Pasta Chip Nachos (Printable Copy)

Crispy air-fried pasta chips layered with taco-seasoned chicken, jalapeños, and melted cheese.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta Chips

01 - 225 g (8 oz) short pasta shapes (rigatoni, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - ½ tsp garlic powder
04 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
05 - ½ tsp salt

→ Taco Chicken

06 - 250 g (9 oz) boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - 2 tsp taco seasoning
09 - ¼ tsp salt

→ Toppings

10 - 100 g (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
12 - 50 g (¼ cup) sour cream (optional)
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
14 - 1 small tomato, diced (optional)
15 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped (optional)

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 2 minutes less than package instructions, then drain and pat dry thoroughly.
03 - Toss the cooked pasta with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt until evenly coated.
04 - Arrange pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air-fry for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crisp and golden. Transfer to a serving platter.
05 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, add diced chicken, taco seasoning, and salt, sautéing for 5 to 7 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned.
06 - Evenly scatter the cooked taco chicken over the pasta chips, then top with shredded cheddar cheese and jalapeño slices.
07 - Return the assembled dish to the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese has melted.
08 - Garnish with sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced tomato, and finely chopped red onion as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It uses leftover pasta you probably already have, so nothing goes to waste.
  • The crunch is addictive, way better than regular tortilla chips.
  • You can pile on whatever toppings you want, no rules.
  • It cooks fast and feels like a trick you invented yourself.
02 -
  • If the pasta isn't bone dry before air-frying, it will turn chewy instead of crispy, and you can't fix it after.
  • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or the pieces will steam and stick together instead of crisping up.
  • Cheese melts fast, so check it after 2 minutes or it might burn on the edges.
03 -
  • Use block cheese and shred it yourself for the meltiest, gooiest topping.
  • If your air fryer is small, cook the pasta chips in batches so they crisp evenly.
  • Try different pasta shapes—each one holds toppings a little differently and changes the whole experience.
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