Best for: Thick and/or chunky sauces, like cheese sauce or meaty rag. Because of its curly shape, cavatappi is one of the BEST pasta shapes to use for. Why it works: The distinctive curved shape of these noodles makes them sturdy enough to stand up to extra thick sauces, like in classic mac and cheese. The crevices on these shapes also work well to catch chunks of ingredients in textured sauces. Examples: elbow macaroni, orecchiette, conchiglie. Cheesy, creamy baked mac and cheese with gooey cheese, white sauce and. Keyword macaroni and cheese recipe, stove top recipe. Why it works: With more surface area for sauces to cling to, broad noodles are the ideal canvass for pouring on rich and creamy, typically mild-flavored white sauces.Įxamples: elbow macaroni, orecchiette, conchiglieīest for: Thick and/or chunky sauces, like cheese sauce or meaty ragù I chose to use cavatappi noodles, as I love the shape and thickness of them. Spaghetti with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and ArugulaĮxamples: fettucine, linguine, pappardelleīest for: Cream and butter sauces, like alfredo

Why it works: Thin noodles are all about mouthfeel. They pair best with light sauces that add flavor without bulk. Why it works: The holes and ruffles of these short noodles are ideal for holding onto chunky ingredients in hearty sauces and pasta tosses.Įxamples: spaghetti, capellini, vermicelliīest for: Light sauces, like pesto and marinara When it comes to the perfect pairing of pasta and sauce, however, not all noodles are created equal. Eliminate the guesswork from your next meal with this guide to choosing the ideal noodle shape for any dish.īest for: chunky sauces, like Bolognese, and pasta salads

Best pasta shape for mac and cheese