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If you love the cozy comfort of stuffed pasta but want something lighter, faster, and just a touch rebellious, meet air fried vegetarian stuffed pasta. Think cheesy, herby, saucy ravioli or manicotti pockets that get a golden, slightly crisp exterior without deep frying. The result is decadent-feeling pasta that’s genuinely kinder to your waistline and your stovetop. It’s the kind of dish that convinces you veggies can be seductive.
Why air fry stuffed pasta?
Crisp exterior without drowning in oil: The air fryer gives you that crisp, toasted texture so commonly missing in baked stuffed pasta, and does it using far less oil than pan-frying or deep-frying.
Faster and cleaner than traditional baking: Air fryers heat fast and circulate hot air for even browning, so you get golden edges in less time and with less babysitting.
Perfect for portion control and batch flexibility: Make a few for a quick lunch, or double the recipe for a crowd-ready platter that reheats like a dream.
What you'll love about this version
Vegetarian, but satisfying: A creamy cheese and plant based sausage filling and a hit of Italian herb keeps things bright and umami-rich.
Pantry-flexible: Use store-bought wonton wrappers, fresh pasta sheets, or small squares of lasagna noodles — whatever you have on hand.
Versatile finishing options: Serve with marinara, pesto, alfredo, browned butter & sage, or a zippy lemon-herb yogurt. All equally glorious.
Flavor variations
Spicy Arrabbiata: Stir chopped roasted red peppers and a tablespoon of arrabbiata sauce into the filling. Serve with extra spicy marinara.
Four-Cheese Dream: Replace sausage with a mix of ricotta, mascarpone, shredded mozzarella, and Pecorino. Add fresh thyme for fragrance.
Mexican-Inspired: Use black beans, corn, and diced jalapeño.
Air Fried Stuffed Pasta
Think cheesy, herby, saucy ravioli or manicotti pockets that get a golden, slightly crisp exterior without deep frying.
Ingredients
- 8 Oz. Dry Paccheri (Ziti, or other stuffable pasta.), Cooked & Cooled
- 7 Oz.Uncooked Plant-Based Sausage Links, Removed from Casing
- 3/4 C. Fresh Parmesan (Or other Italian cheese.)
- 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
- 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
- 2 Whole Large Eggs, Whisked
- 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs
- 1/4 C. Fresh Grated Parmesan
- 2 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
- Salt & Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Allow the cooked Paccheri (or Ziti) pasta to dry.
- In a medium owl, mix together the Plant-Based Sausage, 3/4 C. Fresh Parmesan, 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste, and 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning with Salt & Pepper.
- Transfer the plant-based sausage mixture to a ziplock bag, seal it up and cut the tip off one corner.
- Fill the pasta with the sausage and cheese mixture, set aside once done.
- Set up a dredging station with the 2 Whisked Whole Large Eggs in one bowl.
- Mix the 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs, 1/4 C. Fresh Grated Parmesan, 2 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning, and Salt & Pepper to Taste in another bowl or plate.
- Take each of the filled pasta pieces one a time, and dip them in the egg first and then toss in the bread crumb mixture to coat; set aside on a wire rack or the basket of the air fryer.
- Once all are breaded, give them a light spritz of non-stick cooking spray. Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees for # minutes, flipping the pasta over halfway through the cooking time.
- When done, remove from the air fryer and enjoy right away with your choice of dippers and sides!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
363Fat (grams)
15 gSat. Fat (grams)
6 gCarbs (grams)
38 gFiber (grams)
3 gNet carbs
35 gSugar (grams)
2 gProtein (grams)
19 gSodium (milligrams)
623 mgCholesterol (grams)
90 mgNutritional Claims: Sugar Conscious • Vegetarian • Peanut Free • Tree Nut Free • Fish Free • Shellfish Free • Pork Free • Red Meat Free • Crustacean Free • Celery Free • Mustard Free • Sesame Free • Lupine Free • Mollusk Free • Alcohol Free • Sulphite Free • Kosher • Dairy Free Aged
Step-by-Step Photos:
