pasta Faggioli and minestrone. It can also be used in place of macaroni for a fun twist on classic mac n’ cheese.

Farfalle

Also known as “bow tie pasta,” farfalle is a fun pasta addition to any entrée. Their unique shape is instantly recognizable, and it can be paired with a number of sauce types, proteins and veggies. 

Fusilli

Fusilli is a short, spiral-shaped pasta that’s often seen in pasta salads. The spirals are great for holding sauce and other toppings. The spirals are typically more flat in comparison to rotini.

Rotini

Similar to fusilli, rotini varies with a tighter, curved spiral. You can use rotini in recipes where you’d use fusilli as they’re great for mixing well with thick sauces. 

Elbow

Easily recognizable, elbow pasta is most commonly seen in macaroni & cheese. Tube-shaped pasta that’s curved in an arch, elbows are great for baked pasta dishes.

Ziti

Medium-length and smooth, this tube-like pasta is most-commonly seen in baked ziti recipes. Their sturdiness and hollow design are perfect for baked pasta dishes and they can hold all that goodness with ease.

Orecchiette

This pasta’s name means “little ears” in Italian–and it’s not difficult to see why. One of the most unique pasta shapes, orecchiette are oblong ovals that act as little cups to hold toppings like sausage crumbles, diced tomatoes, chopped kale and light sauces.

Orzo

With the appearance of long grain rice, orzo is a great pasta option for soups and salads. Orzo is one of the smallest pasta types available.

Penne

Another easily-recognizable pasta, penne looks like rigatoni noodles with pointed, slanted ends. Because they’re a thicker noodle, they’re great for a variety of recipes like pasta salads, casseroles, meat sauces and more.

Rigatoni

Rigatoni are hollow tubes with ridges that can come in a variety of sizes and lengths. This type of pasta works excellently with thick, hearty sauces and layers of melted cheese.

Pasta Shells

From small to large, pasta shells are highly versatile. Large shells can be filled with creamy ricotta and mozzarella and baked, and smaller shells are great for mac n’ cheese. And as the name suggests, they look like curved seashells. 

Filled Pasta

Tortellini

A type of filled pasta, tortellini look like folded bandannas that can contain either cheese and/or meat. They add a little something extra to your meals and can be used with sauces or in soups.

Ravioli

One of the most beloved types of pasta, ravioli are square-shaped and can be filled with cheese, vegetables and meat. Depending on the filling contents, you can add any kind of pasta sauce to top it off.

Plant-Based Pasta

Zoodles

Zoodles are spiralized strips of zucchini that are then prepared like regular noodles. They’re a great plant-based alternative to traditional pasta.

Sweet Potato Noodles

Similar to zoodles, sweet potato noodles are spiralized strips that can be a vegan-friendly pasta alternative.

Chickpea Pasta

Rather than using wheat flour, pasta can be made with chickpea-based dough and shaped like rotini, rigatoni, spaghetti and more. Chickpea pasta is a great vegan and gluten-free pasta option, and adds additional protein to a dish.

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is a type of squash that naturally resembles spaghetti noodles. It’s another popular vegetable-based pasta alternative that can be used in a variety of meals.