The best pasta for macaroni and cheese, such as elbow macaroni, features a shape that effectively retains the cheesy sauce. This guide will explore the wide array of pasta options that I believe are most fitting for this popular dish among children. Feel free to experiment and get imaginative with various stir-ins for your mac & cheese as you try these different pasta types!
Mac & Cheese is a beloved comfort food enjoyed globally. Selecting the appropriate pasta is crucial, regardless of whether you prefer a thinner or a thicker, creamier sauce.
The best pasta is compact and tubular, possessing grooves and hollows to capture the rich cheese sauce. This guide will provide an overview of the top pasta selections along with some helpful tips and techniques for your culinary creations.
Best Pasta for Mac and Cheese
It’s simple, but some advice will help you out.
First, choose dried pasta over fresh. Dried pasta cooks to al dente and holds up better, which is crucial for baked mac and cheese since it will continue to cook in the oven.
Avoid smooth, thin pasta like spaghetti, linguine, and fettuccine, as they won’t hold the creamy cheese sauce well.
Instead, pick pasta shapes that have hollow centers and surfaces to catch the sauce.
Interested in more? Let’s explore the top 10 pastas for mac and cheese.
1. Elbow or straight macaroni
Macaroni is undoubtedly the best pasta choice for a mac and cheese dish. You can opt for any version of macaroni, but the elbow and straight shapes are especially popular.
Kids usually prefer elbow macaroni over straight macaroni because they find the shape more enjoyable to eat.
These pasta shapes are perfectly cylindrical, allowing them to hold onto creamy cheese effortlessly. Their size is also just right for a perfect bite.
When deciding between elbow and straight macaroni, it really comes down to personal preference. Additionally, elbow macaroni is more convenient for kids to eat with a spoon.
Also check: Milk Substitutes For Mac And Cheese
2. Shell Pasta
Next on the list is shell pasta, often referred to as conchiglie. The unique shape and ridged exterior of these pasta pieces enable them to hold onto sauces effectively. Additionally, the hollow center of shell pasta captures a larger portion of the sauce, providing a delightful surprise with each bite.
Shell pasta has a slightly chewy consistency, which contrasts nicely with a creamy sauce. Mini or medium-sized shells work wonderfully for classic mac and cheese. For a fun variation, you might want to experiment with lumache, which is pasta shaped like a snail shell with a pinched end.
Pro tip: To enhance the creaminess of your dish, consider incorporating either cream or half-and-half into your sauce prior to baking it.
3. Cavatappi
Cavatappi is a variety of pasta characterized by its corkscrew or helicoidal design.
It is alternatively referred to as cellentani, amori, spirali, or tortiglione.
This pasta features an exterior with ridges and a central hollow, making it ideal for capturing sauces and supplementary ingredients.
Cavatappi is particularly suited for macaroni and cheese, as its form allows it to effectively retain the creamy sauce while offering ample surface area for the cheese to adhere to.
The ridges also create small pockets of air that can accommodate extra cheese or herbs, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
Pro Tip: For an even more flavorful macaroni and cheese, consider incorporating diced bacon or cooked sausage into the dish!
This addition will elevate your recipe from good to exceptional.
4. Fusilli
Fusilli, similar to cavatappi, has a corkscrew shape but is smaller and more compact. This distinct shape makes fusilli a fantastic option. It strikes a perfect balance between cavatappi and elbow macaroni.
The spiral shape of fusilli does a great job of ‘holding’ the cheese sauce, ensuring every bite is satisfying. Additionally, its nooks and crannies help keep the cheesy flavor from slipping away.
Fusilli maintains its shape well, making it an excellent match for rich mac and cheese sauces.
Tip: Cook fusilli for just 2-3 minutes before adding it to your recipe. This helps preserve an al dente texture, avoiding softness or mush.
5. Penne
The ideal pasta shapes for mac and cheese are those that can effectively capture sauce. Penne is a perfect example. Its cylindrical shape features diagonal cuts at both ends.
The exterior ridges and hollow center work together to retain creamy sauces, ensuring each bite is full of flavor.
Penne is suitable for both stovetop and baked mac and cheese, maintaining its shape during cooking and preventing a mushy dish.
6. Farfalle
Farfalle, or bow tie pasta, is quite popular in Italy, but few people use it for mac and cheese, which is unfortunate because it works well.
Kids generally love the butterfly shape of farfalle, so it’s a safe choice for them. Its flat surface is great for holding sauce and cheese.
Unlike other pasta types, farfalle doesn’t get tangled, but some find it tricky to eat with a fork as it can slip off. Using a spoon resolves this issue.
