Pasta Chips Nachos Delight (Printable)

Golden baked pasta chips topped with cheeses, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lime sauce for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta Chips

01 - 9 oz rigatoni or penne pasta
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp salt
06 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Cheese & Toppings

07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1 medium tomato, diced
10 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
11 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
12 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
13 - 1 small avocado, diced

→ Zesty Sauce

14 - 1/2 cup sour cream
15 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
16 - Juice of 1/2 lime
17 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel.
03 - Toss pasta with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
04 - Arrange pasta in a single layer on the prepared sheet. Bake for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
05 - Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
06 - On an oven-safe platter or skillet, layer half the baked pasta chips and sprinkle with half the cheese. Top with remaining chips and cheeses.
07 - Return to the oven for 3–5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Top with diced tomato, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and avocado. Drizzle generously with the zesty sauce. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually just roasted some pasta and threw toppings on it.
  • It's the rare appetizer that's equally good for lazy weeknights and dinner parties because it adapts to whatever you have in your fridge.
  • That contrast between the crispy pasta and cool fresh toppings feels indulgent but is actually pretty light.
02 -
  • Don't skip the initial pasta cooking—undercooked pasta will stay chewy instead of getting crispy, and overcooked pasta will turn to mush when it hits the oven a second time.
  • Pat the pasta dry after draining; any water clinging to it creates steam that prevents crisping, so take an extra 30 seconds with a clean towel.
  • Add your fresh toppings right before serving, not before they go back in the oven, or you'll end up with wilted cilantro and warm avocado, which defeats the whole point.
03 -
  • If you have an air fryer, use it for the pasta chips at 200°C for 12 to 15 minutes—they get even crispier and you free up your oven for other things.
  • Make the sauce ahead and let it sit in the fridge for an hour so the flavors have time to meld and become deeper and more balanced.
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