Air Fryer Lasagna Nachos (Crispy Pasta Chips With Melted Cheese)
Air fryer lasagna nachos are what happens when I want something crunchy, cheesy, and delish. This fun recipe is so easy, and you can prep it ahead. Check out my shortcuts to this fun and tasty snack that’s totally shareable!
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I make these when I want the flavor of a baked pasta dish without babysitting the oven, and they hold up fine as a stand-alone snack or a starter before something bigger. Just keep your eye on the air fryer and work in batches if you need to, becuase these “chips” will burn quickly.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Air Fryer Lasagna Nachos
Most people treat lasagna noodles like they only have one job. Boil, layer, bake, done. Cutting them into chips and running them through the air fryer is a different use of the same noodle, and it only works if you respect one detail: moisture is the enemy of crisp.
Wet noodles steam in the air fryer instead of crisping, no matter how hot you run it. Pat them dry, give them real space in the basket, and you get something closer to a pasta chip than a soggy noodle with toppings on it. That’s the whole trick, and it’s the difference between this working and not. Don’t even ask me how many batches I made before I figured out that patting the noods dry first was the magic to this recipe!
What You’ll Love About Air Fryer Lasagna Nachos
- I use lasagna noodles instead of tortilla chips here on purpose. The noodle holds its shape and gives you something sturdier to load up with sauce and cheese than a chip ever could.
- This is such a fun twist on nachos. If you’re tired of your same old nacho routine, give these a try!
- Add ground beef, sausage, or pepperoni if you want it heartier, or leave it as is for a lighter version. Either way, it comes out of the air fryer in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- Lasagna noodles – Regular, not no-boil. No-boil noodles won’t hold up to being cut into chip shapes after boiling. I tested this with both kinds of noodles and trust me, take the extra step to boil the noodles.
- Olive oil – Any neutral or light-flavored oil works. It’s there to help the noodles crisp, not for flavor.
- Marinara sauce – Use whatever jarred sauce you like, or homemade if you have it on hand.
- Mozzarella cheese – Shredded, not fresh. Fresh mozzarella has too much moisture and will make the chips soggy.
- Ricotta cheese – Full fat works best. Part-skim is fine if that’s what you have.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated melts better than the pre-shredded kind.
- Italian seasoning – Any Italian herb blend works if you don’t have this exact one on hand.
- Ground beef, Italian sausage, or pepperoni – Optional. Cook and crumble first if using beef or sausage.
- Fresh basil or parsley – Optional garnish. Skip it if you don’t have either on hand.
How to Make Air Fryer Lasagna Nachos
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Boil the lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente, following the package directions. Drain them and pat them completely dry with paper towels. This step matters more than it looks like it does, since any leftover moisture steams the noodles instead of letting them crisp.
Cut each noodle into rough triangles or chip-shaped pieces with kitchen shears or a knife. Toss the pieces with olive oil until they’re lightly and evenly coated.
Arrange the noodle pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if your basket is small. Crowding them means steaming instead of crisping, and that defeats the point.
Air fry at 375°F for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket once partway through, until the edges are crisp and lightly golden.
Top the crispy noodles with spoonfuls of marinara sauce, dollops of ricotta, the shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning. If you’re using ground beef, sausage, or pepperoni, add it now.
Air fry again at 375°F for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve right away, while the noodles are still crisp.
Make It A Meal
I serve these as a starter before something more substantial, or as part of a spread when people are grazing. Try my Best Ever Giant Meatballs alongside if you want a real main dish on the table, or keep it Italian-leaning with a Tomato Bruschetta Board for more finger food.
For a party spread, I’ll put these out next to Smoked Garlic Parmesan Wings and an Italian Broccoli Salad to round things out with something fresh.
Storage
These are best eaten right away, since the noodles lose their crisp within an hour or two. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes to bring some crispness back. Skip the microwave, it turns the noodles soft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! You can use farfalle (bowties), pappardelle, or any other flat noodle. Penne and other round noodles will be hard to chew.
A standard air fryer basket works fine. Just keep the noodle pieces in a single layer, and work in batches if your basket is on the smaller side.
You can boil, dry, and cut the noodles a few hours ahead and store them covered in the fridge. Toast them in the air fryer for a minute if they lose some crisp , then top them just before serving for the best crisp.
Air Fryer Lasagna Nachos
Ingredients
- 8 lasagna noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ pound ground beef Italian sausage, or pepperoni, cooked and crumbled (optional)
- fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the lasagna noodles in salted water until al dente, according to package directions.
- Drain the noodles and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels.
- Cut each noodle into rough triangle or chip-shaped pieces using kitchen shears or a knife.
- Toss the noodle pieces with the olive oil until lightly coated.
- Arrange the noodle pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 375°F for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket once, until the edges are crisp and lightly golden.
- Top the crispy noodles with spoonfuls of marinara sauce, dollops of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Add cooked meat here if using.
- Air fry for an additional 3 to 5 minutes at 375°F until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Video
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Pat the noodles completely dry before tossing with oil. Any leftover moisture steams them instead of letting them crisp.
- Give the noodle pieces real space in the basket. Crowding them steams the batch instead of crisping it, so work in batches if your basket runs small.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.