Air Fryer Pasta Croutons (Printable Version)

Golden, flavorful pasta pieces air fried to a crispy crunch, ideal for salad or snacking.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ 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)

# Preparation Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns pantry staples into something totally unexpected and ridiculously crunchy.
  • You can flavor them however you want, mild or spicy, cheesy or herb-heavy.
  • They stay crisp for days and make any boring salad feel like a restaurant dish.
02 -
  • Drying the pasta thoroughly is the single most important step, skip it and they'll turn out soggy and disappointing.
  • Don't skip the shake halfway through, it's the difference between evenly crisped pieces and some that are burnt while others stay soft.
03 -
  • If your air fryer runs hot, check them at 9 minutes to avoid burning, every model is a little different.
  • Making a big batch means you can keep them on hand all week, they're the easiest way to make any meal feel more interesting.
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