Mostaccioli vs. Penne vs. Ziti vs. Rigatoni: Differences and Reviews 2025

• What is Mostaccioli?

Better known as penne lisce in Italian, mostaccioli is a type of penne pasta originating in the South of Italy, found in Naples, Sorrento and Capri. 

The main tube of mostaccioli is straight, but the ends are both cut off at an angle. Mostaccioli is still part of the short pasta family, though the angled ends make the tube look deceptively longer. 

On the outside of its pasta tube, mostaccioli is entirely smooth. This makes it harder for sauces to stick to the pasta. 

Mostaccioli's pasta inner tube can hold sauces without much of an issue, but the outside of the tube means that the pasta can not keep hold of sauce very well, making it better suited for light and smooth rather than chunky sauces. 

• What is Ziti?

Ziti is a medium-sized, tubular pasta. It is made from long, hollow tubes of pasta that are cut straight across with no curves or angles. It is similar in shape to penne, but without the ridges.

Ziti is popular in Italian-American cuisine and is often used in baked pasta dishes. It's perhaps most well-known as the star of the classic dish baked ziti, where it is mixed with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients and baked in the oven.

Ziti is easy to cook and versatile in its use. Its smooth surface allows for sauces to coat the pasta evenly, making it a great choice for creamy sauces. Ziti is also a great choice for chunky or meaty sauces, which get trapped in the hollow centers.

• What is Penne?

Penne pasta is another medium-sized pasta that is similar in shape to ziti, but with slanted edges that give it a distinctive diagonal cut. With its angled edges, penne has a particularly large surface area, which allows it to hold on to plenty of sauce.

Like rigatoni, penne has typically has ridges on the outside that help sauces to cling to the pasta (although there is a smoothie variety of penne as well).

Penne is a popular pasta in Italian cuisine, and is used in a wide variety of dishes from pasta salads, to creamy, saucy pasta dishes, to baked pasta dishes. You can even use penne to make my tasty air fryer pasta chips.

Penne alla vodka, is perhaps one of the most well-known penne dishes. The penne is the perfect pasta to soak up the rich, velvety sauce. Its shape also makes it a great choice for chunkier sauces.

I like pairing penne with vegetables like roasted butternut squash. You can also use penne in hearty pasta dishes like my orecchiette with sausage and kale.

• What is Rigatoni?

Rigatoni pasta is larger than both ziti and penne, with a wider diameter and thicker walls. It has square-cut ends that are usually straight, but sometimes slightly curved. Rigatoni has ridges on the outside, similar to penne. The name rigatoni comes from the word "rigato" which means "ridged."

The tube size is wide enough so ample sauce can easily coat both the inside and the outside of the tube. Rigatoni's outside is ridged and rough, helping it better hold the sauce and be incorporated into a dish. 

Because of these ridges, the rigatoni pasta itself is quite thick. This means the pasta can withstand harsher heat without drying out or burning, making it the perfect pasta to use in oven-baked pasta dishes. 

• The Comparison & Reviews

| Barilla Mostaccioli Pasta

Price: $1.99/16 oz at Instacart (up to $2 cashback from Extrabux)

Key ingredients: Semolina (wheat), Durum Wheat Flour, Vitamins/minerals.

Nutrition (per 56g): 200 calories, 1g fat (0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat), 42g carbohydrates, 3g dietary fiber, 7g protein, 1g sugars (0g added sugars)

Review: Mostaccioli is a tube-shaped pasta with angled ends cut to resemble a quill or pen point. But unlike Penne pasta, which is ridged, Mostaccioli pasta is smooth in texture. Barilla Mostaccioli pasta is made with non-GMO ingredients.

This mostaccioli pasta is made from the finest durum wheat and is non-GMO project verified and Kosher Certified. Perfect for pairing with your favorite pasta sauce.

Pair mostaccioli pasta with fresh, light sauces like olive oil or a simple tomato pasta sauce; Mostaccioli pasta is great for baked pasta casserole dishes, known as pasta al forno, and is delicious with cheese-based sauces.

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| Barilla Whole Grain Penne Pasta

Price: $1.89/16 oz at Target

Key ingredients: Whole Grain Durum Wheat Flour.

Nutrition (per 56g): 180 calories, 1.5g fat (0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat), 39g carbohydrates, 7g dietary fiber, 8g protein, 1g sugars (0g added sugars)

Review: Made with one simple ingredient—whole grain durum wheat flour—this penne pasta serves as an excellent source of natural fiber while offering the same delicious Barilla taste that pasta lovers have trusted for generations.

Barilla Whole Grain Penne pasta cooks in as little as 9 or 10 minutes and can be prepared just like traditional pasta. Barilla Whole Grain pasta has a delicious flavor and al dente texture, making it the perfect pairing for any meal. With the great taste and quality you have come to expect from Italy's No. 1 pasta brand, you can make every meal into something special. Non-GMO ingredients. 100% whole wheat. 

It's a bit thicker in texture, but cooks up the same. It tastes as good as regular pasta and is much better for you - cooks well and is perfect.

| Good & Gather Ziti Pasta

Price: $0.99/16 oz at Target

Key ingredients: Semolina (Wheat).

Nutrition (per 56g): 200 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat), 42g carbohydrates, 2g dietary fiber, 7g protein, 2g sugars (0g added sugars)

Review: Your family's favorite baked pasta dish will taste even better when you prepare it with a package of Ziti from Good & Gather™. This pasta comes in a tube shape for a bite that's sure to satisfy, and a slightly coarse texture helps sauces cling for rich flavor bite after bite. Plus, it's made with no artificial flavors, preservatives or synthetic colors. Simply mix with your favorite homemade or prepared red sauce, top with cheese and bake for a tasty dish they'll ask for again and again.

| Rummo Gluten Free Rigatoni Pasta No 50

Price: $4.10/12 OZ at Vitacost (up to 2% cashback from Extrabux)

Key ingredients: Wholemeal Rice, Yellow Corn, White Corn, Rice, Potato Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides of Vegetable Origin.

Nutrition (per 56g): 200 calories, 1g fat (0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat), 44g carbohydrates, 2g dietary fiber, 4g protein

Review: Pasta Rummo Rigatoni Pasta #50 is an Italian imported rigatoni pasta from the family company Rummo is made from semolina durum wheat grown in the Campania region of Italy. Thanks to the patented slow processing method created and used exclusively by Rummo, known as Lenta Lavorazione®, (literally "Slow Processing" in Italian), Rummo Pasta retains a firm, al-dente texture even when cooked longer than needed, or reheated.

Rigatoni literally means "ridged" or "lined" in Italian referring to the ridged lines of this tubular pasta, which-- in addition to the bronze die used to expel the pasta creating a rougher surface-- helps sauces stick to the pasta. This satisfying artisanal semolina wheat rigatoni pasta is ideal for any gourmet pantry and cooks up to restaurant-quality taste and texture in 10 minutes.

So, What's The Bottom Line?

Mostaccioli, Ziti, Penne, and Rigatoni are all delicious and versatile types of pasta that can be used in a variety of dishes.

When it comes to choosing between them, it's important to consider the size, shape, and texture of the pasta, as well as the recipe you're making. Each pasta has its own unique characteristics that make it a great choice for different dishes.

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