Which Italian pasta is shaped like large, ridged shells that hold sauce?

The Italian pasta shaped like large, ridged shells that hold sauce is conchiglioni.

Conchiglioni is the large form of conchiglie, whose name comes from conchiglia, the Italian word for “shell.” Its curved, shell-like shape and ridged surface help it hold thick sauces, cheese, vegetables, and meat.

Because conchiglioni is large enough to fill, it is often used in baked dishes. Cooks may stuff the shells with ricotta and spinach, minced meat, or other fillings before covering them with tomato sauce and baking.

Smaller related forms have different names. Conchigliette refers to small shells, while conchiglie describes the general shell family. Conchiglioni should also be distinguished from cannelloni, which consists of large cylindrical tubes usually filled and baked.