Whether you’re embracing your Italian heritage or just getting adventurous in the kitchen, learning how to make homemade pasta is a worthwhile pursuit. The task might seem daunting, but with a can-do attitude, your favorite apron, and the right cooking tools—like a knife and one of the best pasta makers—you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to churn out your own fettuccine, spaghetti, lasagna noodles and more. In fact, the hardest part might very well be finding the right pasta machine for your needs.
“There are a plethora of pasta machines out there—it can be daunting to choose,” says Linda Miller Nicholson, author of Pasta, Pretty Please and technicolor pasta chef behind @saltyseattle. You’ll likely run into a few different styles of pasta makers, and most of these devices either roll out pasta dough into flat, even sheets for cutting or extrude dough through metal plates to create tubular shapes like penne.
Other things to consider as you shop for a pasta maker include where the unit is made, as well as its materials. “Look for a machine that’s made in Italy of steel rather than aluminum,” recommends Domenica Marchetti, author of The Glorious Pasta of Italy. “It should be weighty and sturdy, not flimsy.” All of these qualities will ensure the machine is long-lasting and steady, helping you churn out pasta with ease.
The following are the best pasta makers to guide you on your culinary journey, as recommended by these two pasta pros, as well as several other chefs.
- Best Pasta Maker Overall: Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine
- Best Pasta Maker With An Electric Motor: Marcato Atlas Pasta Machine with Electric Motor Attachment
- Best All-in-One Pasta Maker: Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker Plus
- Best Pasta Maker With Extension Plate: Imperia Pasta Maker
- Best Manual Pasta Cutter: Eppicotispai Beechwood Spaghetti Cutter Rolling Pin
- Best Pasta Stand Mixer Attachment: KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Attachment Set
- Best Pasta Extruder Attachment: KitchenAid Gourmet Pasta Press Attachment
- Best Budget Pasta Maker: iSiLER 150 Pasta Machine
The Best Pasta Maker Overall
A Chef-Approved Machine That Can Make Virtually Any Pasta Shape
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Size: 8 x 8 x 7 inches
- Features: Rolls sheets of dough at 10 different thicknesses, and includes 12 attachments for making popular pasta styles
Both Nicholson and Marchetti agree that one of the best pasta makers you can buy today is the Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine. “I have been using the same standard hand-crank Marcato Atlas pasta machine for 25-plus years, and it continues to serve me well,” says Marchetti. “It's intuitive, the rollers run smoothly, and there are lots of attachments for cutting different shapes.”
The Atlas 150 is an affordable pick at under $100, and it’s made in Italy from durable chrome-plated steel. It rolls sheets of dough at 10 different thicknesses, ranging from 0.6 to 4.8 millimeters, and there are 12 different accessories you can buy separately, including attachments for linguine, spaghetti, ravioli and more popular pasta varieties.
These popular machines are also available in several bright colors, including black, blue, light blue, gold, green, pink and red. However, these colorful pasta makers are made from aluminum, meaning they may not hold up as well over time.
The Best Electric Motor Pasta Maker
A Motor-Powered Pasta Machine For Making Dough In Bulk
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Size: 32 x 20 x 16 inches
- Features: 110-volt motor that delivers consistent rotation
Tired of hand-cranking your pasta? You might want to upgrade to a more expensive version of the Marcato Atlas 150, which comes with an electric motor. “Marcato Atlas machines are extremely well made across their entire line of residential models,” says Nicholson. “They offer a motor that fits on the side of the machine if you get sick of turning the crank.”
The machine is made from the same durable chrome-plated steel, and it comes with both flat rollers for dough sheets, as well as a double cutter attachment. The pasta maker's 110-volt motor offers more consistent rotation than a hand crank, delivering even thickness, and it takes care of all the hard work for you, leaving your hands free to guide the dough.
Best All-In-One Pasta Maker
An Easy-to-Use Appliance That Takes Care Of Mixing And Kneading
- Material: Alloy steel, plastic
- Size: 12 x 15.94 x 13.38 inches
- Features: Automatically mixes, kneads and extrudes the dough
If you do want to go the all-in-one route, our experts say the best models are from the Pennsylvania brand Arcobaleno. However, these models are intended for professional use and are priced accordingly.
For a smaller option to use at home, the Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker is convenient and easy to use. “Freshly made pasta is always the best, which is why I love my Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker Plus,” says Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon. “I can easily create a half-pound of fresh, homemade pasta in about 10 minutes, in whatever noodle type tickles my fancy that day.” All you have to do is add the ingredients into the machine, and it automatically mixes, kneads and extrudes the dough. It comes with discs to make spaghetti, fettuccini, penne and lasagna, and additional pasta shapes are sold separately.
