Rigatoni is the Italian pasta shape made as large, ridged tubes that hold thick sauces.
Rigatoni are short, wide pasta tubes with straight-cut ends and longitudinal ridges. Their substantial interior and textured exterior help them carry chunky meat sauces, vegetable sauces, and baked preparations. They are especially associated with central and southern Italian cooking, though they are now common worldwide.
The name comes from the Italian word rigato, meaning “ridged” or “lined.” That name distinguishes rigatoni from smoother tube shapes such as macaroni and from diagonally cut penne.
Rigatoni are often used in pasta al forno, where the tubes are combined with sauce, cheese, and other ingredients before baking. Their size can vary, but the defining features are the tube form, ridges, and straight ends.