Pasta feels cheap. That is why most pasta margins leak.
If you do not measure dry pasta yield and sauce portions, you are guessing on every plate.
Quick Summary
- Cost pasta by dry weight and cooked yield
- Sauce portions matter more than noodles
- Protein add-ons should price as full upgrades, not small tweaks
Why Pasta Costs Drift
- Dry pasta yield is ignored. Cooked portions vary by batch size and cook time.
- Sauce is the real cost center. Meat, dairy, and oil live in the sauce, not the noodles.
- Protein add-ons are underpriced. Chicken or meatballs can add $1 to $2 in cost.
- Garlic bread and salads get bundled too cheaply. Bundles only work when the base price is correct.
Core Cost Formulas
Cooked pasta cost = (Dry price per lb / Cooked yield) x (Cooked oz / 16)
Plate cost = Pasta + Sauce + Protein + Garnish + Sides + Packaging
Food cost % = Plate cost / Menu priceU.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
These are BLS average retail prices via FRED. Use them to pressure-test supplier quotes.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti and macaroni | $1.311/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.08/oz | Base pasta cost |
| Ground beef, 100% | $6.687/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.42/oz | Meat sauce |
| Tomatoes, field grown | $1.840/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.12/oz | Red sauce base |
| Cheddar cheese | $5.789/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.36/oz | Cheese proxy |
| Bread, white, pan | $1.833/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.11/oz | Garlic bread proxy |
Conversion rule:
Price per oz = Price per lb / 16Example: Spaghetti With Meat Sauce
Assumptions (example):
- Dry pasta price: $1.40/lb
- Cooked yield: 2.3x (example)
- Cooked portion: 9 oz
- Meat sauce (meat + tomato + aromatics): $0.90
- Ground beef in sauce: 3 oz cooked
- Cheese: 0.5 oz
- Garlic bread: $0.45
- Packaging: $0.35
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta | 9 oz cooked | $1.40/lb / 2.3x | $0.34 |
| Meat sauce | 5 oz | $0.18/oz | $0.90 |
| Ground beef | 3 oz | $5.90/lb | $1.11 |
| Cheese | 0.5 oz | $0.36/oz | $0.18 |
| Garlic bread | 1 piece | $0.45 | $0.45 |
| Packaging | 1 set | $0.35 | $0.35 |
| Total plate cost | $3.33 |
Target price at 30% food cost:
$3.33 / 0.30 = $11.10Menu price range: $10.99 to $11.99
Pricing Protein Add-Ons
- Chicken: add full cost + margin (do not discount)
- Shrimp: price as a separate bowl or premium upgrade
- Meatballs: price per ball, not as a flat add-on
Portion Standards to Lock In
- Dry pasta weight per batch
- Cooked yield per batch
- Sauce ladle size (oz)
- Cheese sprinkle weight
- Garlic bread portion
15-Minute Weekly Pasta Audit
- Weigh dry pasta used per batch
- Log cooked yield and portion size
- Recalculate top 5 pasta sellers
- Check sauce cost against protein prices
- Adjust prices before weekend volume
How KitchenCost Helps
KitchenCost tracks pasta recipes, sauces, and protein add-ons in one place. When ingredient costs change, your pricing math updates instantly.
Want to stop guessing on pasta margins? Try KitchenCost.
Related guides:
- US Food Cost Calculator
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- Prime Cost Guide
- Restaurant Labor Cost Percentage Guide
- Menu Engineering Guide
- Pizza Cost Calculator
- Recipe Costing Guide