Our Pasta Shapes

Click on an image or shape to find related recipes and Mueller's products.

Elbow Macaroni
Shape: Short tubes with a slight bend in the shape
Pronunciation: mak-uh-ROH-nee
Italian for: “To bruise or crush,” from maccare
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, cream, seafood, or vegetable based

Adults and kids alike enjoy this shape in the American favorite, Macaroni & Cheese. Additionally, because this shape is hollow, it pairs nicely with a variety of sauces.

 Fettuccine
Shape: Long, flat shape
Pronunciation: feht-tuh-CHEE-nee
Italian for: “Little ribbons”
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, cream, cheese, seafood, vegetable, or oil based

Because of its shape, Fettuccine pairs nicely with full-bodied sauces.

Lasagne
Shape: Broad, flat, rectangle
Pronunciation: luh-ZAHN-yuh
Italian for: “Cooking pot”
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, cream, and vegetable based sauces

Put a creative culinary spin on your next meal. This shape is popularly used in recipes that require baking. Fillings might include: meat, ricotta, seafood, chicken, or spinach.

Mostaccioli
Shape: Long tubes, diagonally cut, rigid or plain surface
Pronunciation: mos-tah-chee-OH-lee
Italian for: “Mustache”

Due to their size and texture, sauce clings to this shape … inside and out.

Penne Rigate
Shape: Hollow tubes. Ends are cut at a diagonal so they are pointed.
Pronunciation: PEN-nay
Italian for: “Quills” or feather”
Recommended sauce pairings: chunky meat, chunky vegetable, cream, or oil based

Penne compliments virtually every sauce and is exceptional when paired with a chunky sauce. Penne Rigate is ridged and ideal to lock-in flavor. This shape is great for baking dishes, too.

Rotini
Shape: Short, tight, spiral pasta
Pronunciation: roh-TEE-nee
Italian for: “Twist”
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, cream, vegetable, and oil based

Originating in Northern Italy, this shape pairs nicely with sauces full of flavor. The tight spiral locks-in the flavor allowing the shape to pair with both simple and sophisticated sauces. Children enjoy this fun shape. Also, these shapes are great when used in pasta salads.

Shells
Shape: Variety of sizes, shape of a sea shell
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, cream, vegetable, and oil based

Put a creative culinary spin on your next meal by adding shells to a variety of dishes. Fill large shells with meat, cheese, seafood, chicken, or vegetables. Large Shells are good for baking dishes. Toss mid-sized Shells with chunky sauces. Add Small Shells to soups, pasta salads, or casseroles.

Spaghetti
Shape: Long, thin, round shape
Pronunciation: spuh-GEHT-ee
Italian for: “Little strings”
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, seafood, vegetable, or oil base.

Spaghetti, originally from Naples, is one of the most versatile and popular shapes. Spaghetti shapes compliment a variety of sauces.

Ziti
Shape: Long, thick, hollow tubes
Pronunciation: ZEE-tee
Italian for: “Bridegrooms”
Recommended sauce pairings: meat, cream, seafood, or vegetable based

Traditionally, these shapes were served at wedding feasts and other special occasions. Because these shapes are hollow, they pair nicely with a variety of sauces.