Air Fryer Pasta Gnocchi (Printable)

Crunchy air fried pasta shells seasoned with herbs for a golden, crispy bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz medium pasta shells (conchiglie)

→ Oil & Seasonings

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, or thyme)
06 - 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
07 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional for Serving

08 - 1 oz grated Parmesan cheese
09 - Fresh parsley, chopped
10 - Marinara sauce for dipping

# How to make it:

01 - Boil salted water in a large pot and cook pasta shells according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
02 - Place cooled pasta shells in a large mixing bowl; toss with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried Italian herbs, sea salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and preheat for 3 minutes.
04 - Place pasta shells in a single, even layer inside the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
05 - Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until shells are golden brown and crisp.
06 - Transfer crispy pasta shells to a serving bowl. While warm, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're ridiculously crispy on the outside while staying tender enough inside, and you'll want to eat them by the handful.
  • Your air fryer finally has a job beyond reheating last night's dinner, and this proves it can do something genuinely fun.
  • No guilt snacking—it's just pasta, oil, and seasonings, so you can serve it without overthinking.
02 -
  • If you skip the paper towel step and don't dry the pasta thoroughly, you'll end up with steamed shells instead of crispy ones—trust me, I learned this the hard way on my first attempt.
  • Cooking the pasta only to al dente is non-negotiable; overcooked pasta will never crisp properly, no matter how long you air fry it or how hot you go.
03 -
  • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket; the shells need breathing room to develop that gorgeous, even golden color without turning spotty or steaming.
  • If your pasta shells are still slightly warm when you season and air fry them, knock a minute off the total cooking time because they'll crisp faster than completely cool pasta.
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