What Is Penne pasta and How Can I Use It?

If penne pasta has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 130 recipes to try it in.

What is penne pasta?

Penne is a short, straight pasta tube cut on a diagonal at both ends, so each piece comes to two sharp points. The name comes from the Italian word for a quill pen, which the angled cut resembles.

It is one of the most useful shapes to keep in the pantry.

Two versions sit on most shelves. Penne rigate has shallow ridges running down the outside; penne lisce is smooth. The ridged kind is the one most cooks reach for, because those grooves and the open tube grab sauce instead of letting it slide off.

Cooking With Penne

The hollow center and the angled ends are the whole point. Sauce gets pushed inside the tube as you toss, so every bite carries both pasta and sauce, which makes penne a natural for chunky meat or cream sauces rather than delicate ones.

Dried penne runs about 11 to 13 minutes to al dente, a minute or two longer than thinner shapes because the walls are thick. Pull it a minute early when the dish finishes in the pan or goes into the oven, since it keeps cooking in hot sauce.

It also bakes well.

The tubes hold their shape under cheese and sauce instead of collapsing the way long noodles do, which is why penne shows up in casseroles and pasta al forno. For the general rules on salting the water and judging doneness, see the pasta hub.

Sauces and Pairings

Penne wants sauce with body. A spicy tomato base is the classic match, as in Penne Puttanesca, where olives and capers catch in the ridges. Vodka and cream sauces cling just as well, like the Penne with Bacon, Peas & Ricotta.

Roasted vegetables, sausage, and beans all suit it because the chunks sit close to the tube in size and tuck against it. The Penne Rigate with Sweet Red Pepper Sauce shows how a pureed vegetable sauce coats the ridges evenly.

The common mistake is pairing penne with a thin, oily sauce meant for long strands. Without enough body the sauce pools at the bottom of the bowl and the pasta tastes bare. Save the light olive-oil sauces for spaghetti.

Substitutes

Rigatoni is the closest swap: a wider, straighter ridged tube that holds even heartier sauces, though it runs a touch larger on the plate. Ziti works too, especially in baked dishes, but its smooth walls grip sauce less.

For salads or skillet meals, rotini and fusilli spirals fill the same role, trapping dressing in their twists. Mostaccioli is essentially penne without ridges.

Buying and Storing

Look for penne made from durum wheat or semolina on the label. That harder wheat keeps the tubes firm and chewy through cooking and reheating, while pasta from soft wheat turns mushy and splits at the ends.

Bronze-die penne has a rougher, paler surface that holds sauce better than the slick, factory-smooth kind.

Dried penne keeps almost indefinitely in a sealed container in a cool, dry cupboard, though most makers print a best-by date around two years out for peak texture.

Once cooked, refrigerate it within two hours and use it within three to four days. It reheats best tossed straight into warm sauce rather than microwaved dry.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find penne pasta: Penne pasta is usually found in the pasta section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Pasta, penne is a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

意大利面，通心粉

British (UK) term

Pasta, penne

en français

penne

en español

pasta penne

How much does penne pasta weigh?

Related

Cereal Grains and Pasta

Recipes using penne pasta

There are 130 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Penne All'Arrabbiata

Fiery penne all'arrabbiata with pancetta, crushed Roma tomatoes, capers, green olives, anchovies, and hot chili peppers simmered in red wine. A bold, spicy Italian pasta ready in 45 minutes.

Baked Spinach & Ricotta Penne

Baked Spinach and Ricotta Penne recipe

Weight Watcher Country Pasta & Cheese

Light penne pasta tossed with microwave-cooked mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and olives. A 20-minute Weight Watchers dinner with bold Italian flavors.

Brussels Sprouts & Salami Pasta with Pine Nuts

This simply delicious dish takes no time to make, and it's an excellent way to add some nutrition-packed veggies and nuts into your diet.

Pasta with Beet Greens & Raisins

Simple and delicious, a great way to use up your beet greens!

Soy-Sesame Vegetables with Penne

This Chinese inspired dish is packed with deliciousness. Garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil are the core flavor of this dish. So you are a big fan of Chinese food overall, this dish won't disappoint you.

Penne Carbonara

Italian pasta Carbonara using penne and using 7 simple ingredients.

