- All four chefs agreed that De Cecco is the best store-bought pasta for its rich flavor and perfect texture.
- Made from 100% durum wheat and bronze-cut, De Cecco’s noodles have a rough surface that helps sauce stick beautifully.
- Chefs say pairing the right pasta shape with the right sauce makes every bite shine.
Few things are as comforting as a delicious pasta dish. And whether you’re a lover of a simple spaghetti and meatballs dinner or you prefer making fettuccine Alfredo with chicken on top, the best way to make sure your meal truly shines is to serve those proteins, sauces and veggies with high-quality pasta.
The right kind of pasta can elevate any dish, especially since a good noodle holds onto the sauce it’s combined with, ensuring your dinner guests get the perfect balance of pasta and sauce in every single bite. Yes, you can make your own pasta from scratch, but if you’re looking for a good, store-bought brand of pasta that even chefs agree is top-notch, keep an eye out for De Cecco pasta on your next grocery run or get it delivered to your door with Amazon Fresh.
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Why De Cecco Pasta?
Chef Ashish Alfred, who has appeared on Chopped and co-hosted Bar Rescue, said if he’s not making his pasta by hand, he buys De Cecco pasta at the grocery store. “It’s consistent, it cooks right every time, and it gives you that restaurant-quality texture without needing to roll out dough,” he added. “They use bronze dies, which means the pasta has a slightly rough surface. That roughness is key—it helps sauce stick instead of sliding off…and it also doesn’t turn to mush like some of the cheaper brands.”
Toni Elkhouri, chef and co-owner of Cedar’s Cafe in Melbourne, Florida, said De Cecco “consistently delivers that true al dente texture” you want when cooking a pasta dish, adding that the flour used by the brand makes the flavor really pop. “The semolina is nutty, rich and has integrity even after reheating,” Elkhouri explained. “I also appreciate that De Cecco slow-dries its pasta at low temperatures, which preserves the wheat flavor and gives it that beautiful golden hue and firm bite.”
What Chefs Look for When Shopping for Pasta
Elkhouri added it’s important to look for store-bought pasta with a rough surface, specifically boxes that say the noodles were bronze cut. “That will help the sauce cling naturally,” she said. “Also check for ‘slow-dried’ or ‘low-temperature drying’ on the label, which is a sign of craftsmanship. De Cecco nails both, which is why it’s my go-to at home.”
James Callery, head chef at Sanford Springs Hotel and Golf Club in the United Kingdom, said when picking out pasta in a grocery store, you want to make sure the noodles look slightly textured, not shiny and smooth. “Proper pasta has a slightly textured finish,” he explained, “if it’s too glassy, your sauce will run off.”
Callery says he, too, looks for bronze-cut pasta made from 100% durum wheat semolina. Why is the type of wheat important? “This way, the pasta has a really wheaty taste,” he explained, “rather than cardboard—which you can’t say about some of the supermarket brands.”
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How to Use Pasta Like a Chef
You’ve picked up your box of De Cecco pasta (or another pasta that’s bronze-cut and made from high-quality semolina flour), so what’s next? Laura Pensiero, a registered dietitian and chef who owns Gigi Trattoria in New York’s Hudson Valley, said she uses, “De Cecco’s spaghetti for simple tomato-basil sauces, its penne rigate for heartier ragus and orecchiette for sauces with greens or beans,” since it’s, “all about pairing the texture [of the pasta shape] with the sauce.”
Alfred said De Cecco spaghetti is perfect for dishes like cacio e pepe or carbonara, “where you want the pasta itself to shine.” For heavier sauces, like bolognese or a slow-braised ragu, he uses the brand’s rigatoni. “The sauce clings to the ridges, so every bite hits,” he said. “Even a basic penne with tomato, garlic and basil turns into something special when the pasta’s got that good texture.”
Where to Find De Cecco Pasta
De Cecco pasta is available at grocery retailers everywhere, from Publix to Walmart to Amazon. What’s more, a 1-pound box of De Cecco pasta usually costs less than $3, so it’s not a pasta that’ll break the bank. Alfred said this seemingly affordable price tracks. “You don’t need to spend ten bucks on imported noodles,” he explained. “You just need something with the right texture, the right wheat and a clean flavor. De Cecco checks those boxes.”
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re using your latest herb garden haul to make a light, flavorful tomato sauce or you’re preparing a hearty fall pasta dish for dinner guests, the chefs we asked agree: You don’t need to spend a ton on imported pasta or spend hours making pasta by hand to have a really good meal.
De Cecco is our chefs’ choice for an affordable, store-bought pasta because it’s made from 100% durum wheat flour and is bronze-cut: This means the pasta itself will be rich in flavor and it’ll hold onto the delicious sauce you’ve prepared, perfectly rounding out your pasta dinner.
And when deciding which variety of pasta pairs best with the sauce you’re serving, it’s OK to experiment. “I play with each shape as its own personality,” said Callery. “Some bat their eyelashes at the sauce, some hug it for dear life, and that’s part of the enjoyment.”
