You just need 10 minutes and three ingredients to make this Baked Parmesan Crisps Recipe! Make these keto cheese crisps for an easy appetizer, snack or to top your soup or salad. Don't miss my tips for substitutions, storage and even microwave instructions!
Cheesy snowflake, anyone?
Just kidding.
But don't these Parmesan chips look awesome? And, do you see the heart?
I'm giddy over here! You will be too, once you try these frico, as they're called in the Veneto region of Italy (the Venice area) where these tasty snacks hail from.
And guess what? This gluten-free recipe has just three ingredients!
It's one of my favorite Italian appetizers.
Recipe ingredients
See? That's it!
You can even make these crisps plain, but I like them so much better with the garlic-paprika seasoning. It's the flavor profile I've used in my healthy onion rings, keto cod, baked chicken drumsticks, gluten-free jalapeño poppers and garlic Parmesan shrimp.
Yum!
How to make baked Parmesan crisps
You just need 10 minutes from start to finish if you're making these Parmesan wafers in the oven. Grate the cheese finely and stir in garlic powder and paprika.
I use my Vitamix (affiliate link) to grate a triangle of cheese in two batches. For a small amount, I use my zester/grater (affiliate link).
Scoop little mounds of the seasoned Parmesan on a rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat (affiliate link). Flatten the cheese rounds a bit with your hand, then bake!
Recipe tips
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the kind sold in a can. Canned Parmesan won't melt as well because it contains an anti-caking agent.
- Don't spray the parchment paper/silicone mat with cooking spray, because it will produce greasier results. (When I made the recipe video, I used spray, but no longer do so.)
- Space the cheese mounds a couple inches apart, because they'll spread.
How to store and freeze crisps
If you don't stuff all of these in your face within minutes like some people (cough, cough), you'll need to refrigerate or freeze them.
You can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days. Note that they'll become a bit rubbery.
Freezing is my new favorite method to store the crisps. When they're cooled off after baking, place them on wax paper in layers inside an airtight container.
They stay crispy, right out of the freezer. If you want to reheat the chips in the microwave, you'll just need a few seconds, but the cheese will be less crispy.
Frequently asked questions
For the crispiest results, make these chips with any hard cheese, such as Parmesan, Asiago or Romano. I've made Asiago crisps using this recipe, and they were fabulous!
You can use a semi-hard cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack or colby, but they'll be less crispy. I've made them with cheddar and found that I much preferred the salty vibe from Parmesan or Asiago.
I never thought about using the microwave for these, until a reader tipped me off. After a few rounds of testing, here's my advice:
Line a microwave-safe plate with parchment paper, not wax paper. Wax paper will stick to the melted cheese like glue.
Test one in your microwave to see how much time is needed for best results. My 1400-watt microwave took 25 seconds for a crispy chip. Thirty seconds made it hard and crunchy.
Use the microwave option when you want a snack ready in seconds. You don't even have to mix the cheese with seasoning first...just sprinkle it on before heating.
Use a regular oven for the best texture, and when you need to make a larger quantity.
What to serve with cheese crisps
- Add them to your bowl of minestrone or broccoli-cheddar soup with Parmesan.
- Top your spinach salad with them.
- Use them as an appetizer to scoop up spaghetti sauce.
- Mold them around the cups of an inverted muffin pan while the crisps are warm. When cool, fill them with spinach-artichoke dip.
- Add them to your hamburger.
- Eat them plain as a snack!
So many possibilities.
Enjoy!
Baked Parmesan Crisps Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper (cut to fit) or silicone mats.
- Finely grate the Parmesan in your blender, food processor, or on a box grater until you can measure out one cup.
- In a small bowl, stir together the cheese, garlic powder and paprika.
- Using a measuring spoon, scoop a heaping tablespoon of the cheese mixture and place it on your baking sheet, starting at one of the corners. Continue placing little mounds of cheese on your pan, fitting six on each pan and spacing them apart.
- Pat down each cheese mound with your hand to flatten it into a circle about 2 ½ inches to 3 inches wide. Bake for 4-6 minutes, until they are set and starting to get crispy.
- Remove the crisps from the oven and let them rest in the pan for a couple minutes. Then, use a thin spatula to transfer them to a plate or serving platter to cool. They will be most crispy if eaten soon. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days (they'll get rubbery) or in the freezer for up to a couple months.
- To freeze, let the crisps cool after baking. Place them on wax paper in layers inside an airtight container. They will stay crispy right out of the freezer. If you want to reheat the chips in the microwave, you'll just need a few seconds, but the cheese will be less crispy.
