What type of pasta is traditionally used in the Greek dish pastitsio?

Tubular pasta is traditionally used in the Greek dish pastitsio.

Pastitsio is a baked Greek casserole made in layers. A pasta layer, typically consisting of long tubular macaroni, is topped or combined with minced meat sauce and a thick béchamel sauce before baking. The tube-shaped pasta gives the dish a firm structure and creates the characteristic cross-section seen when it is sliced.

The name and layered construction connect pastitsio with the broader family of baked pasta dishes found around the eastern Mediterranean. Greek versions are often seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, or other warm spices in the meat sauce, which distinguishes them from many Italian baked pasta recipes. Pastitsio is sometimes called “Greek lasagna,” but that nickname is only a comparison: the pasta shape, seasoning, and béchamel arrangement are different. Recipes vary, yet tubular pasta remains the defining starch in the classic Greek form.