Have you ever looked at a jar of Nutella and thought, This belongs on pasta? You're not alone.
I Tried Giada de Laurentiis’ Recipe for Chocolate Pasta
Published on Dec. 20, 2024
Giada de Laurentiis has been a household name for decades. Long before any mention of chocolate pasta, she gained stardom as a celebrity chef focused on modern Italian food for the home cook. Born and raised in Rome, Giada is known for tasty, authentic recipes like lemon spaghetti and her famous tiramisu.
Even though she now runs a culinary empire, Giada still likes to cozy up to a simple childhood favorite: chocolate pasta. While she grew up eating this Nutella-tossed pasta, it’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever had before.
What is Nutella pasta?
If you’ve ever had Nutella, you know how addictive the chocolate hazelnut spread can be. And while Nutella pasta might sound crazy, it’s not so different from Nutella on toast or Nutella on crepes, both popular snacks throughout Europe. For Nutella pasta, or what Giada calls chocolate pasta, plain pasta is topped with a heaping spoonful or two of chocolate hazelnut spread and mixed up well. You can even serve it with some chocolate grated over the top, like Parmesan. Use a pasta shape with crevices to catch the Nutella, like orecchiette or farfalle.
It makes a great comfort snack or after-school treat, though if you’re a fan of chocolate pasta, I could see making a dinner out of it once in a blue moon.
Is Nutella pasta good?
The review is in on this controversial dish. While I had high hopes for chocolate pasta—being a huge fan of Nutella on practically anything—ultimately, it wasn’t for me. I used small shells, which were the right shape for the Nutella to stick to, and the Nutella itself was still absolutely delicious. But it felt odd combining the sweet spread with pasta. It made me crave something savory for the little shells! So, unfortunately, next time I’m looking for something comforting, I’ll skip the chocolate pasta and stick to something like Giada’s lemon ricotta cookies instead. But if you’re a Nutella fan, give it a try and decide for yourself!
