Pasta Almanac

The difference

Spaghetti vs Spaghettoni

Spaghettoni is just a thicker spaghetti, the suffix oni meaning big. The extra couple of millimeters lets it stand up to bolder, chunkier sauces and gives a meatier bite, where standard spaghetti stays the lighter all rounder.

Gouache illustration of Spaghetti

Spaghetti

Family
Long strands
Size
250 to 300 mm long
Surface
Smooth
Cook
9 to 12 min

Wants: Tomato sauce, Carbonara, Garlic and oil

Gouache illustration of Spaghettoni

Spaghettoni

Family
Long strands
Size
2.5 to 2.6 mm across
Surface
Smooth
Cook
11 to 16 min

Wants: Cacio e pepe, Carbonara, Amatriciana

Compare more shapes, or look up Spaghetti and Spaghettoni in full.