TikTok Pasta Chips Recipe

If you've ever scrolled through TikTok, then you know that lots of trends tend to be popularized on the video-sharing app. Among these trends are food-related ones, with someone posting a unique recipe or food hack. From there, the video will go viral with hundreds of thousands of people giving the recipe a try — and this pasta chips recipe does exactly that!

You may be wondering one key question: What are pasta chips? Essentially, pasta chips are air-fried pieces of cooked pasta, though they can also be cooked in an oven. The goal is to get a nice, crunchy piece of pasta that pairs wonderfully with tomato-based sauces and Parmesan cheese (you know, stuff that regular pasta also pairs well with).

If you've been wanting to hop on this trend, recipe developer Susan Olayinka from The Flexible Fridge has made it easy with her pasta chips recipe. With a few simple ingredients, you can make your own pasta chips, and you may find this crunchy snack to be even more delightful than traditional pasta! So, what are you waiting for? Grab your pasta and your air fryer, and give this easy TikTok food trend a try! 

To make your pasta chips, you'll notice that the ingredients are pretty similar to making pasta in a traditional way. Of course, you'll need the pasta itself, and Olayinka uses rigatoni to stay true to the trend's origins. You'll also need olive oil, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and a dipping sauce for your pasta chips. You can also get creative with your seasoning and use whatever sounds good to you. Some good options include paprika, cumin, dried oregano, dried dill, or cayenne powder for a little hint of spice.

This recipe also calls for a simple marinara dipping sauce, though Olayinka also notes that a Greek yogurt-based sauce with feta crumbles, hummus, garlic-onion dip, and barbecue sauce are all great dipping alternatives — whatever sounds best to you!

To get started on your pasta chips, you'll start by preparing pasta in a pretty familiar way. Follow the instructions on the pasta's packaging, which will involve boiling the pasta for a certain amount of time. Pasta cook-times can vary, though. Olayinka notes that you'll want to cook this pasta to be al-dente, and definitely don't undercook it. Otherwise, the pasta pieces will begin to rip and fall apart. Once your pasta gets to an al dente texture, go ahead and remove it from the heat and discard the water. Then, place your cooked pasta into a mixing bowl.

Now we're getting to the fun part: adding the seasoning! On its own, pasta has a pretty neutral flavor, which is why we typically eat it with sauce. For pasta chips, however, you'll want to add seasoning and Parmesan cheese to give it that savory, delicious flavor. In the mixing bowl with your cooked pasta, add in the olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Then, give all these ingredients a good stir, ensuring that each piece of pasta is evenly coated with your mixture. Since you'll be eating these pasta pieces individually as chips, it's important that each one has plenty of flavor from the seasoning — no one likes a bland pasta chip!

Once your pasta is nice and seasoned, you'll want to transfer it over to the air fryer. While you can cook these pasta chips in a 400-degree Fahrenheit oven for 20 to 25 minutes and get a similar result, an air fryer will help ensure that your pasta gets nice and crispy! Using a spoon, go ahead and begin moving the pasta from the mixing bowl onto the air fryer basket. Olayinka notes that it's crucial to keep the pasta in a single layer and to not overcrowd it in the air fryer. Otherwise, your pasta won't cook as evenly. So, once you've carefully organized your first batch of pasta into the air fryer, you can get ready to cook!

Cook your pasta in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, making sure to flip the pasta at the halfway point. You'll likely need to do several batches to ensure that you aren't overcrowding the air fryer. You'll know that your pasta chips are ready to go when they've hardened and browned slightly, like what's shown in the image. You can also test one of the chips to make sure it's at your desired crunch level. If it is, you're ready to enjoy your pasta chips!

Once you've cooked each batch of your pasta chips, your finally ready to enjoy one of TikTok's finest trends! Simply serve your pasta chips with marinara sauce (or whatever sauce you prefer!) and enjoy. You'll notice all the delightful goodness of pasta with an extra hint of flavor and crunch thanks to the seasoning.

If you have leftovers, you can easily store them in an airtight container for three to four days afterward. Thanks to its simplistic innovation, it's no wonder these pasta chips became a huge trend on TikTok — and now, thanks to this recipe, you can enjoy the trend with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.