Air Fryer Pasta Croutons (Printable)

Crunchy air fried pasta bites seasoned with herbs and cheese for a flavorful snack or salad topper.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 2 cups dried short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni), approximately 7 ounces

→ 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)

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It rescues pasta from the mediocre middle ground between al dente and soggy, giving it a whole new texture.
  • You can season it a dozen different ways depending on what's in your spice drawer that week.
  • It adds crunch to salads without the staleness that store-bought croutons sometimes carry.
  • The air fryer does all the work, so you're free to chop vegetables or stir a dressing while it crisps.
02 -
  • Skipping the drying step will leave you with chewy, half-cooked pasta instead of true crunch.
  • Overcrowding the basket traps steam and turns what should be crispy into limp, oily pieces.
  • Cooking times vary by air fryer model, so check at 10 minutes and add time in 1-minute increments if needed.
03 -
  • Choose pasta shapes with ridges or tubes, they crisp more evenly than smooth surfaces like spaghetti.
  • If you're dairy-free, nutritional yeast gives a cheesy flavor without the Parmesan.
  • Make a big batch on Sunday and use them all week to elevate quick weeknight salads.
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