Air Fryer Pita Chips
This air fryer pita chips recipe is so easy! Don’t buy them when you can make them! Not only is this recipe a nice way to use up extra pita bread, but when you make your own you can season them however you want. These air fryer pita chips are a tasty alternative to a potato chip and they’re great with most any dip. Oven Instructions are included just in case you don’t have an air fryer!
Air Fried Pita Chips
Those of you who have been following me for a while may notice that this recipe doesn’t contain any fresh produce (LOL), which is a big focus of the blog. However, I also focus quite a bit on making what you can yourself rather than buying it pre-made.
For many years I bought pita chips at the grocery store like most of us do. Once I got an air fryer I decided to experiment with making pita chips. Boy am I glad I did! I love the fact that the air fryer makes it so quick and easy to make homemade snacks that are healthier and contain little oil.
Personally, I am not one for potato chips so pita chips are my usual go to when I want something for dipping. My kids love these too!
Also, because I can’t seem to do anything without doing it a little differently or adding a twist (haha) I have seasoned these with Sumac (more on Sumac below).
What is Sumac?
To season these I decided to use salt of course, but I wanted these chips to bring their own flavor into the mix. I thought Sumac would be nice here, and I think you will too! Its tart lemony note has a really nice flavor.
Sumac is a Middle Eastern spice made from the berries of the Sumac bush. The berries are dried and ground into a powder.
The flavor of Sumac is very similar to lemon. It has a tart citrusy flavor with a slight floral note. It adds a nice bite to the chips that holds up well to dips, without canceling out the flavors of the dip you are serving them with.
If you don’t have Sumac, seasoning these with a little garlic powder in addition to the salt would be fine. It will of course not have the same flavor as the sumac but it will add a bit more punch than just salt.
Other Seasonings For Air Fryer Pita Chips
A classic salt and pepper combo would also be nice here, or some onion powder. The seasoning possibilities really are endless depending on the flavor profile you are looking for. Here are a few suggestions:
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Tajin Seasoning
- Paprika
- Chili Powder and Cumin
- Jalapeno Powder
- Dried Rosemary
- Dried Basil
- Dried Parsley
- Curry powder
- Turmeric
- Garlic powder
You are certainly not limited to the suggestions listed here. Let your imagination be your guide if you want to come up with your own combination.
While I typically use fresh herbs in my recipes, this is one instance where dried herbs are the way to go. The air fryer is essentially going to dry out the herbs anyway, so using fresh really won’t make a difference here.
What You Need To Make Air Fryer Pita Chips
You just need a few simple things!
- Pita
- Oil
- Salt
- Sumac (or other seasoning)
As far as the type of pita that is best for this recipe, I recommend the flatbread type of pita, NOT the kind with the built-in pocket.
Pita with a built-in pocket will cause some burned chips, because when you cut up the pita some pieces will be really thin. This is because pocket style pitas always have a side of the pocket that is really thin in comparison to the other side.
A flatbread style pita ensures evenly cooked chips.
I have not tested this recipe with a gluten free or vegan pita, but I am sure this recipe would turn out fine if you need to use either of those. If you tried this recipe with one of those, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you!
Equipment Needed For This Recipe
Obviously you will need an air fryer. I was a bit of a late adopter in buying one, and I am glad I have it. Not only can you fry things with very little oil, but I have found it doesn’t heat up my house on a warm day the way my oven can.
The only other equipment you will need is a knife to cut the pita, a bowl to put the pita chips in to toss them in oil, and a spoon or rubber scraper to stir the oil and pita chips together. That’s it!
How To Make Air Fryer Pita Chips
n just a few easy steps, you will have crunchy pita chips in almost no time!
- Cut up your pita bread
- Toss with oil and seasonings
- Put pita in the preheated air fryer
- Enjoy with your favorite dip!
That is of course a really basic overview of how these are made. For more detailed instructions be sure to see the recipe card!
How To Make Pita Chips In The Oven
Even though this is an air fryer recipe, I am including oven instructions because I know many of you reading this may not have an air fryer. Even in your oven, these are really easy to make!
Please refer to the recipe card below for full oven instructions.
Air Fryer Pita Chip Recipe FAQ
Oh yes. They are great on their own, especially if you season them nicely!
They are certainly better for you than deep fried pita chips, because much less oil is used to make them, meaning fewer calories and less fat.
I used Olive oil, but any other oil that does well at a medium or high heat would be fine, such as Avocado, Vegetable, or Sunflower Seed.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Pita Chips
These are great with all kinds of dips. Try them with my artichoke and spinach dip, or leek scape dip with bacon and white cheddar. They are wonderful with hummus also, and if you are a salsa person, try my sheet pan salsa verde! Want something a little different as a dip option? Try my Pesto di Basilico, Pesto Calabrese, or make your own Creme Fraiche for dipping!
How To Store Pita Chips
These keep really well in a freezer bag on a shelf in your pantry. They will keep for up to a week! If you don’t have a freezer bag, a plastic container with a tight fitting lid is fine too.
If you are reading this, I want to thank you for stopping by. I certainly hope you love these Air Fryer Pita Chips! If you tried this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Just leave a rating or comment below.
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Air Fryer Pita Chips
These Air Fryer Pita Chips are an easy way to make your own chips rather than buying them. You can season them almost any way you like and they are fantastic with most any dip!
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 Pitas (white or whole wheat, flatbread style)
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Sumac powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 320 or 325 degrees (this will depend on the temperature increments of your air fryer)
- While the air fryer preheats, cut each pita into 8 triangles.
- Place the pita chips in a large mixing bowl and add the 1/4 cup of Olive Oil. Use the rubber scraper to toss the pita and oil together.
- Add the 1 1/2 tsp of Salt and 1 tsp of Sumac powder and stir to combine, making sure the pita triangles are as evenly coated with seasoning as you can.
- Once the air fryer has preheated, add the seasoned pita to the air fryer basket and cook at 320 or 325 degrees for 6 minutes.
- After 6 minutes, remove the air fryer basket and give it a good shake, stirring the pita a bit with the rubber scraper if needed.
- Air fry for 6 more minutes. At this point, the pita chips should be done. You will know they are done when they are a nice golden brown and they feel stiff rather than soft. Serve with your favorite dip! If you are using an oven rather than an air fryer, please see the recipe notes for instructions.
Notes
You can use any number of other seasonings for these pita chips instead of the sumac. Black pepper, Cajun, Chili Powder, Paprika, Tajin, Old Bay, BBQ rub, Lemon Pepper, and many more.
You can use white or whole wheat pita, just be sure they are the flatbread style and not the built in pocket.
This recipe can be doubled, but you should cook them in two batches to ensure that they get crisp.
Oven Instructions:
The recipe proportions will be the same as you would use for the air fryer.
- Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Toss the cut pita with the oil and seasonings.
- Place the pita wedges on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, stirring the pita wedges around and rotating the baking sheet 5 minutes into the cooking time. You will know they are done when they are golden brown and crispy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizers and Drinks
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 191
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 809
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0