Pesto Chicken Florentine

Extremely rich combination of chicken, spinach and creamy pesto sauce. Serve with crunchy bread and romaine salad.

Lemon Pasta with Asparagus & Pine Nuts

You will not only love the bright colour of this dish, but also love the fragrant flavour. Use whole wheat pasta to add extra fibre. Enjoy!

Penne Alfredo with Asian Flavored Shrimps

The salty and savory pasta matches perfectly with the sweet, Asian flavors of the shrimps.

Cheesy Baked Whole Wheat Penne with Roasted Fresh Vegetables

Tons of refreshing flavour is all in this delicious dish.

Alpine Baked Pasta

Try something different when it comes to pasta with this delicious dish made with spinach and Fortina cheese.

Light Alfredo Pasta

Unlike traditional alfredo sauce, this light version has much less fat and calories but still tastes creamy and delicious. Broccoli not only adds some bright color to the dish, but also provides lots of nutrients. For an even healthier version, use whole wheat pasta.

Roasted Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes with Arugula, Penne & Goat Cheese Salad

Asparagus is one of our favorite spring vegetables. In this recipe, roasting develops tons of deliciousness from both asparagus and cherry tomatoes, then tossed with penne, peppery arugula and creamy goat cheese with a light vinaigrette. Yum!

Penne with Tomato, Black Olive & Feta

Penne pasta tossed with fresh tomato wedges, black olives, crumbled feta, and herbs. A quick Mediterranean vegetarian dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

Corn & Tomato Smoky Penne Pasta

Sweet corn and juicy cherry tomatoes are combined with a quick, easy and smoky cheese garlic sauce. You can have it as a side dish or a simply delicious main course. Next day the leftover tastes even better.

Baked Macaroni

A delicious pasta dish made with a bolognaise sauce, eggs, milk and grated cheese then baked in the oven. A traditional Maltese dish the whole family will love

Fennel, Zucchini & White Bean Pasta

Roasted fennel and zucchini are loaded with deliciousness. White beans not only give the dish protein boost, but also add some creaminess that's packed with health benefits. An easy and hearty dinner can be served within no time.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Sun-dried Tomato & Artichoke Hearts

Mediterranean foods are not only delicious, but they are also good for you. This Mediterranean pasta salad is packed with goodness with lots of great flavors. Serve it as a side dish or a simply delicious main dish.

Penne with Peppers & Sausage

Bell peppers and sausages are cooked in a tasty tomato sauce, then served over a bed of warm penne. An ideal meal for a busy week night.

Blackened Chicken Strips on Pasta with Cajun Sauce

The blackend chicken breast came out tender, juicy and flavorful, and the cajun sauce was delicious, really bound all the flavors together. It was reasonably quick and easy to make as well, an ideal supper for a busy weekday.

Penne Bolognese

Try this original pasta dish that is ideal for a dinner for two. Great served with freshly toasted garlic bread.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese with Penne

Roasted butternut squash and onions add tons of delicious flavor, roasted walnuts and freshly chopped basil definitely give the pasta another layer of yumminess. It can be served as a main course or a side dish!

Pasta Stir-Fry

Certainly a quick, easy yet tasty week-night meal. I used sugar snap peas instead of snow peas, the sauce was thickened during the simmering, then coated vegetables and pasta. Delicious.

Shrimp, Asparagus, & Penne Pasta

Don't feel like cooking up a storm in the kitchen. This easy recipe fits your busy schedule, and you will be pleased by the tasty and wholesome result. Use whole wheat pasta to boost the fibre intake.

20 Minute Penne Carbonara for Two

Italian pasta Carbonara for two using 6 simple ingredients and perfectly sized for two servings. Best of all this can be served in about 20 minutes.

Penne Ala Vodka & Smoked Salmon

A simply delicious dish. It was very easy to make, and tasted creamy and flavourful. If you like smoked salmon and a creamy style pasta dish, you should definitely give this recipe a go.

Ricotta Chicken, Noodle & Broccoli Casserole

This well balanced casserole has everything you need in supper. Creamy sauce, cheesy topping, and the yummy combination of broccoli and chicken make a delicious and filling meal that's also full of goodness.

Warm Arugula & Mushroom Penne

Sauteed onions and mushrooms are tossed with penne, fresh arugula, and parmesan. An easy yet tasty meal is on one plate within less than 30 minutes. Using whole wheat penne makes it even healthier.

