
It’s National Pasta Day! A happy day for many New Jerseyans who love it as much they love pizza.
But what is the Garden State’s favorite pasta dish? Well, if what people search online the most represents what they like, fettuccine alfredo — which is the national favorite — is not New Jersey’s top choice. It seems that in Jersey, people like more indulgent dishes with much more ingredients than pasta tossed in alfredo sauce. In other words, New Jerseyans palate is very much like themselves: not demure.
After evaluating how often the most popular pasta dishes were searched on Google from New Jersey over the last 12 months, we found the most sought out dishes here.
Here are the ten most popular pasta dishes in New Jersey:
Seafood Pasta: No. 10
A diverse category that can includes linguine with clams, shrimp scampi, or any pasta cooked with a variety of seafood, garlic, olive oil and often a splash of white wine. Score: 46/100
Fettuccine Alfredo: No. 9
An simple dish featuring fettuccine pasta tossed in Alfredo, the famed Italian-American sauce made from butter, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. It’s often garnished with parsley and served with additional cheese on top. Score: 53/100
Pesto Pasta: No. 8
Made with basil pesto — a blend of basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil — New Jerseyans love to prep it cold as a pasta salad possibly with ricotta cheese and beans, the most searched terms associated with pesto pasta. Score: 56/100
Cacio e pepe: No. 7
Cacio e pepe, Italian for calcium and pepper, is a classic. This dish is made by mixing pecorino Romano cheese with pasta water and lots of fresh ground pepper. This dish is typically made with bucatini pasta, which is similar to spaghetti but hollow in the middle. Score: 57/100
Pasta Primavera: No. 6
A fresh and colorful dish featuring pasta tossed with a variety of seasonal vegetables, often in a light garlic or olive oil sauce. Score: 61/100
Spaghetti Bolognese: No. 5
A meat-based sauce originating from Bologna is made with ground beef, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes and herbs, and served over spaghetti. It’s a beloved comfort food in many parts of the world. Score: 64/100
Penne Arrabbiata: No. 4
A spicy Italian pasta dish made with penne, garlic, crushed red pepper and tomatoes. It’s known for its bold, spicy flavor. Score: 66/100
Lasagna: No. 3
This hearty, comforting dish is perfect for feeding crowds. Made with layers of pasta sheets, meat, cheese and sauce, and baked until bubbly and golden. Short rib lasagna was the most searched type of lasagna in New Jersey. Score: 68/100
Pasta Carbonara: No. 2
This classic Roman dish is the first runner up of this list. It’s like the Roman pasta version of a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. Carbonara is made with long pasta, eggs, pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper and guanciale (cured pork cheek). The dish is made with no cream, relying on the emulsification of the egg yolks, cheese and hot pasta water. Score: 78/100
Ravioli: No. 1
Were you expecting ravioli to be New Jersey’s favorite pasta dish? Well, it is. New Jersey searched for ravioli often and consistently throughout the past 12 months. These pasta parcels are stuffed with variety of ingredients, such as cheese, meat, or vegetables, served with sauce or in broth. In New Jersey, people like their ravioli filled with lobster, cheese or spinach, according to Google searches. Score: 86/100