What to use instead of campanelle

The closest swap: conchiglie

Every swap for campanelle, ranked

A substitute must behave the same way with the sauce you are making. The ones marked as chosen are hand-picked. The rest score on family, cavity, surface, size, and shared sauces.

1. 1
   

   Conchiglie

   Short shapes · All of Italy

   A cup with similar hold (chosen)

2. 2
   

   Radiatori

   Short shapes · All of Italy

   A ruffled shape with similar grip (chosen)

3. 3
   

   Fusilli

   Short shapes · Campania

   A spiral (chosen)

4. 4
   

   Trottole

   Short shapes · All of Italy

   Same family, also solid, also smooth, shares 4 sauces, close in size

5. 5
   

   Rotini

   Short shapes · United States

   Same family, also solid, also smooth, shares 3 sauces

6. 6
   

   Vesuvio

   Short shapes · Campania

   Same family, also solid, also smooth, shares 1 sauce, close in size

7. 7
   

   Cascatelli

   Short shapes · United States

   Same family, also solid, shares 4 sauces

8. 8
   

   Farfalle

   Short shapes · Lombardy

   Same family, also solid, also smooth, shares 2 sauces

Match the sauce, not the look

Campanelle is listed against 5 sauces. Pick the swap that holds the one you are cooking.

• Best pasta for cream sauce: Panna with cheese, mushrooms, ham, or peas. Heavy and clinging. Ridges and cups keep it on the pasta.
• Best pasta for sausage ragu: Crumbled sausage, often with fennel, cooked in tomato or white wine. Orecchiette in Puglia, rigatoni everywhere else.
• Best pasta for mac and cheese: A cheddar or American cheese sauce, often baked. Elbows are traditional. Shells and cavatappi hold more sauce.
• Best pasta for vegetable ragu: Diced vegetables cooked slowly in tomato or oil. Zucchini, peppers, eggplant. Short shapes with folds.
• Best pasta for pasta salad: Cooked, cooled pasta dressed with oil or mayonnaise and mixed with vegetables. Short shapes with folds that hold dressing.

Side by side

The measured difference between campanelle and each swap.