Air Fryer Pasta: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, but they can't cook everything. While they're great for frying foods without using a lot of oil, they're not designed for boiling or steaming. So, can you cook dry pasta in an air fryer? The short answer is yes, but it's a bit more complicated than that. You can't simply boil dry pasta in an air fryer, but there are ways to cook pasta in an air fryer without boiling it first.

Can you cook dry pasta in an air fryer?

Air fryer pasta bake

Air fryers are a great way to cook a delicious and comforting pasta bake in a fraction of the time it would take in an oven. This recipe is easy to adapt to suit your tastes and dietary needs, and it's perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

The great thing about an air fryer pasta bake is that you can use any type of pasta you like. Penne, rigatoni, elbow pasta, shells, spaghetti, or gluten-free lentil pasta are all great options. For the sauce, you can use store-bought or homemade tomato pasta sauce, white sauce, or a mixture of cream cheese and red sauce. You'll also need cheese—cheddar, mozzarella, or a mixture of both. Other ingredients include butter, oil, chilli flakes, oregano, garlic, capsicum, mushrooms, salt, pepper, and sugar.

Method

First, cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. In a separate pan, heat some oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, bell peppers, and any other vegetables you like, such as mushrooms, garlic, squash, or spinach. Cook until soft. Then, add in your choice of protein—ground turkey, chicken, or bacon work well. Season with salt and pepper and cook until browned.

Next, stir in the pasta sauce and cooked pasta and toss to coat. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Transfer the pasta mixture to an oven-proof baking dish that fits inside your air fryer. Top with shredded cheese and season with salt and pepper. Cook in the air fryer for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling.

Tips

If you're making a large batch, you can freeze the cooked pasta bake and reheat it directly from frozen in the air fryer or oven. It's also important to note that air fryers cook much faster than ovens, so adjust your cooking time accordingly. If you're using raw pasta, be sure to add enough water to the sauce to ensure the pasta cooks through. You can also add a few tablespoons of water to the pasta if it feels dry after baking.

Enjoy your air fryer pasta bake!

No-boil method

Yes, you can cook dry pasta in an air fryer without boiling it first. This is a quick, easy, and delicious way to cook pasta.

To make no-boil air fryer pasta, you will need a baking dish that fits inside your air fryer. First, add butter, oil, chilli flakes, oregano seasoning, garlic, capsicum, mushroom, raw pasta, red pasta sauce, salt, pepper, and sugar to your baking dish and mix. Before baking, make sure that the pasta is fully submerged in the water-sauce mixture.

Then, place the uncovered dish in the air fryer basket and let the pasta cook for 18-20 minutes at 390°F. Open the basket and stir the pasta mix at the 10-minute mark before closing it and continuing to cook. You can start checking at the 18-minute mark to see if the pasta is tender.

Take the dish out of the air fryer and let it stand for 3-5 minutes to thicken before stirring and serving. If the pasta feels dry, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix. You can adjust it according to your preference. Finally, sprinkle cheese and chopped basil on top and bake at 200C for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese melts. Serve immediately.

If you want to store the pasta for later, wrap the dish with cling film and refrigerate. When it’s time to serve, bring the dish back to room temperature and melt the cheese with a final bake.

Using raw pasta

Yes, you can cook raw pasta in an air fryer. However, it is important to note that air fryers are not designed for boiling or steaming foods, and you will need to add water to the sauce to ensure the pasta is fully cooked.

To cook raw pasta in an air fryer, you can follow these steps:

• Use a baking dish that fits inside your air fryer. It is recommended to line the base of the baking dish with aluminium foil to prevent the pasta from burning or overcooking.
• Combine raw pasta, water, sauce, and any desired ingredients such as butter, oil, chilli flakes, oregano, garlic, vegetables, or meat in the baking dish. Make sure the pasta is fully submerged in the water-sauce mixture.
• Place the uncovered dish in the air fryer basket and set the temperature and time according to your specific air fryer model and the desired doneness of the pasta. As a reference, one source recommends cooking pasta at 390°F for 18-20 minutes, stirring at the 10-minute mark and checking for doneness at the 18-minute mark.
• If the pasta feels dry during cooking, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix.
• Once the pasta is cooked to your desired doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it stand for 3-5 minutes to thicken before stirring and serving.

It is important to note that the baking time may vary depending on the shape of the pasta and the specific model of your air fryer. Additionally, if you prefer a softer texture to your pasta, you can undercook the pasta by 2-3 minutes according to the package instructions before using it in a pasta bake.

Adding water

While it is not recommended to boil dry pasta in an air fryer, you can cook dry pasta in an air fryer by adding water to the sauce. This method is known as a "no-boil" method, where the pasta is cooked in the sauce and water mixture in the air fryer itself, eliminating the need for pre-boiling.

To use this method, combine water, milk, and butter in an air fryer-safe dish. You can also add other ingredients like chilli flakes, oregano seasoning, garlic, and mushroom, along with your choice of pasta sauce. Mix in the raw pasta so that it is fully submerged in the water-sauce mixture. The amount of water added will depend on your preference and the recipe you are following.

Place the uncovered dish in the air fryer basket and cook for 18-20 minutes at 390°F. Remember to open the basket and stir the pasta at the 10-minute mark. You can then check at the 18-minute mark to see if the pasta is tender. If the pasta feels dry, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix before baking again.

It is important to note that the baking time may vary depending on the shape of the pasta, and you should ensure that your pasta dish fits comfortably inside your air fryer.

Baking time

Yes, you can cook dry pasta in an air fryer. The baking time varies depending on the type of pasta and the recipe you are following.

If you are making pasta chips, cook the pasta in boiling salted water, drain it, and then toss it with olive oil and seasonings. Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, tossing the pasta every few minutes, until it is golden brown and crispy.

If you are making a pasta bake, you can use dry pasta, but it is recommended to undercook it by 2-3 minutes according to the package instructions before adding it to the bake. The baking time for the pasta bake will depend on the recipe you are following and the desired texture of the pasta. Some recipes suggest baking the pasta for 7-9 minutes, while others suggest 18-20 minutes. If you are using a recipe that requires boiling the pasta, remember that you cannot boil water in an air fryer.

If you are making a no-boil pasta bake, the baking time will depend on the shape of the pasta. The water added to the sauce will cook the pasta, so the baking time should be long enough to ensure the pasta is fully cooked through. One recipe suggests baking at 160°C (320°F) for 8 minutes, then at 200°C for 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Another recipe suggests baking at 390°F for 18-20 minutes, checking at the 18-minute mark to see if the pasta is tender.

It is important to note that air fryers cook much faster than ovens, so the baking time may vary depending on the appliance you are using.

Frequently asked questions