Crunchy Parmesan Pasta Chips (Printable version)

Golden pasta shells air-fried with Parmesan and spices for a crisp, flavorful snack or appetizer.

# 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

# Steps to follow:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente following package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Pat dry with paper towels.
02 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss until evenly coated.
03 - Incorporate Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket; work in batches if necessary. Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through until chips are golden and crisp.
06 - Remove chips from air fryer and allow to cool slightly. Serve with marinara sauce if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside and slightly chewy inside, hitting that textural sweet spot that makes you reach for just one more.
  • Ready in 25 minutes total, making them perfect for unexpected guests or when you need something impressive without the fuss.
  • The Parmesan coating gets almost nutty and caramelized, turning humble pasta into something that tastes deliberately gourmet.
02 -
  • Don't skip the drying step after boiling—wet pasta will refuse to crisp no matter how long you air fry it, and you'll end up with chewy rather than crunchy.
  • The pasta continues to crisp as it cools, so pull it out when it's a shade lighter than you think you want it, or it can tip into bitter.
03 -
  • Use an instant-read thermometer or simply trust the visual cue: they should be a deep golden color, almost mahogany in spots, and make a satisfying crunch when you bite them.
  • If your air fryer cooks hot, start checking at the 10-minute mark and don't hesitate to pull them earlier if they're browning faster than expected.
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