Buzz
Pasta doesn’t just have to be savory – it can easily be transformed into a dessert. There are so many creative ways to turn this beloved carb into a delightful treat. One such way is to take rigatoni and turn it into a quick, four-ingredient snack that’s perfect for grazing in the afternoon or enjoying while watching your favorite TV show. (Don’t forget to turn on captions for that extra crispy sound effect.) Get your air fryers fired up and make these delicious, cinnamon-spiced pasta crisps for the next episode of The Mandalorian.
Air-fried pasta crisps have a texture that’s comparable to light breadsticks, with a crispness that can remind you of popcorn. Traditional Italian macaroni is typically made from durum wheat flour, water, and occasionally eggs. When you purchase dry pasta from the store, there’s no water inside, which gives it a long shelf life. Once you cook the pasta, the water causes the dough to expand and the starches to swell. At this stage, you can enjoy the pasta as-is, or if you’re feeling adventurous, coat it with butter, cinnamon, and sugar before air frying it to perfection.
The air fryer uses intense heat to quickly evaporate the water from the pasta dough, leaving behind air pockets that result in a light, crispy crunch. These little bites are so addictive, it’s hard to stop once you start. It’s the perfect snack for a Pedro Pascal marathon through the galaxy – he’d definitely approve! While you can air fry any pasta shape, I recommend using a more robust variety like rigatoni, ziti, penne, radiatori, or fusilli. Thin pasta tends to get burnt too easily in the air fryer.
Here’s the method: start by boiling a serving of pasta as usual. Add salt and/or sugar to the boiling water for extra flavor. Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and drain it. Return the pot to the still-warm burner, toss in a little butter, and let it melt. After that, add the pasta back into the pot and give it a good toss to coat with the butter. In a small bowl, mix cinnamon, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Using a slotted spoon or fork, transfer the pasta into the cinnamon mixture, leaving behind any extra butter. Toss the pasta until it’s thoroughly coated in the cinnamon-sugar blend. Place the noodles in a single layer in the air fryer, set it to 350°F on the air fry setting, and cook for 5 minutes. If it’s browned to your liking, remove it, or leave it in for another minute or two for a deeper golden crisp.
As the sugar coating melts, it turns into a rich caramel. Be sure to handle the pasta with care when transferring it to a cooling rack or parchment paper. I find that using metal tongs works best. The pasta may appear soft right out of the air fryer, but it will crisp up beautifully after cooling for five to ten minutes. You can use leftover pasta for this crispy treat, and feel free to experiment with different coatings like cocoa powder and sugar, or cardamom and sugar. If the pasta is hollow, you can fill it with jam, Nutella, peanut butter, or dulce de leche. These crisps are best eaten the same day, but they’ll stay fresh for a few days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Cinnamon Sugar Pasta Crisps
Ingredients:
20-30 rigatoni, penne, or any other sturdy pasta
1 teaspoon butter
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Nutella, dulce de leche, or other filling (optional)
Boil the pasta according to the package instructions. Set the air fryer to 350°F on the air fry setting.
In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Drain the pasta and return the pot to the still-warm burner. Melt the butter in the pot. Toss the drained pasta in the melted butter until it’s evenly coated. Add the buttered pasta to the sugar mixture, leaving behind any extra butter, and toss it to coat the pasta well.
Place the pasta in the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes. Let it cool before serving.