Asparagus & Chicken Pasta

A super quick and easy one-pan meal is ideal for busy weekday dinner. Feel free to add a bit freshly chopped garlic or onions when cooking chicken. Simply delicious!

Salmon, Broccoli, & Mushroom Pasta

Pan seared salmon is gently tossed with browned mushrooms, broccoli, some good extra-virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

New New Orleans Pasta

Very tasty. Just enough sauce to carry the creole flavors and meld the different types of protein together. Went a bit overboard by making our own Chorizo and homemade penne pasta. A great Creole recipe from down in New Orleans!

Pasta with Shell Beans & Greens

Try something different with this scrumptious pasta dish that will have you making it every week!

Penne Puttanesca

Penne puttanesca with anchovies, capers, and briny olives in a bold marinara. A classic Italian pasta with big flavor built in one pan, weeknight-fast.

Penne Salad with Tomatoes Goat Cheese & Basil

Cold penne pasta salad with fresh tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, basil, black olives, and balsamic vinegar. A no-cook summer side dish that comes together in 35 minutes.

Pasta with Red Peppers, Greens, Beans, Garlic & Lemon Zest

Pasta with red peppers, escarole, white beans, garlic, and lemon zest. A bright, vegan Tuscan-inspired pasta bowl that's low-fat without feeling like a compromise.

Penne in Vodka Sauce

Italian-American penne alla vodka built on cream, butter, and ripe tomato. The vodka spends 24 hours infused with dried red peppers for a deeper, mildly fiery edge. Glossy, restaurant-style pasta.

Peas & Cream Pasta

Penne with green peas, diced tomatoes, fresh basil, and a touch of cream. A quick 30-minute pasta dinner with just enough richness from a splash of heavy cream.

Prociutto & Pea Sauce

Prosciutto and pea cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, shallots, and Romano cheese tossed with penne. A rich Italian pasta sauce that comes together fast.

Penne Pasta with Tomatoes & Chile

Penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, crushed dried chile, black olives, fresh basil, lemon zest, and Parmesan. A bold no-cook sauce that sits at room temperature to marry the flavors before tossing.

Penne with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Capers

Penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, capers, fresh thyme, tarragon, and green peas in a broth-based sauce. Low-fat, full of flavor, and loaded with six cloves of garlic.

Penne with Pumpkin Sauce

Penne with pumpkin cream sauce, red bell pepper, and fresh nutmeg finished with Parmesan. A cozy fall pasta for two that uses canned pumpkin puree for a silky, savory sauce in under 35 minutes.

Penne with Eggplant

Penne with eggplant, mushrooms, and red wine tomato sauce finished with melted mozzarella. A hearty Italian pasta ready in 45 minutes.

Pasta Salad with Rocket & Tomato Dressing

Pasta Salad with Rocket and Tomato Dressing recipe

Penne with Vodka & Spicy-Tomato Cream Sauce

Penne alla vodka with spicy-tomato cream sauce: garlic, crushed red pepper, crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and a shot of vodka. A 30-minute Italian-American classic with real heat.

Pasta with Spicy Broccoli Rabe & Raisins

Penne tossed with blanched broccoli rabe, toasted raisins, garlic, and red pepper flakes, finished with lemon juice. A classic Southern Italian pasta that's naturally vegan.

Penne & Tuna Sauce

Penne with tuna sauce, an Italian pantry classic. Anchovies, garlic, and plum tomatoes simmered into a savory sauce, finished with flaked canned tuna for a quick weeknight dinner.

Penne Arrabbiata

Penne arrabbiata with a vodka cream sauce: tomatoes, red pepper flakes, garlic, and vodka simmered with heavy cream and tossed with penne and Parmesan.

Penne Alla Malefemmina

Penne alla malefemmina, a no-cook Southern Italian pasta sauce of raw tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers, and garlic marinated in olive oil. Tossed with hot pasta or served cold as pasta salad.

Penne with Cauliflower, Tomatoes & Basil

Penne with cauliflower, fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan. A no-cook sauce tossed with hot pasta and cauliflower boiled together in the same pot. Ready in 30 minutes.

All 130 penne pasta recipes