Pasta Chip Nachos (Printable)

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

# What You Need:

→ Pasta Chips

01 - 225 g (8 oz) short pasta shapes (rigatoni, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil
03 - 0.5 g (½ tsp) garlic powder
04 - 0.5 g (½ tsp) smoked paprika
05 - 0.5 g (½ tsp) salt

→ Taco Chicken

06 - 250 g (9 oz) boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
07 - 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil
08 - 6 g (2 tsp) taco seasoning
09 - 0.25 g (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

# Directions:

01 - Set the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) and allow it to preheat.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water until 2 minutes shy of package instructions, then drain and pat dry thoroughly.
03 - Toss drained 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, 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. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned.
06 - Evenly scatter cooked taco chicken over the pasta chips. Top with shredded cheddar and jalapeño slices.
07 - Return the assembled nachos to the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese has melted.
08 - Add sour cream, cilantro, diced tomato, and finely chopped red onion as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta gets ridiculously crispy in the air fryer, like a chip that actually holds up under toppings.
  • It uses pantry staples you probably already have, no special trip to the store needed.
  • Everyone gets confused and then completely hooked after the first bite.
02 -
  • Drying the pasta completely after boiling is the single most important step, I skipped it once and ended up with soggy chips that tasted like disappointment.
  • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or the pasta will steam instead of crisp, work in batches if you need to.
  • Use a platter that fits back into your air fryer for the final melt, or transfer everything to an oven-safe dish and broil for 2 minutes instead.
03 -
  • Pat the pasta so dry it feels almost chalky before you toss it with oil, that's the secret to maximum crunch.
  • Shake the air fryer basket hard halfway through cooking, it keeps the pieces from sticking and ensures even browning on all sides.
  • Let the nachos rest for 30 seconds after the final melt so the cheese sets just enough to hold the toppings without sliding off.
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