Pasta Chips is a crazy Tiktok trend where cooked pasta is deep-fried (or air fried) until crispy and then tossed with savory seasonings. Serve these with a dipping sauce as a perfect appetizer.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes.
Drain the pasta.
Line a large baking tray with a dishcloth and spread the cooked pasta over it. Cover it with another dishcloth and press gently to absorb any extra moisture on the pasta. This is a very important step to get crispy chips.
Refrigerate the pasta for 3-4 hours.
If you are pressed with time, then spread the pasta on the baking sheet and freeze it for 15 minutes.
Make Pasta Chips
Deep Frying Method
In a wide skillet, pour about 2-3 cups of canola oil and heat over medium heat.
When oil is shimmering, add about 1 cup of cooked pasta to the pan.
Fry on medium heat until golden and crispy. Keep stirring while frying frequently.
Drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
Sprinkle some parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the fried pasta immediately and toss well.
Fry the remaining pasta in the same manner. Do not overcrowd the pan while frying otherwise the pasta will not turn crunchy.
Serve with any dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Method
Arrange the cooked pasta in the basket of an air fryer in a single layer. Spray with oil.
Air fry at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Shake the basket every 4 minutes for even browning.
Sprinkle some parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the fried pasta immediately and toss well.
Air fry the remaining pasta in the same manner. Serve hot with a dipping sauce.
Notes
If the pasta is sticking to each other, toss it with some flour and then fry. It will make your pasta crispy and crunchy.I make this snack using bowtie pasta as it looks super cute but you can use any pasta of your choice. Rigatoni, Penne are some other options. You can also use gluten-free or vegan pasta.