Each pastas shape and texture makes a difference in how your meal tastes. We look at the best pasta for Alfredo, marinara, meat sauces and more.
Best Pasta for Cheese Sauces: Elbows or Shells
The dish might be called macaroni and cheese, but you don’t have to restrict yourself to elbow pasta. Any shell shape that’s textured with pockets or grooves will work. These types of pasta catch the cheese sauce in every crevice, delivering maximum flavor with each bite.
Try playing around with different shapes (like conchiglie shells, cavatappi or rotini) to take your favorite mac and cheese recipe to the next level.
Best Pasta for Butter or Sour Cream Sauces: Egg Noodles
Egg noodles are versatile enough to go with any number of sauces, but they’re our go-to choice for simple sauces. The flat, wide noodles have an eggy flavor and a slightly chewy texture that adds depth to plain buttered noodles.
Try using egg noodles the next time you make cacio e pepe or stroganoff.
