Air Fryer Pasta: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, but they can't cook everything. Pasta is a versatile dish with many variations in flavour combinations, shapes, and cooking techniques. So, can you cook pasta in an air fryer? The answer is yes, but it depends on the type of pasta dish. For example, you can make pasta chips, bake pasta, or cook macaroni and cheese. However, you cannot boil pasta in an air fryer, and certain recipes with wet batter or sauces are not suitable for air frying.

Air fryer pasta bake

Yes, you can cook pasta in an air fryer! It is a convenient, quick, and easy way to cook pasta. The air fryer method is versatile and can be used to cook various types of pasta dishes.

Ingredients

The beauty of this dish is that you can use your favourite pasta, sauce, and cheese. The type of pasta is up to you, but shapes that hold their sauce well include penne, rigatoni, elbow pasta, and shells. Flat shapes like bowtie pasta also work, and you can even use spaghetti. For a gluten-free option, lentil pasta is a great choice.

For the sauce, you can use store-bought or homemade. A simple tomato pasta sauce is a good option, or you can make a white sauce with bechamel or cream cheese. You can also add vegetables to your sauce, such as mushrooms, peppers, aubergine, or squash.

As for the cheese, cheddar is a popular choice, but you can also use mozzarella, red Leicester, parmesan, or vegan cheese.

Method

Start by cooking your pasta according to the package instructions. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce and any vegetables you wish to include. Heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the vegetables until soft. You can also add meat, such as ground turkey, to the skillet and season with salt and pepper.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and set it aside. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce and vegetables 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 in your air fryer. Top with shredded cheese and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling.

Tips

You can prepare this dish in advance and store it in the fridge or freezer before cooking. It is also a great dish to make with leftovers, and you can easily reheat it in the air fryer or oven until hot throughout.

If you want to cook the pasta in the air fryer without boiling it first, you will need to add water to the sauce to ensure the pasta cooks through. It is important to use a baking dish that fits inside your air fryer, and lining it with aluminium foil can help prevent mess and overcooking.

Get creative and experiment with different ingredients to make this dish your own!

No-boil pasta

Ingredients

You can use any type of pasta that fits conveniently into a baking dish. Some good options are penne, rigatoni, elbow pasta, shells, or spaghetti. You can also use gluten-free lentil pasta for a healthy, protein-rich meal.

For the sauce, you can use store-bought or homemade tomato pasta sauce. You can also add in vegetables such as mushrooms, peppers, aubergine, or squash. For a white sauce, you can use store-bought bechamel or make your own cheese sauce.

Other ingredients include:

• Butter
• Oil
• Chilli flakes
• Oregano seasoning
• Garlic
• Capsicum
• Raw pasta
• Red pasta sauce
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sugar
• Water
• Grated mozzarella cheese
• Basil leaves
• Aluminium foil

Method

First, add the butter, oil, chilli flakes, oregano seasoning, garlic, capsicum, mushroom, raw pasta, red pasta sauce, salt, pepper, and sugar to a 7-inch round pan and mix. Make sure the pan is air fryer-friendly.

Next, add water and mix lightly, ensuring the pasta is submerged under the water. Wrap the pan with aluminium foil, covering the base as well to secure it.

Bake at 180C for 45 minutes. Uncover the foil and mix well. If the pasta feels dry, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and mix again.

Finally, sprinkle cheese and chopped basil on top and bake at 200C for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese melts. Serve immediately, or cover with cling film and refrigerate.

Tips

You can prepare this pasta in advance and store it in the fridge or freezer before cooking. You can also cook the pasta until it is al dente, as it will continue to cook in the air fryer.

If you don't have an air fryer, you can make this recipe in an oven, but the cooking time will be longer.

You can also use the air fryer to make pasta chips by tossing precooked pasta in olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese, then cooking in the air fryer for 4 minutes at 375°F.

Air fryer pasta chips

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook pasta quickly and easily. While you can cook pasta in the traditional form in an air fryer, it may be more trouble than it's worth. However, you can make pasta chips, bake pasta, or fry individual pieces of pasta such as ravioli.

