Types of Pasta with Their Pictures

Pasta comes in many shapes, sizes, and varieties, with each type offering a unique texture and appearance. Some pasta types are long and thin, while others are short, twisted, curved, or shaped like small shells. Popular examples include Spaghetti, Penne, Fusilli, Macaroni, Farfalle, Ravioli, and Lasagna. Different pasta shapes are used in soups, salads, baked dishes, and delicious sauces. In this article, you will explore various types of pasta with pictures to recognize each shape and learn its English name easily.

Table of Contents

20 Types of Pasta Names

Spaghetti
Penne
Fusilli
Macaroni
Farfalle
Ravioli
Lasagna
Linguine
Fettuccine
Tagliatelle
Rigatoni
Tortellini
Rotini
Orzo
Gnocchi
Bucatini
Ziti
Conchiglie
Cavatappi
Pappardelle

Different Types of Pasta Names with Pictures

Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a long, thin, and round type of pasta that is popular in Italian cooking. It is commonly served with tomato sauce, meatballs, cheese, or creamy sauces.
Penne
Penne is a short, tube-shaped pasta with diagonally cut ends. Its hollow center helps hold sauces, making it perfect for tomato, cheese, and cream-based dishes.
Fusilli
Fusilli is a spiral-shaped pasta with twisted curves that hold sauces very well. It is commonly used in pasta salads and served with vegetables, cheese, or meat.
Macaroni
Macaroni is a small, curved, tube-shaped pasta with a hollow center. It is widely used to prepare macaroni and cheese, pasta salads, and baked dishes.
Farfalle
Farfalle is a bow-tie-shaped pasta with pinched centers and decorative edges. It is often served with creamy sauces, vegetables, and fresh ingredients.
Ravioli
Ravioli is a type of filled pasta made with two thin layers of dough. It usually contains cheese, vegetables, or meat and is served with different sauces.
Lasagna
Lasagna consists of wide, flat sheets of pasta arranged in layers. It is commonly baked with tomato sauce, cheese, vegetables, or meat to create a delicious meal.
Linguine
Linguine is a long pasta with narrow, slightly flattened strands. It is often served with seafood, garlic, olive oil, and light creamy sauces.
Fettuccine
Fettuccine is a long, flat pasta with wide ribbons. It is commonly served with rich cream sauces, especially Alfredo sauce, along with cheese and other ingredients.
Tagliatelle
Tagliatelle is a long, flat pasta made in ribbon-like strips. It is traditionally served with rich meat sauces and is popular in several Italian dishes.
Rigatoni
Rigatoni is a large, tube-shaped pasta with straight-cut ends and ridged surfaces. Its wide shape makes it suitable for thick sauces, baked pasta, and hearty meals.
Tortellini
Tortellini is a small ring-shaped pasta that usually contains cheese, meat, or other fillings. It is commonly served in soups or with creamy and tomato-based sauces.
Rotini
Rotini is a short pasta with a twisted spiral shape. Its curves help hold thick sauces, making it a popular choice for pasta salads and everyday meals.
Orzo
Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta that looks similar to grains of rice. It is commonly added to soups, salads, and Mediterranean-style dishes.
Gnocchi
Gnocchi are small, soft Italian dumplings traditionally made with potatoes and flour. They have a tender texture and are often served with tomato, butter, or cheese sauces.
Bucatini
Bucatini is a long, thick pasta that looks similar to spaghetti but has a hollow center. The small hole allows sauces to coat both the outside and inside.
Ziti
Ziti is a medium-sized tube-shaped pasta with smooth surfaces and straight-cut ends. It is commonly used in baked pasta dishes with cheese, tomato sauce, and meat.
Conchiglie
Conchiglie is a shell-shaped pasta with a curved, hollow center. Its shape helps hold sauces and small ingredients, making it suitable for salads, soups, and baked dishes.
Cavatappi
Cavatappi is a spiral-shaped tube pasta with a hollow center and twisted appearance. It is often used in macaroni and cheese, pasta salads, and creamy dishes.
Pappardelle
Pappardelle is a wide, flat pasta made in long ribbon-like strips. Its broad shape works especially well with thick meat sauces, mushrooms, and rich Italian gravies.

