This guide covers classic shape-to-sauce pairings and inverts the catalog into a practical answer for cooks comparing kinds of pasta sauces and wondering what pasta shape goes with each one.
| Shape | Region | Classic sauces |
|---|---|---|
| Bucatini | Lazio, Italy | Amatriciana, Cacio e pepe, Carbonara |
| Casarecce | Sicily, Italy | Pesto alla trapanese, Eggplant and tomato, Ricotta and tomato |
| Cavatappi | Campania, Italy | Mac and cheese, Chunky tomato, Pesto, Baked pasta |
| Conchiglie | Puglia, Italy | Meat ragù, Cheese sauce, Tomato and basil, Seafood |
| Farfalle | Lombardy, Italy | Cream sauce, Meat ragù, Tomato sauce, Pesto |
| Fettuccine | Lazio, Italy | Alfredo (cream and butter), Meat ragù, Pesto, Seafood |
| Fusilli | Campania, Italy | Pesto, Tomato and vegetable, Primavera, Chunky meat ragu |
| Linguine | Liguria, Italy | Pesto Genovese, Seafood, Clams and mussels, Garlic and oil |
| Orecchiette | Puglia, Italy | Cime di rapa (turnip tops), Meat ragu, Broccoli rabe |
| Paccheri | Campania, Italy | Seafood ragu, Slow-cooked tomato and basil, Stuffed and baked |
| Pappardelle | Tuscany, Italy | Wild boar ragù, Duck ragù, Mushroom ragù, Beef cheek ragù |
| Penne | Campania, Italy | Arrabbiata, Puttanesca, Vodka sauce, Pesto |
| Rigatoni | Lazio, Italy | Pajata, Rigatoni alla genovese, Meat ragu, Amatriciana |
| Spaghetti | Sicily, Italy | Cacio e pepe, Carbonara, Aglio e olio, Pomodoro |
| Strozzapreti | Emilia-Romagna and Central Italy | Meat ragu, Sausage and tomato, Truffle cream |
| Tagliatelle | Emilia-Romagna, Italy | Bolognese ragù, Prosciutto and cream, Mushroom ragù, Pesto |