Air Fryer Bowtie Pasta Snack (Printable version)

Crispy bowtie pasta tossed in sweet cinnamon sugar for a festive, salty-sweet snack.

# What you need:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil bowtie pasta in salted water for 7 to 8 minutes until al dente. Drain and pat dry with paper towels to remove moisture.
02 - Coat the drained pasta evenly with vegetable oil.
03 - Set air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 3 minutes.
04 - Place pasta in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and crisp.
05 - Combine granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt in a bowl.
06 - Transfer crispy pasta to a large bowl, immediately drizzle with melted butter, and toss thoroughly.
07 - While warm, sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over pasta and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Allow to cool completely for maximum crunch before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's dangerously crunchy and stays that way for days, unlike most homemade snack mixes.
  • Takes just 25 minutes from start to finish, perfect for last-minute entertaining.
  • The air fryer does all the work while you prep your other dishes.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the pasta after draining; wet pasta will steam instead of crisp, and you'll end up with chewy disappointment.
  • The warm-to-cool transition is what creates that shatteringly crisp texture, so resist the urge to eat it straight from the air fryer.
03 -
  • Shake the air fryer basket firmly halfway through cooking to ensure every piece browns evenly and crisps fully.
  • If you have multiple pasta pieces stick together during cooking, break them apart gently while they're still warm, which is much easier than waiting until they're cool and brittle.
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