If there was ever a food dish deserving of a national holiday, it would be pasta. From spaghetti carbonara to fettuccine, lasagne to gnocchi, pasta is one of the most versatile dishes, and is enjoyed by millions every day.
On October 17, the nation will celebrate National Pasta Day. Whether your favorite shape is penne, rigatoni, tortellini, or fusilli, pasta is not only a staple in Italy, but also in America. Many Italian-American cuisine dishes, such as fettuccine alfredo and spaghetti and meatballs, are also favored across the country – though might not be considered authentic Italian – cream in a carbonara, anyone?!
For pasta lovers who are gluten-sensitive, they may be nervous about eating traditional pasta, often made using wheat flour. However, there are now plenty of gluten-free options available for those who have a food sensitivity, including chickpea pasta, quinoa pasta, and brown rice pasta.
But, with so many pasta dishes enjoyed by Americans across the country, what are the most popular in each state?
To find out, YorkTest scoured Google search data over the past year to determine which recipe the residents in each state have had a growing appetite for.
Below, you can look through a state-by-state breakdown of the most popular pasta recipes this year. How has your state fared?
The most popular pasta recipes in each state in 2023
| State | Recipe | Increase in appetite for 2023 |
| Alabama | Penne alla vodka | 80% |
| Alaska | Spaghetti and meatballs | 67% |
| Arizona | Penne alla vodka | 53% |
| Arkansas | Bolognese | 55% |
| California | Pasta alla norma | 86% |
| Colorado | Puttanesca | 40% |
| Connecticut | Pasta alla norma | 57% |
| Delaware | Cacio e Peppe | 57% |
| Florida | Homemade gnocchi | 55% |
| Georgia | Chicken pesto pasta | 55% |
| Hawaii | Chicken pesto pasta | 40% |
| Idaho | Lasagne | 56% |
| Illinois | Pasta alla norma | 120% |
| Indiana | Lobster mac and cheese | 75% |
| Iowa | Turkey Tetrazzini | 29% |
| Kansas | Turkey Tetrazzini | 175% |
| Kentucky | Turkey Tetrazzini | 125% |
| Louisiana | Bolognese | 86% |
| Maine | Penne alla vodka | 75% |
| Maryland | Pasta alla norma | 250% |
| Massachusetts | Baked feta pasta | 80% |
| Michigan | Bolognese | 39% |
| Minnesota | Penne alla vodka | 91% |
| Mississippi | Bolognese | 100% |
| Missouri | Arrabbiata | 367% |
| Montana | Spaghetti and meatballs | 80% |
| Nebraska | Turkey Tetrazzini | 133% |
| Nevada | Lobster mac and cheese | 150% |
| New Hampshire | Penne alla vodka | 29% |
| New Jersey | Arrabbiata | 55% |
| New Mexico | Carbonara | 23% |
| New York | Homemade gnocchi | 86% |
| North Carolina | Pasta alla norma | 125% |
| North Dakota | Carbonara | 89% |
| Ohio | Arrabbiata | 57% |
| Oklahoma | Bolognese | 53% |
| Oregon | Lasagne | 86% |
| Pennsylvania | Chicken pesto pasta | 50% |
| Rhode Island | Bolognese | 23% |
| South Carolina | Penne alla vodka | 53% |
| South Dakota | Bolognese | 100% |
| Tennessee | Arrabbiata | 67% |
| Texas | Pasta alla norma | 80% |
| Utah | Turkey Tetrazzini | 100% |
| Vermont | Turkey Tetrazzini | 50% |
| Virginia | Arrabbiata | 125% |
| Washington | Pasta alla norma | 125% |
| West Virginia | Spaghetti and meatballs | 80% |
| Wisconsin | Bolognese | 50% |
| Wyoming | Bolognese | 133% |
Turkey tetrazzini has soared in popularity
With turkey season looming as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, many Americans have a growing appetite for turkey tetrazzini as people look for creative ways to use up their leftovers.
An American classic, turkey tetrazzini is a hearty pasta bake that includes leftover turkey, a creamy cheese sauce and pasta in a casserole style. In Utah, interest for the recipe has doubled, and in Kansas it’s almost tripled.
American staples are still favorites
Every single state’s most searched-for dish overall was macaroni and cheese – with over 300,000 people looking for tips on how to make the classic recipe each month. Other classics that saw rises in popularity were bolognese in Wyoming and Wisconsin, lasagna in Idaho, and spaghetti and meatballs in Alaska.
Pasta is a family favorite, however with many dishes consisting of wheat, gluten and cheese, millions could be experiencing discomfort when consuming popular dishes. Consider doing a food sensitivity test to see what food you can get stuck into, and how you might need to tweak your pasta recipes, to avoid experiencing side effects such as bloating, constipation or pain in your abdomen.
Methodology
YorkTest analyzed Google Keyword Planner data from the US over the course of a year for 30 pasta dish recipes, to determine which popular pasta dishes have had the biggest rise in searches. Each state’s most popular dish had to have at least 50 searches per month, and YorkTest took the recipe that had the largest rise in searches overall. Data up to date as of October 2023.
