Orecchiette vs Penne
A side-by-side guide to substituting Penne for Orecchiette (or vice versa).
Use 1.05 oz of Penne for every 1 oz of Orecchiette.
Side-by-side
Penne
Conversion: Use 1.05× as much (1.05 oz per 1 oz)
Tags: common
Notes: Larger pieces hold sauce but less surface area per piece; use 5% more, same cooking time. Works well with chunky ragù.
Read the full guide: Penne
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Open calculator →When to use Penne instead of Orecchiette
Larger pieces hold sauce but less surface area per piece; use 5% more, same cooking time. Works well with chunky ragù. The conversion is use 1.05× as much (1.05 oz per 1 oz).
Common questions
Yes — Larger pieces hold sauce but less surface area per piece; use 5% more, same cooking time. Works well with chunky ragù. Ratio: Use 1.05× as much (1.05 oz per 1 oz).
Use 1.05× as much (1.05 oz per 1 oz). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.
They are similar in most uses, but Larger pieces hold sauce but less surface area per piece; use 5% more, same cooking time..
Penne is one of the options SubSwap lists for Orecchiette. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Orecchiette substitutes.
Looking for more Orecchiette substitutes beyond Penne?
See all Orecchiette swaps →