How Much Pasta Do You Need Per Person? The Essential Guide for Home Cooks
Wondering how much spaghetti to cook? You’re not alone. “How much pasta per person?” is one of the most searched cooking questions in the UK – and getting it right makes all the difference between second helpings and waste.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through pasta portion sizes for every situation – from quick midweek meals to dinner parties – and offer simple ways to measure the perfect amount without a scale.
Dry vs Fresh Pasta: What's the Difference?
Before we dive into measurements, here’s a quick tip: dry pasta expands significantly during cooking, while fresh pasta holds more moisture and weighs more to begin with.
- Dried pasta (like spaghetti, penne, fusilli): about 75–100g per person
- Fresh pasta (like chilled tagliatelle or filled ravioli): about 120–150g per person
Feast Italy tip: Always go for bronze-cut dried pasta if you want the sauce to cling beautifully – it makes a real difference in flavour and texture.
What About Egg Pasta Like Filotea?
Our egg pasta – such as Filotea tagliatelle – is a special kind of pasta that’s air-dried slowly at low temperatures, giving it the delicate bite of fresh pasta with the convenience of a dry, shelf-stable format.
Because it's thinner and absorbs sauce beautifully, we recommend using around 80–100g per person for a main course. It cooks in just 4–6 minutes and pairs wonderfully with creamy sauces, seafood, or truffle butter.
How Much Pasta to Cook Per Person (By Situation)
| Meal Type | Dry Pasta per Person | Fresh Pasta per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Light lunch | 60–75g | 100–120g |
| Dinner portion | 80–100g | 120–150g |
| Hearty appetite / guests | 100–125g | 150–180g |
| Side dish (e.g. with meat or salad) | 50–70g | 80–100g |
| Filled pasta (like ravioli) | 150–180g | – |
How to Measure Spaghetti Without Scales
No kitchen scale? No problem.
- A £1 coin-sized bundle of dry spaghetti (held tightly between your thumb and forefinger) is roughly 80–90g, enough for one adult portion.
- You can also use a pasta measuring ring or the centre hole of a spaghetti spoon as a handy guide.
When in doubt? Slightly overcook if you’re serving a crowd – leftover pasta keeps well and makes a delicious lunch the next day.
Our Favourite Pastas to Keep in the Pantry
At Feast Italy, we stock a curated range of bronze-cut and egg-based Italian pasta – all artisan-made and perfect for elevating simple meals. Some of our customer favourites:
Each one is perfect for holding onto sauces – whether it’s a fiery Calabrian ’nduja or a rich truffle butter.
Quick Sauce-to-Pasta Ratio Tips
Not sure how much sauce to add? Here’s a rough guide to keep your pasta well-dressed but not swimming:
- Tomato-based sauces: ~150ml per 100g pasta
- Creamy sauces: ~120ml per 100g pasta
- Pesto or oil-based sauces: 2–3 tbsp per 100g pasta
- Ragù or meat sauces: up to 200g per portion for hearty meals
Don’t forget to save a little pasta water – it helps emulsify and loosen your sauce for that silky finish.
Try This Simple Ratio Tonight
Want to put your pasta instincts to the test? Try this Feast Italy favourite:
Spaghetti with ’Nduja & Burrata
• 90g dry spaghetti per person
• 1 tbsp ’nduja
• 200g tinned cherry tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove
• Half a burrata ball to serve
Ready in 15 mins and packed with bold southern Italian flavour. Get the full recipe →
Final Tips
- Cooking for kids? Start with smaller portions and adjust as needed
- Entertaining? Round up by 10–15g per person – people always come back for seconds
- Mixing pasta shapes? Only do it if they cook at the same speed!
Shop Italian Pasta Online
At Feast Italy, we make it easy to buy artisan Italian pasta online in the UK. Stock up your pantry with authentic ingredients – and always be ready for an impromptu pasta night.