Penne is one of the most famous Italian pasta shapes and are loved across Italy. Penne, which means "pen" in Italian, gets its name from its shape. Their tube-shape with angled ends was inspired by the quill of an old style ink pen.

Ridged penne are designed for meat, vegetable, cheese and oil or butter-based sauces. They are also perfect for baked dishes made with sauce and cheese. Penne all'Arrabbiata, penne with a spicy tomato sauce, is a favorite Italian dish.