The Best Pasta Maker With Extension Plate
An Italian-Made Manual Model That’s Easy To Operate Solo
- Material: Stainless steel
- Size: 7.5 x 8 x 6 inches
- Features: Includes two pasta rollers, one for flat sheets and one for fettuccine or linguine
Another extremely reliable model that comes recommended by the experts is the Imperia Pasta Maker. “The first time I ever made fresh pasta was 1987. I used a hand-crank Imperia pasta machine that I still have and occasionally use to this day, so you can see why I would recommend this brand: easy to use, efficient and extremely well made,” says Chef Bill Dorrler of Osteria Morini, an Italian restaurant with locations in New York, New Jersey, Washington, DC and Florida.
This heavy-duty machine is crafted in Italy from chromed steel, and it includes two pasta rollers: one for solid sheets and another for fettuccine or linguine. It comes with an extension plate to help guide the dough—ideal if you’re cooking by yourself—and the machine clamps to your countertop so it doesn’t move during use. Plus, there are additional attachments available if you want to make other types of pasta.
The Best Manual Pasta Cutter
A Budget-Friendly Rolling Pin That Cuts Pasta Dough
- Material: Beechwood
- Size: 12.6 x 1.57 inches
- Features: Space-saving pasta maker that creates uniform strands of pasta
The cutting attachments for pasta machines are often pricey, and if you don’t mind putting a little elbow grease into the task, this rolling pin will do the job just fine. Once you’ve rolled out your pasta dough, you can use the beachwood rolling pin to score lines into the surface. From here, you can easily pull the dough apart, creating uniform strands of pasta the artisanal way. The rolling pins are made in Italy, and there are different models for making spaghetti, fettuccine, tagliatelle and pappardelle.
The Best Pasta Stand Mixer Attachment
A Three-Piece Set Of Mixer Attachments To Roll And Cut Pasta
- Material: Stainless steel
- Size: Depends on attachment
- Features: Easy-to-use attachments that offer versatility
If you own a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, you can purchase a variety of pasta-making attachments, including this chef-approved three-piece set that includes a pasta roller, spaghetti cutter and fettuccine cutter.
“At home, I love my KitchenAid attachment,” says Chef David Schwartz, Executive Chef of Formento's in Chicago. “With this kit, you can roll pasta sheets for lasagna or ravioli or use the cutters to make spaghetti or tagliatelle." The roller creates 6-inch sheets with eight thickness settings, and all the attachments are made from stainless steel and crafted in Italy.
The Best Pasta Extruder Attachment
A Mixer-Powered Extruder That Makes Spaghetti, Macaroni And More
- Material: Stainless steel
- Size: 4.8 x 5.7 x 8.4 inches
- Features: A motorized pasta extruder that makes five varieties of pasta
Pasta makers are used for flat pasta varieties—think linguine and fettuccine—but if you’re hoping to create tubular varieties, you’re going to need a pasta extruder. The KitchenAid Gourmet Pasta Press Attachment is a popular extruder that comes with five “plates” that allow you to make spaghetti, small and large macaroni, bucatini, fusilli and rigatoni. This unit attaches to a KitchenAid mixer's power hub for motorized operation, and it includes a built-in wire cutter to lop off your freshly extruded noodles.
Some extruders will mix and knead the dough for you, but Marchetti recommends against these all-in-one machines if you’re serious about learning the craft: “Part of the appeal of making pasta at home is learning how to mix and knead the dough, figuring out what the right consistency is, and learning how to handle the sheets,” she says. “Like any pursuit, the more you do it the better you get!”
The Best Budget Pasta Maker
A Highly-Rated Manual Option That’s Perfect For Beginners
- Material: Stainless steel
- Size: 4.8 x 5.7 x 8.4 inches
- Features: A budget-friendly, hand-cranked pasta maker
“If you are just trying your hand at pasta making for the first time and don't want to make too big an investment, a classic manual hand-crank pasta machine, easily found at your local home goods shop or on Amazon, is a great place to start and shouldn't run you more than about $30," says Chef Cameron Slaugh.
This particular model from iSiLER offers nine thickness settings, and you can use it to roll out dough, as well as cut thick and thin strands of pasta. It comes with a table clamp that keeps the machine in place during operation, and it’s widely touted as a great value, making it a top choice for beginners.
Is It Worth Getting A Pasta Maker?
It’s possible to make homemade pasta without a pasta maker—you can get the job done with a rolling pin and knife if you’re so inclined—but if you’re planning to make your own pasta on a regular basis, a pasta machine is a worthwhile investment. Not only do these gadgets make the process quicker and easier, they also help to ensure your pasta is the right size, shape, consistency and texture, which will make your meals taste that much better.