Firstly, cook your chosen pasta according to the package instructions to al dente. Drain the pasta and place it into a mixing bowl. Add your choice of oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Stir until well combined.

Next, add the pasta to the air fryer basket/tray in a single layer. Cook at 390 degrees F for 6 minutes. Open the air fryer, stir or shake the pasta, and cook for an additional 1-3 minutes until the pasta chips are golden and crispy.

Variations

You can experiment with different flavour variations by tossing the cooked pasta in herbs and spices before placing them in the air fryer. For example, you could use roasted red pepper and garlic seasoning instead of Italian seasoning.

Oven-Baked Pasta Chips

If you don't have an air fryer, you can also make pasta chips in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Follow the air fryer instructions, but bake the cooked pasta for 20-25 minutes before tossing it with the oil mixture and parmesan cheese.

Air fryer frozen pasta

Yes, you can cook frozen pasta in an air fryer. It is a convenient and quick way to cook pasta, with some recipes taking less time than boiling pasta in water.

One popular option is to cook frozen ravioli in an air fryer. This can be done by placing frozen ravioli in a single layer in the air fryer basket and brushing them with olive oil or vegetable oil. You can then cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket at least once during the cooking time. You can serve these ravioli with a dipping sauce such as marinara, pesto, or chili oil.

Another option is to cook frozen pasta chips in an air fryer. You can use leftover pasta or pre-cooked frozen pasta and add olive or avocado oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Cook this in the air fryer for 4 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for a crunchy and flavorful snack.

You can also cook frozen pasta bakes in an air fryer. To do this, combine raw pasta, pasta sauce, vegetables, and water in an oven-safe dish that fits inside your air fryer. You can use any type of pasta, but shapes that hold more sauce include penne, rigatoni, elbow pasta, and shells. Gluten-free pasta, such as lentil pasta, can also be used for a healthy and protein-rich option. Make sure the pasta is fully submerged in the water and sauce mixture before baking. You can also add a layer of foil on top of the baking dish to prevent the pasta from burning or overcooking. The cooking time will depend on the type of pasta and the amount you are cooking, but it will generally be faster than cooking in an oven.

Overall, cooking frozen pasta in an air fryer is a convenient and quick way to prepare a tasty meal or snack.

Air fryer pasta shapes

Yes, you can cook pasta in an air fryer! It is possible to cook pasta in its traditional form in an air fryer, although it may be more trouble than it's worth. However, there are many other ways to cook pasta in an air fryer, such as making pasta chips or a pasta bake.

For a pasta bake, you can use any pasta shape that fits conveniently into a baking dish. Shapes with crevices, such as penne, rigatoni, elbow pasta, or shells, are good options as they hold more sauce. Flat shapes like bowtie pasta can also be used. If you want to make spaghetti, you can use spaghetti instead of pasta shapes. Gluten-free pasta, such as lentil pasta, can be used for a healthy, high-protein meal.

To make a pasta bake, first cook the pasta until it is al dente, as it will continue to cook in the air fryer. Then, mix the pasta with your desired sauce and toppings. This can include vegetables, cheese, and seasoning. Popular sauces include tomato-based pasta sauces, bechamel sauce, or a mixture of cream cheese and red sauce. Popular cheese options include cheddar, mozzarella, red Leicester, and parmesan, although vegan cheese can also be used. Popular seasoning choices include Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.

Once you have mixed the pasta with your desired sauce and toppings, transfer it to a baking dish that fits inside your air fryer. Top the dish with grated cheese and place it in the air fryer basket. Cook at 180C or 360F for around 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden brown, and bubbling. The cook time may vary depending on the size of your dish and air fryer model.

If you want to make pasta chips, boil the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and toss it with olive oil, seasoning, and Parmesan cheese until evenly coated. You can also use other types of cheese and seasoning, such as garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Preheat the air fryer to 200C or 400F and place the coated pasta in the air fryer basket. Cook for around 10 minutes, tossing the pasta every few minutes, until it is golden brown and crispy.

Frequently asked questions