How to Choose the Right Pasta Shape

What will go best with your sauce, spaghetti or linguini? Learn how to make the best choice.

1 / 10

Rigatoni

Ideal for dense, heavy, wetter sauces and for baked dishes.

2 / 10

Perfect for lighter tomato-based sauces like this Penne Alla Vodka recipe.

3 / 10

Ideal for adding to luncheon salads. Try this Zucchini Fusilli recipe.

4 / 10

Perfect for lighter sauces and oil-and-garlic combinations.

5 / 10

Perfect for hearty, drier sauces containing meat or ham.

6 / 10

A natural for seafood pastas in lighter, cream-based sauces.

7 / 10

Withstands heavy ragus of lamb or duck.

8 / 10

Goes best with dryer pasta sauces, like broccoli rabe with sausage and oil.

9 / 10

Most delicious when paired with heavier, wetter sauces.

10 / 10

Ideal in broth-based pasta sauces.

Originally Published: July 05, 2011

Originally Published in Reader's Digest