Cooking Expert Reveals Michigan’s Favorite Italian Pasta Dishes and How to Prepare Them According to Tradition

Photo by Augusto Carneiro Junior

Article courtesy of Cooking School Italy.

• Lasagne alla Bolognese ranks first with a whopping 22,882 average monthly searches.
• Spaghetti alla Carbonara and Ziti al Forno rank second and third, respectively.
• The secret to making the perfect lasagna is the sauce, as Italian tradition calls for it to simmer between three and six hours.

A new study reveals that lasagna is Michigan’s favorite Italian pasta dish.

The study, conducted by Cooking School Italy, which provides professional training in Italian cuisine, analyzed Google monthly average search volumes for over 120 pasta dishes for the past 12 months until July 2025 to reveal which ones are the most popular in each U.S. state. The average search volumes for each dish were combined and ranked from highest to lowest. 

Lasagne alla Bolognese tops the list with 22,882 average monthly searches. This figure far exceeds the 8,835 searches for Spaghetti alla Carbonara, which ranks second. Ziti al Forno follows in third place with 6,091 monthly searches. The remaining top five positions are claimed by Fettuccine Alfredo and Cacio e Pepe with 5,428 and 4,726 monthly searches respectively.

Andrea Rocchetti, National Director of Cooking School Italy commented on the findings,

“These findings reveal Michigan’s evolving relationship with Italian cuisine. It’s fascinating to see which dishes residents are most fond of, and lasagna is clearly a standout. To make the perfect lasagna, the secret lies in the sauce. Tradition calls for a Bolognese ragù made with a soffritto of onions, carrots, and celery, to which tomatoes or tomato sauce and minced beef are added. But the real game-changer is time. While tomatoes don’t take long to cook, it’s best to let the sauce bubble away for at least two to three hours so the flavors fully develop and the meat becomes tender. And if you’re feeling bold, as long as it’s kept on a low flame, it can simmer gently for up to six hours!”

Sources:

• Google Keyword Planner

Methodology:

• Monthly average search volume data was taken from Google Keyword Planner based on searches over the 12 months leading up to July 2025 to reveal the rankings.
• The most popular Italian dishes were analyzed based on searches for: [dish], [dish] recipe, and how to cook [dish], with each dish’s Italian and English names used.
• The combined search volume for each dish’s terms was calculated, and then used to rank the dishes from highest number of average monthly searches to lowest.