While spaghetti, linguine, and fettuccine are remarkably similar, each of these noodles has a particular purpose for taking your pasta to a new level.

Spaghetti’s medium-thin size makes it ideal for cooking with hearty or creamy sauces, while fettuccine’s thick, long strands perfectly soak up dairy-rich sauces, like alfredo.

Linguine falls between spaghetti and fettuccine, with its somewhat flat and thin shape, making it more versatile than the other two as it can adapt to a range of ingredients.

Sauces like cacao e pepe and carbonara work for all three options, as spaghetti and linguine tangle up the sauce’s distinct flavor notes, while fettuccine soaks up the creaminess.