Pasta Chips Nachos Twist (Print Version)

Golden baked pasta chips with melted cheese, fresh veggies, and a tangy sauce, perfect for easy sharing.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente, approximately 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 - Spread pasta in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp. Let 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 cheeses. Add remaining chips and top with remaining cheese.
07 - Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes until cheeses are melted and bubbly.
08 - Top with diced tomato, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and avocado. Drizzle with zesty sauce and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The pasta gets shatteringly crisp in a way that feels indulgent but comes together in under 45 minutes.
  • It's that rare appetizer that actually looks impressive without requiring fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake it fresh right when guests arrive, so you're not stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the pasta after draining—any water clinging to it will create steam pockets and ruin your crispness.
  • The cheese melts so quickly that you need to watch it like a hawk during that final bake; thirty seconds too long and you'll have brown spots instead of bubbly perfection.
03 -
  • Make the sauce and chop your vegetables ahead of time—the pasta chips are the only thing that needs to happen fresh, so you can actually relax when people arrive.
  • If you're feeding a crowd, assemble everything on a large wooden board instead of a platter; it looks even more inviting and people can graze naturally.
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