Notes
- Line a microwave-safe plate with parchment paper, not wax paper. Wax paper will stick to the melted cheese like glue.
- Test making a cheese crisp in your microwave to see how much time is needed for best results. My 1400-watt microwave took 25 seconds for a crispy chip. Thirty seconds made it hard and crunchy.
- Use the microwave option when you want a snack ready in seconds. You don't even have to mix the cheese with seasoning first...just sprinkle it on before heating.
- Use a regular oven for the best texture, and when you need to make a larger quantity.
- Add them to your bowl of minestrone or broccoli-cheddar soup.
- Top your spinach salad with them.
- Use them as an appetizer to scoop up spaghetti sauce.
- Mold them around the cups of an inverted muffin pan while the crisps are warm. When cool, fill them with spinach-artichoke dip.
- Add them to your hamburger.
- Eat them plain as a snack!
Nutrition
(Recipe Source: Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis. Originally published on July 26, 2016 and updated now with additional photos and text.)
Dianna says
Just made and nibbled on these.
I added a 1/4 tsp of oregano, a favorite spice of mine. Baked them for only 3 minutes to when the edges were browned. They were a bit too 'rubbery' for my liking, even after cooling in the pan & one the rack (but very tasty!)
So.... I made them smaller, scooping only a TEASPOON'S worth of the mixture into each mound, then flattening... and let them cook for almost 4 minutes....
THAT gave me the crispy/crunchy I was looking for!... and the perfect size for snacking for me.
FINALLY, I have something 'legal' to snack on at night while doing Low Carb, High Fat, Gluten Free.
THANK U, THANK U, THANK U !!!
(would love to show ya's a pic of them. So cute! LOL)
Also.... I did not grease the parchment paper at all. The cheese release enough oils to make the chips easily slide up when lifted with a rubber spatula.... and I re-used the same paper for the 2nd batch.
Mamma C says
I love that you put your own spin on these Dianna! I agree the crisps need to be crispy rather than rubbery. Mine get crispy at five minutes, but every oven is different. I'd love to see your photo. You can email me a photo ([email protected]) or if you use Facebook, you can post a photo and tag @Cooking with Mamma C (my page should come up for you to click and tag.) Thanks for sharing your experience with making these!
Tangee says
Oh emm gee! It's 12:22am. I have fresh already grated cheese, surely a cup... I have smoked paprika from the Amish market, I have garlic (bulbs, salt, powder....who doesn't?). I have parchment, of course I have an oven and rimmed cookie sheets. But I also have a sleeping spousal unit and two sleeping toddlers. You know it's going to wake them up if I do it right now. I'm so conflicted. My mouth is watering. Sigh.... must wait until dinner tomorrow. Must. Be. Strong.
Mamma C says
Haha! Your comment cracks me up, Tangee! I've been known to wake everyone with kitchen noise. I hope you enjoy these!
Jolene says
I have a sleeping spouse and a small 10# dog.....cant wake them usually when they go down...but just the smell of these might wake then up....darn it!
Mamma C says
Haha! It's not a bad thing to wake up to. 🙂
Suzanne Holt says
We buy parmesan crisps from the store all the time, but it would be so much easier to make them! Thank you!
Mamma C says
You're welcome, Suzanne. I hope you enjoy them!
Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser says
I see the heart, too!!! Love the nails Andrea. Bake on...xx
Mamma C says
That heart makes me happy. Thanks, Cheryl!
[email protected] says
Oh yum! I love these! And I do see the heart! How can I do that?! 😉 I've never thought about adding different combinations of herbs and spices...love it!
Mamma C says
I've been finding hearts for the past three weeks, and I get so excited! Thanks, Annie!
Tara says
So crispy! That texture looks amazing. Love how easy it is too.
Mamma C says
Thanks, Tara! It's dangerous to know how simple these are...
Ali @ Home & Plate says
Yum what a simple fresh recipe. These are the perfect croutons for any salad without the bread. Love the easy ingredients because they are already in the pantry. Yes I have 10 minutes.
Mamma C says
Yes, gluten-free croutons!
Michele @ Flavor Mosaic says
I love this simple yet delicious dish.
Mamma C says
Me too, Michele!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
We love making these, and they are SO good dipped in homemade BBQ sauce.
Mamma C says
What?!! I never would have thought of dipping them in BBQ sauce. I have to try it!
Jagruti says
These crisps looks so cheesy 🙂 so tempting and easy recipe.
Mamma C says
They are way easier than I thought they'd be!