Crunchy Parmesan Pasta Chips (Print View)

Crispy, golden pasta shells coated in Parmesan and spices, air-fried to savory perfection.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 ounces short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or farfalle)

→ Coating

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
06 - ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ To Serve (optional)

09 - Marinara sauce for dipping

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Pat dry with paper towels.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with olive oil until evenly coated.
03 - Combine Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper with the pasta. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange the pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary. Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through until golden and crisp.
06 - Remove from the air fryer and let cool slightly before serving. Optional: serve with marinara sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ridiculously crunchy in a way that homemade chips from actual potatoes somehow never are.
  • Takes barely any time, which means you can make these when the craving strikes without hours of planning.
  • The garlic and Parmesan flavor hits different when it's toasted onto pasta—it's salty, savory, and completely addictive.
02 -
  • Overcooking the pasta before air frying is the number one reason these turn out soggy, so resist the urge to follow the package time exactly.
  • If your seasoning seems to be falling off in the bowl, you probably didn't coat with enough oil—a light drizzle more makes all the difference.
03 -
  • Don't skip the cold water rinse after draining the pasta—it stops the cooking and actually helps prevent them from sticking together in the air fryer.
  • If your air fryer basket is small, it's worth working in two batches rather than piling everything in, because overcrowding genuinely affects how crispy they get.
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