America’s favorite pasta reveals strong regional preferences, study shows

Homemade pasta recipe from Inspired Taste’s chefs is easy to make and suitable for all skill levels. Chefs Joanne and Alex Gallagher create various pasta shapes using fresh egg pasta dough. They offer recipes for spaghetti, fettuccine, pappardelle, capellini, and lasagna sheets, making it accessible for beginners and experienced home cooks alike.

A recent study by Inspired Taste delved into America’s pasta preferences, revealing a diverse range of favorite pasta shapes across different states. Spaghetti emerged as the national favorite, winning in 20 states and holding 26% of the overall vote. Penne followed closely behind with a 25% vote, being the preferred choice in 17 states, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

The study also highlighted unexpected regional pasta preferences, with some states showing strong loyalty to specific pasta shapes. For example, Arizona stood out as a major penne enthusiast, while California favored fettuccine. Angel hair pasta was the top choice in Hawaii and New Mexico, while rotini was preferred in South Dakota, Alaska, and Montana.

Despite elbows being the fourth most popular pasta shape nationally, none of the states selected it as their favorite. Orzo and angel hair pasta tied as the least favorite choices among respondents. Joanne Gallagher, the recipe creator and co-founder of Inspired Taste, noted the significance of people’s deep attachment to their preferred pasta shapes, emphasizing the fun and versatility of cooking with pasta.