7. Rotini
Rotini, shaped like a corkscrew, is a versatile pasta perfect for salads, soups, and casseroles.
Its unique twist not only adds visual appeal but also holds sauces well. Rotini’s ridges outperform spaghetti and penne in sauce retention, making every bite of mac and cheese flavorful.
The sauce nestles in the spirals for a tasty surprise in every bite.
Tip: Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to boiling water to prevent the noodles from sticking and to ensure even cooking.
8. Funky shapes pasta
Consider experimenting with a package of uniquely shaped pasta to incorporate into your mac and cheese recipe.
These fun pasta shapes are particularly favored by children because they offer a variety of designs that are visually appealing. Nonetheless, adults appreciate them too, as these shapes often adhere to the cheese sauce more efficiently compared to traditional pasta varieties.
You’ll discover that many of these pasta shapes have pockets or ridges, which allow the creamy cheese sauce to attach itself well to each piece, ensuring that every bite is delicious and satisfying.
9. Rigatoni
Rigatoni is between the sizes of penne and ziti, with a tubular shape ideal for sauces. Its exterior ridges and hollow center ensure every bite is flavorful.
Its sturdy shape allows for a chewy and soft mac and cheese. Rigatoni captures creamy sauces well, resulting in a more flavorful dish than smooth pasta.
Tip: Cook rigatoni in milk instead of water for a creamier texture and richer taste.
This easy trick enhances your mac and cheese.
10. Gnocchi
We understand that gnocchi doesn’t completely fit the criteria I mentionedre, but please hear me out.
It’s a dough made from potatoes combined with flour and sometimes eggs. This dough is usually rolled out, cut into small dumplings, and gently pressed with a fork to create ridges. These ridges help capture sauces and enhance the dish’s overall taste.
The texture of gnocchi is distinct compared to other pasta types. It is soft and somewhat chewy, and the potato gives it a light and airy feel.
Even though gnocchi isn’t the typical pasta used in mac and cheese, its texture pairs wonderfully with the sauce.
Here’s a tip: sauté some mushrooms or roast vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini. Stir them into your gnocchi mac and cheese for a tasty and nutritious twist.
11. Radiatore
Radiatore is a pasta shaped like small radiators.
Its ridged surface captures sauces and seasonings effectively.
Typically made from durum wheat semolina, it can also utilize other flours like buckwheat or spelt.
This shape is ideal for macaroni and cheese, as it better retains the creamy sauce.
The ridges create flavor pockets when mixed with cheese sauce.
It’s also enjoyable to eat!
Tip: To maximize flavor in macaroni and cheese, cook radiatore in salted water until al dente.
This method keeps the dish flavorful without being soggy or overcooked
12. Tagliatelle
We intentionally placed tagliatelle at the end of our list.
These thin, flat noodles are quite flavorful and can work well in a mac and cheese dish. That said, their flat shape does pose a challenge for the sauce to cling to them effectively.
Because tagliatelle is long and somewhat slippery, using a fork is recommended for better handling. Despite their slippery nature, they can certainly still serve as a good option for mac and cheese if other types of pasta are unavailable.
FAQs
1. Can You Use Different Pasta For Mac And Cheese?
You may substitute various types of pasta in mac and cheese. Alongside classic macaroni, options like conchiglie, farfalle, penne, and rigatoni are also suitable.
These larger tube-shaped pastas will perform equally well and can contribute a distinctive texture to your meal. If none of these are accessible, feel free to use any pasta.
2. What Is The Best Partner For Mac And Cheese?
Mac and cheese is a hearty and tasty dish on its own. Still, it can be complemented by a salad. Any salad can pair well with it.
A fresh salad with tomatoes and cucumbers complements the cheese flavor nicely. Pickles also pair well with mac and cheese.
Get creative with your meal, and you’ll discover many great combinations!
3. What can I use instead of elbow macaroni?
There are several alternatives to elbow macaroni for mac and cheese.
While macaroni is ideal, you can consider cavatappi, shell pasta, farfalle, penne, fusilli, unique shaped pastas, or rotini.
Each type offers different shapes and textures, allowing you to see which one suits your dish best.
You can also try ziti, rigatoni, or orecchiette. Just ensure you cook any pasta al dente for optimal results.
Stay Relaxed and Enjoy Mac and Cheese!
Mac and cheese is delicious and adaptable. It serves as great comfort food or a quick meal when you’re short on time.
Try it with any of the suggested pasta options in this guide to discover your favorite