Baked Pasta Fries -- A recipe for pasta chips made healthy by baking them in the oven, and using Banza to make this addicting appetizer for pasta lovers gluten-free, vegan, and protein-packed!

I received free samples of Banza mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Banza and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time. Thanks for supporting the partners that keep Sinful Nutrition running!
Fries before guys. Hoes before bros. Pasta before brasta.
I can honestly say, sitting down to a giant bowl of pasta is not my idea of a good time. Sitting down to a plate of crispy pasta chips dipped in warm marinara is more my style. In the realm of being honest, my pasta-inhaling boyfriend thought I was CRAY when I told him the idea of pasta fries. I'll take that as a challenge.
What makes these pasta fries delicious & healthy
- Banza penne pasta
- ground flax seed
- water
- gluten-free breadcrumbs
- Italian seasoning
- salt
- garlic powder
- marinara sauce (for dipping)
How to make these pasta fries
Start by cooking a little over 1 cup of Banza penne pasta (or regular pasta if preferred) according to package instructions. This should yield about 2 cups of cooked pasta. Let pasta cool completely. While pasta is cooling, preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C and place a wire cooling rack into a rimmed baking sheet. With a fork, combine 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed with 6 tablespoons of water in a small bowl, and let sit. This will make the flax 'egg' to help the breading stick.
On a shallow plate, stir together ½ cup of gluten-free breadcrumbs, (or panko breadcrumbs if not strictly gluten-free) 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Use a fork to dip the pasta into the flax mixture, and then move to breadcrumb mixture to coat. Transfer to prepared baked sheet/wire rack, and bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce.

Pro Tips:
- Whichever pasta you use (regular or chickpea) make sure they are cooked a little passed al dente (about 10 minutes) when you boil the noodles. Since they get a crunchy coating, having the soft interior makes them so much better.
- If you're not strictly gluten-free or vegan, you can use regular Italian breadcrumbs or panko, and 2 beaten eggs instead of the flax.
- These are best served immediately, and don't keep well once they cool down. Just like the fries you know and love.
FAQs
Can I use regular pasta for these pasta chips?
Yes, you can use white or whole wheat penne to make these, but I actually prefer the Banza version!
How long do these keep for?
They really are best served and enjoyed immediately, but they can be kept for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. I would recommend reheating in the oven to achieve a crispy texture.
more pasta recipes:
Vegan Mac and Cheese (Cashew-Free!)
Balsamic Pasta Salad with Tofu
Dairy-Free Penne Vodka
Did you make this recipe? Leave me a comment and a rating to let me know how they came out!

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Baked Pasta Fries
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Baked Pasta Fries -- A recipe for pasta chips made healthy by baking them in the oven, and using Banza to make this addicting appetizer for pasta lovers gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian ,and protein-packed!Â
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked Banza penne pasta*
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seed**
- 6 tablespoons water
- ½ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs***
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- marinara sauce, pesto, or alfredo for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with a wire cooling rack.
- In a small bowl, combine the flax and water together. Set aside.
- Stir together breadcrumbs, italian seasoning, salt, and garlic powder on a shallow plate.
- Using a fork, dip cooked pasta noodles in flax mixture to coat.
- Transfer to breadcrumbs and toss to coat.
- Add noodles to prepared baking sheet, and repeat process with remaining pasta.
- Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until pasta is crispy and browned.
- Serve immediately with preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
*can also use white or whole wheat penne.
**can use 1 large egg instead.
***can use panko or regular breadcrumbs if not strictly gluten-free.
nutrition information is estimated, and may not bee 100% accurate.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ recipe (no sauce)
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 177
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 0
Make it a great day!
What's your favorite type of fry?
If you had to pick ONE noodle shape, what would it be?









GiGi Eats
OHH I am loving this idea. LOVING IT. And it's just SO UNIQUE!!!! Your brain is awesome LOL!
Abbey Sharp
Ooh this is such a fun app! They look super addictive 🙂
Becca Menke
What a cool idea!!
Deborah Brooks
How creative! These look fabulous I never would have thought of baking them this way
Elysia
This is such a creative idea! I was definitely intrigued as soon as I saw the title of the post!
David Berger
Good idea. I Love pasta. And i always try to make different types dishes from it. I like your Idea and it also look yummy. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Catherine Brown
HA! How funky are these... what an awesome idea! We love the chickpea pastas, so definitely need to try this!
Kathryn Pfeffer
Emily, this is genius! Great idea for the addition of flaxseed meal!
Amanda
Just when I thought pasta couldn't get any better, this is such a creative little twist! I love Banza pasta and fries, so this is just the best of both worlds.
Nicole from Fitful Focus
yesssss I have all these ingredients! Definitely going to make these happen.
Sarah Remmer
Ooo yum! Anything with "baked" and "pasta" and I'm sold!
Katey Davidson, MSc, RD
This is such a great idea! 🙂
Chelsey
I love this idea so much - So creative!
Elissa
Awesome idea! And "uteruses before duderuses".....HAHA!