Crispy Air Fryer Pasta (Printable Page)

Golden, crisp pasta pieces made with fragrant spices, perfect for topping salads or enjoying as a savory snack.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 2 cups dried short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Seasoning

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

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes less than package instructions for al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking.
02 - Pat pasta thoroughly dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
03 - In a large bowl, toss pasta with olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese if using, ensuring even coating.
04 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
05 - Place seasoned pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket; work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
06 - Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until pasta is golden brown and crisp.
07 - Allow pasta croutons to cool completely before serving as a salad topping or snack.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're crunchy in a way store-bought croutons can only dream of, and you control every flavor note.
  • Takes less than 25 minutes from start to finish, and most of that is just air frying while you do something else.
  • A sneaky way to use up half boxes of pasta and transform ordinary salads or soups into something memorable.
02 -
  • Undercooking the pasta is non-negotiable—boil it 2 minutes short of al dente or it'll turn to dust in the air fryer.
  • Moisture is the culprit behind chewy pasta croutons; drying it well separates success from disappointment.
  • Shaking the basket halfway through prevents hot spots and ensures everything browns evenly.
03 -
  • Invest 30 seconds in really drying the pasta—it's the one thing that separates crispy croutons from chewy disappointment.
  • Shake the basket at the halfway point; it's the difference between golden and burned, and it takes just a moment.
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