Air Fryer Pasta Crack Snack (Printable Version)

Crispy air-fried pasta tossed in a sweet cinnamon sugar blend for a festive crunchy snack.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta

→ For Frying

02 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil (canola or sunflower)

→ Cinnamon Sugar Mix

03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt

→ Finishing

06 - 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter

# Preparation steps:

01 - Boil bowtie pasta in salted water for 7 to 8 minutes until just al dente. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
02 - Toss the cooked pasta with vegetable oil until evenly coated.
03 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
04 - Arrange pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket in batches. Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
05 - Combine granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt in a wide bowl.
06 - Transfer crispy pasta to a large bowl and immediately drizzle with melted butter. Toss to coat evenly.
07 - While still warm, sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over pasta and toss until well coated.
08 - Allow pasta to cool completely for maximum crunch before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of snack that tastes like you spent hours on it, but takes less time than a TV episode.
  • The contrast of crispy pasta with sweet cinnamon sugar and butter hits all the cravings at once.
  • Makes an impressive edible gift that costs pennies and feels like something fancy.
02 -
  • Moisture is the enemy—if your pasta isn't dry or your air fryer basket is crowded, you'll get chewy pasta instead of crispy, so don't skip the patting step or overcrowd batches.
  • The timing matters: butter while the pasta is hot so the sugar sticks, but don't toss immediately after removing from the air fryer or you'll burn your hands and the outside of your wrists like I did the first time.
03 -
  • Don't listen to the little voice that says you need to cook the pasta longer than 8 minutes—al dente is non-negotiable if you want that shatter-in-your-mouth crispness.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, you can prepare the pasta through the air frying step hours ahead, then toss with butter and cinnamon sugar just before serving to ensure maximum crunch.
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