Cannelloni vs Paccheri
Cannelloni is large smooth tube for stuffing, or a rolled sheet. Paccheri is very wide smooth tube, collapses flat when cooked.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmCannelloni: 90 to 110 mm by 25 to 30 mm
Paccheri: 45 to 55 mm by 25 to 30 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Tubes | Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Campania | Campania |
| Section | Large smooth tube for stuffing, or a rolled sheet | Very wide smooth tube, collapses flat when cooked |
| Length | 90 to 110 mm | 45 to 55 mm |
| Width or diameter | 25 to 30 mm | 25 to 30 mm |
| Wall or thickness | 1 to 1.3 mm | 1.2 to 1.5 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Smooth |
| Hollow | Yes | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina, or egg when fresh | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 20 to 30 min | 14 to 18 min |
| Brands with a page | Rummo, La Molisana | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Mancini, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | Rummo no. 176, La Molisana no. 312 | De Cecco no. 125, De Cecco no. 225, Rummo no. 111, Rummo no. 150, Rummo no. 152, Rummo no. 168, Rummo no. 195, Garofalo no. 83, La Molisana no. 316, La Molisana no. 321 |
| Cook time across brands | 10 to 25 min | 12 to 16 min |
| Brand dimensions | not measured | Mancini: 30 mm long, 30 mm across |
| Energy, dry, per 100 g | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) |
| Protein, dry, per 100 g | 13.0 g | 13.0 g |
| Products catalogued | 395 | 18 |
| Pairs with | Baked (al forno), Pomodoro, Cream sauce | Ragu napoletano, Frutti di mare, Baked (al forno), Norma, Meat ragu |
Cannelloni
The tube is a container. The filling is the point, and the sauce on top must be smooth so it bakes into the pasta: a tomato, a bechamel, or both.
Paccheri
The huge bore traps whole pieces of squid, sausage, or braised meat and the flattened tube carries sauce on both faces. It wants a sauce with big pieces: seafood ragu, ragu napoletano, or a filling and the oven. A thin sauce leaves it empty.
Can you swap them?
Paccheri for cannelloni: yes, a shorter wide tube to stuff.
Cannelloni for paccheri: yes, for the stuffed and baked version.
Both take Baked (al forno).
Only cannelloni: Pomodoro, Cream sauce.
Only paccheri: Ragu napoletano, Frutti di mare, Norma, Meat ragu.
Sources
- Dimensions, surface, dough, and cook time: each shape page names the brand page, spec sheet, or measured box behind every figure.
- Brands, catalogue numbers, brand cook times, and brand dimensions: the brand product pages linked on each shape page, read on 2026-08-25.
- Energy and protein: USDA FoodData Central, per 100 g of the dough, public domain.
- Products catalogued: Open Food Facts, Open Database License, read on 2026-08-25. A crowd database: a count is a floor.