Identify Pasta Shapes

Spaghetti

Spaghetti are long, thin, round noodles: probably the most famous pasta.

💡 Did you know? The name means ‘little strings’.

Penne

Penne are short tubes with slanted ends like a quill.

💡 Did you know? Their ridges hold sauce well.

Fusilli

Fusilli are spiral-twisted noodles.

💡 Did you know? Lots of sauce clings in the twists.

Farfalle

Farfalle are noodles pinched in the middle into a butterfly shape.

💡 Did you know? ‘Farfalla’ means ‘butterfly’.

Tagliatelle

Tagliatelle are long, flat ribbon noodles, classically with ragù.

💡 Did you know? They come from Emilia-Romagna.

Ravioli

Ravioli are filled pasta pockets, usually square.

💡 Did you know? The filling ranges from cheese to meat.

Rigatoni

Rigatoni are short, thick tubes with pronounced ridges.

💡 Did you know? They are bigger than penne and cut straight.

Gnocchi

Gnocchi are small dumplings, usually of potato dough.

💡 Did you know? A fork gives them their ridged pattern.

Tortellini

Tortellini are small, ring-shaped filled pasta.

💡 Did you know? Legend says they mimic a navel.

Macaroni

Macaroni are short, slightly curved tube noodles.

💡 Did you know? In the USA they are loved as ‘mac and cheese’.

Cannelloni

Cannelloni are large tubes that are filled and baked.

💡 Did you know? A ricotta-and-spinach filling is typical.

Orecchiette

Orecchiette are small, ear-shaped noodles from Apulia.

💡 Did you know? The name means ‘little ears’.