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Macaroni is one of the most popular pasta shapes along with spaghetti. If you want to mix things up a bit and try something else, which pastas are similar to macaroni for you to add to your shopping list?
Some of the pastas similar to macaroni include ditalini, cavatappi, gomiti, and lumache, among others.
We’ll review 16 pastas that are similar to macaroni in this article!
All about macaroni
Macaroni is one of the most popular pasta shapes and is most well-known for its role in macaroni and cheese! This short, tube-shaped pasta is versatile and can also be used in pasta salads and other dishes beyond macaroni and cheese.
The curved version of macaroni is often referred to as “elbow macaroni”. In parts of Italy, the term “maccheroni” refers to a variety of pasta shapes, not just the shape we know of as macaroni in the United States.
We’ll review 14 pastas that are similar to macaroni shape-wise next!
14 pastas that are similar to macaroni
We’ve compiled a list of pastas that are similar to macaroni in some (or many) ways!
- Campanelle (gigli pasta)
Campanelle is shaped like a cone with ruffled edges. While the shape of campanelle isn’t super similar to macaroni, the thing that IS similar is the hollow center, which is great for catching sauce (like cheese sauce for macaroni and cheese!).
- Casarecce
This short pasta shape looks like a rolled-up scroll. It is similar to macaroni but with an open seam instead of a closed tube.
- Cavatappi (AKA scooby doo pasta, Cellentani)
Cavatappi looks like spiral-shaped macaroni and is much more spiral-like than elbow macaroni (curved macaroni).
- Chiocciole
The name of this pasta means “snail” in Italian, which is what this pasta resembles (snail shells). Its hollow center is great for catching sauces, similar to macaroni. The thing that sets it apart from macaroni are its fine exterior ridges – regular macaroni is usually smooth.
- Conchiglie (shell pasta)
Shell pasta is a common alternative to macaroni when making macaroni and cheese. The shape of shell pasta is perfect for thicker sauces because it holds onto them well. Conchiglie pasta pairs well with chunky sauces as well, not just smooth sauces like cheese sauce.
- Creste di Gallo
This pasta looks a bit like elbow macaroni, but it has a distinct shape that resembles a rooster’s comb (‘Gallo means rooster in Italian, so it translates to something like “rooster combs”.
- Ditalini
Like macaroni, ditalini are small tubes. Ditalini are often used in soups and pasta salad. Ditalini are sometimes called “short macaroni” because they are shorter in length.
- Fiori
Fiori is a fun alternative to macaroni. The shape resembles a flower (fiori means flowers in Italian) and its multiple openings can help capture sauces like macaroni does.
- Gomiti (elbow pasta)
In the United States, we refer to curved macaroni as elbow macaroni, but gomiti is the TRUE elbow pasta since ‘gomito’ means elbow in Italian.
- Lumache
Lumache can be confused for shell pasta – so much that it’s sometimes sold under the names “shell pasta” and conchiglie pasta (which is the TRUE shell pasta).
Lumache is Italian for ‘snails’ and is ridged with pinched ends, making it great for catching thick sauces.
- Rigatoni
Rigatoni is larger than macaroni and is also tube-shaped. The edges of rigatoni are straight, unlike its close cousin penne, which has angled edges.
Rigatoni has ridged edges, which sets it apart from macaroni, which is usually smooth on the outside.
- Rotelle (wagon wheel)
Wagon wheel pasta is similar to fiori (flower-shaped pasta) and is a fun substitute for macaroni.
- Tortiglioni
Tortiglioni is a short, twisted tubular pasta with ridges on the outside. It’s similar to macaroni because it’s short and tubular in shape.
- Tubetti lisci
The name for this pasta means “smooth tubes” in Italian, which very much describe macaroni as well!
FAQs:
What is the small pasta like macaroni?
Ditalini are similar to macaroni because they are small and tube-shaped. It’s sometimes called “short macaroni” because of its small size.
What is small elbow pasta called?
Elbow pasta is the term for curved macaroni. True “elbow pasta” in Italian is gomito pasta (gomito means elbow), though!
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About Diana Gariglio-Clelland
Diana Gariglio-Clelland is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She obtained her Bachelor's in Nutrition from the University of Idaho in 2012 and has worked in clinical, community, and primary care nutrition settings. Some of Diana's favorite things to do outside of family time are spend time at the barn with her horse and run (even though she once hated running!).
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