While fresh pasta has its place in Italian cuisine, dried spaghetti remains the backbone of countless memorable meals. Not all boxed spaghetti is created equal, though. From texture to taste, each brand brings something different to the table. Here’s our comprehensive ranking of popular boxed spaghetti brands, from basic to outstanding.
Great Value and store brand basics
At the bottom of our ranking sits Walmart’s Great Value spaghetti, which serves primarily as an economical vehicle for sauce rather than a pasta that can stand on its own. The noodles cook up predictably but lack the springy texture and rich wheat flavor found in higher-quality options.
Store brands like Hy-Vee and Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value fall into similar territory. While they’ll certainly fill your pasta needs in a pinch, these options often have a one-dimensional taste that fails to elevate your final dish.
Mid-tier contenders De Cecco and Colavita
De Cecco represents a step up in quality, offering reliable performance and decent flavor. The pasta holds its shape well when cooked al dente and can support heavier sauces without falling apart. Colavita brings mild umami notes to the table but can sometimes get lost under bold ingredients.
These mid-range options strike a balance between quality and affordability, making them suitable for everyday meals without breaking the bank. Their texture generally allows for proper sauce adhesion, though they may not achieve the ideal roughness of premium brands.
Barilla and specialty options
Barilla consistently delivers quality pasta at an accessible price point. Their standard line offers good texture and a pleasant wheat flavor, while their premium Al Bronzo line features a remarkably muscular texture thanks to bronze die extrusion.
Specialty brands like Banza (made from chickpea flour) and Jovial (made with einkorn wheat) offer unique alternatives. Banza works particularly well with Mediterranean-style dishes, while Jovial brings a distinctive, barley-like taste to the plate.
Premium picks Rao’s and DeLallo
Moving into premium territory, Rao’s spaghetti showcases a fine texture that captures sauce beautifully, thanks to their traditional bronze die extrusion process. The deep yellow color hints at the quality of their semolina wheat.
DeLallo represents authentic Italian craftsmanship with an ideal springy texture and exceptional sauce-gripping capabilities. Though pricier than standard options, the quality difference becomes apparent with simpler preparations where the pasta takes center stage.
Top tier Italian imports
At the pinnacle of boxed spaghetti sits Pastificio Di Martino, offering a texture remarkably similar to fresh pasta. The subtle complexity of its flavor shines through even with minimal seasoning.
Rustichella D’Abruzzo and Garofalo round out the top tier, with their smooth, toasty flavors and superior textures. These brands prove that dried pasta can rival fresh in terms of quality and satisfaction when properly crafted.
When selecting a boxed spaghetti, consider how you’ll use it. Basic brands work fine for heavily sauced dishes, while premium options shine in simple preparations. For most home cooks, mid-tier options like Barilla or De Cecco offer the best balance of quality and value. But if you’re preparing a special meal where pasta is the star, splurging on a premium Italian import will make a noticeable difference.
