Air fryer pasta chips have been making their rounds on the internet lately, and I finally decided to try them. I wondered what shapes would be best, and decided to throw a few different kinds I had together and see what would happen.
I do not like when you make lasagna and a little bit of the noodle gets crispy and burnt from not being fully covered in sauce. So I did not know if I would like these pasta chips, but it is a low-risk experiment. Pasta is inexpensive, and this recipe only calls for a half cup of pasta shapes.
The Best Pasta Shape for Air Fryer Pasta Chips
I tried three kinds at once, all of varying shapes. First was the farafalle, which is commonly seen on other air fryer pasta chips recipes. It has two wide ends good for scooping up the necessary pasta sauce. Next I tried trofie pasta, a 2" twisty stick shaped pasta. I figure the length would be good for dipping if nothing else. Third, I tried the tennis racquet shaped pasta from this post. It had two things going for it — a flat wider end, and a small end shaped like a handle for easier dipping. It's just tiny little paddles, after all!
Dipping Choices for Air Fryer Pasta Chips
- Marinara sauce
- Pesto
- Alfredo
- Barbecue sauce
I have the air fryer lid for the Instant Pot, and it is my air fryer of choice. It's easy to use and easy to make small amounts of food for one or two people.
Air Fryer Pasta Chips
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried pasta
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1-2 shakes red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese (shaker Parmesan works best here)
- Cooking spray (without soy lecithin preferred, see note)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to package directions, then drain.
- Mix the olive oil, seasonings, and cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl.
- Add the drained pasta and stir well to coat.
- Liberally spray the inside of the air fryer vessel with cooking spray.
- Add the oil coated pasta and spread into an even layer.
- Air fry at 350 F for 10 minutes. Stir well at the 5 minute mark, and continue cooking.
- Remove from air fryer and plate alongside your dipping sauce(s) of choice. Eat when it's cool enough to touch.
Why Soy Lecithin is Not Great for the Air Fryer
Have you ever sprayed a cookie sheet with PAM and found a difficult to remove, sticky residue collecting in the pan over its lifetime? That's soy lecithin, an addition to many cooking sprays. It's a "releasing agent" which is exactly what you want it to do in this situation. But you'll pay for it over time by getting the residue buildup it leaves behind. It's basically impossible to clean.
This is why I have started to look for cooking sprays without soy lecithin as an additive. It IS possible to find, and it does work as well as sprays with the add-in. One of my favorite's is Trader Joe's avocado oil spray. Just take a peek next time you reach for a cooking spray in the grocery store, if you're concerned about not gunking up your appliances and baking supplies!
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