Types of Pasta Names in English

Angel Hair
Capellini
Gemelli
Orecchiette
Cannelloni
Manicotti
Ditalini
Acini di Pepe
Cavatelli
Radiatori
Campanelle
Casarecce
Mafaldine
Strozzapreti
Trofie
Fregola
Pastina
Anelli
Lumache
Paccheri

Learn 20 Names of Pasta with Pictures

Angel Hair
Angel hair is an extremely thin, long pasta that cooks quickly. It is usually served with light tomato sauces, olive oil, seafood, and delicate seasonings.
Capellini
Capellini is a very thin Italian pasta that resembles fine strands of hair. It is commonly used in light soups and served with simple sauces that do not overpower its delicate texture.
Gemelli
Gemelli is a short pasta made of two twisted strands that appear connected. Its shape holds sauces well and works nicely in salads, creamy dishes, and tomato-based recipes.
Orecchiette
Orecchiette is a small, round pasta shaped like tiny ears. Its curved center helps hold sauces and vegetables, making it especially popular in traditional Italian recipes.
Cannelloni
Cannelloni consists of large, smooth pasta tubes designed to hold fillings. They are commonly stuffed with cheese, spinach, or meat and baked with sauce and cheese.
Manicotti
Manicotti is a large, tube-shaped pasta with ridged or smooth surfaces. It is usually filled with cheese, vegetables, or meat before being baked with tomato sauce.
Ditalini
Ditalini is a very small, short tube-shaped pasta. It is commonly added to soups, stews, and pasta salads because of its small size.
Acini di Pepe
Acini di Pepe is a tiny, round pasta that resembles small beads. It is often used in soups, pasta salads, and traditional Italian dishes.
Cavatelli
Cavatelli is a small, curved pasta with a hollow or folded center. Its shape helps collect sauces, making it suitable for dishes with vegetables, cheese, and tomato sauce.
Radiatori
Radiatori is a short pasta with ridged, radiator-like edges. Its unusual shape holds thick sauces very well and is often used in baked dishes and pasta salads.
Campanelle
Campanelle is a decorative pasta shaped like small bells or flowers. Its ruffled edges and hollow center help hold creamy sauces, cheese, and small pieces of vegetables.
Casarecce
Casarecce is a short pasta with a twisted shape and slightly rolled edges. It is commonly served with thick sauces, vegetables, pesto, and other flavorful ingredients.
Mafaldine
Mafaldine is a long, flat pasta with wavy edges on both sides. Its ribbon-like shape makes it suitable for rich sauces, cheese, and hearty Italian meals.
Strozzapreti
Strozzapreti is a short pasta shaped like twisted or rolled strips of dough. It has a firm texture and is often served with meat, tomato, or vegetable sauces.
Trofie
Trofie is a small, twisted pasta traditionally associated with the Liguria region of Italy. It is commonly served with basil pesto, potatoes, and green beans.
Fregola
Fregola is a small, round pasta from Sardinia, Italy. It has a grain-like appearance and is often toasted before cooking, giving it a slightly nutty flavor.
Pastina
Pastina is a general name for very small pasta shapes used in Italian cooking. It is commonly added to soups and simple meals because it cooks quickly and has a soft texture.
Anelli
Anelli is a small, ring-shaped pasta that resembles tiny circles. It is often used in soups, pasta salads, and baked dishes.
Lumache
Lumache is a shell-like pasta shaped like small snail shells. Its curved, hollow design helps hold thick sauces, cheese, and other ingredients.
Paccheri
Paccheri is a large, wide tube-shaped pasta with open ends. It is commonly served with thick tomato sauces, seafood, cheese, and rich meat fillings.