Crunchy Parmesan Pasta Chips (Printable view)

Crispy air-fried pasta shells seasoned with Parmesan and Italian spices for a golden, crunchy snack.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Coating

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

→ To Serve (optional)

09 - Marinara sauce for dipping

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
02 - Place cooled pasta in a large bowl and toss with olive oil until evenly coated.
03 - Incorporate Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper into the pasta. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coverage.
04 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange pasta in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote even crisping and golden coloring.
06 - Remove chips from air fryer and allow to cool slightly before serving. Optionally serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ridiculously easy to make with pantry staples, yet taste like you spent actual effort.
  • The contrast between crispy exterior and tender pasta inside feels fancy enough for guests but casual enough for a solo snack attack.
02 -
  • Pat your pasta dry before seasoning—any lingering water will create steam in the air fryer and leave you with chewy instead of crispy.
  • Shake the basket halfway through cooking, and if some pieces are crispier than others, that's actually perfect because it creates texture variation.
03 -
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan—the pre-shredded version contains cellulose that prevents browning and creates a matte finish instead of that gorgeous golden shimmer.
  • Don't skip the cooling step after air frying; they crisp up even more as they cool, creating that perfect snappy texture.
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