The best pasta chip flavor pairings start with knowing which flavor wants a fancy friend and which one wants a dive-bar buddy. Marinara leans into big reds and bigger comfort food, Pesto wants something fresh and bubbly, and Cacio e Pepe and Classico both play well across the board, from Champagne to a bodega soda. Pair with intention and every bag of Tantos gets even more delicious.
Why pasta chip flavor pairings matter
A chip is a chip until you give it context. Ours start as fioregato, our own pasta shape (fiore for flower, piegato for folded), made from 100% semolina that's cooked, dried, puffed, and seasoned with real Italian ingredients. Pair it right and suddenly you've got a moment. We built Tantos on highbrow meets lowbrow, so pasta chip flavor pairings are kind of our whole thing.
Have you ever put Marinara next to a glass of Barolo? Or Cacio e Pepe next to a gas station soda? Exactly. That's the point.
The official (unofficial) pairing chart
| Flavor | Highbrow pairing | Lowbrow pairing |
|---|---|---|
| Marinara | Barolo | Ranch |
| Pesto | Fancy sparkling water | String cheese |
| Classico | Champagne | Mexican soda from the bodega |
| Cacio e Pepe | Business-class cocktail | Free soda in coach |
High-low is the whole philosophy
Michelin-starred? Yes. Midnight munchies? Yessssss. That's not a tagline, that's basically our mission statement. These pairings work because Tantos were never trying to pick a lane. Pasta chips are already a little rebellious. Why not lean in?
Build your own pasta chip flavor pairings
No rules here, just a few starting points:
- Marinara + a red sauce dip + something fizzy and dramatic
- Pesto + sparkling water + fresh mozzarella if you're feeling it
- Classico + whatever's cold in the fridge, seriously, it goes with everything
- Cacio e Pepe + a cocktail that takes itself a little too seriously
Want more pairing inspo? We've got a whole take on snacks that pair with wine if you're building out a bigger spread.
Ingredients
- 1 bag Tantos Marinara, for the red sauce diehards
- 1 bag Tantos Pesto, basil and Parm forward
- 1 bag Tantos Classico, the one that goes with everything
- 1 bag Tantos Cacio e Pepe, cheese and pepper, forever and ever
- something bubbly, Champagne works, so does sparkling water
- something bright, a bodega soda in the loudest color on the shelf
- ranch, for the people who need it
- string cheese, non-negotiable
How to make it
- Open all four bags. Straight from bag to board, no bowls required.
- Spread the bags (or small piles) across a board or table, leaving room for drinks.
- Set the fancy drink next to the fancy chip, the casual drink next to the casual chip. Mix it up as the night goes on.
- Add ranch and string cheese on the side for anyone ready to go full lowbrow.
- Taste, pair again, repeat until the bags are empty. So much yes.
FAQ
What's the best pairing for Cacio e Pepe Tantos?
Cacio e Pepe is cheesy, peppery, and a little fancy on its own. It holds its own next to a proper cocktail, but it's just as happy with whatever soda is sitting in the break room fridge.
Can pasta chip flavor pairings be both fancy and casual?
Always. That's the whole idea behind Tantos. High brow meets low brow isn't a one-time stunt, it's how we think about every flavor, every pairing, every bag.
What drinks pair well with Tantos pasta chips?
It depends on the flavor. Marinara leans into bold reds, Pesto loves something bright and bubbly, Classico goes with nearly anything cold, and Cacio e Pepe can hang with a cocktail or a can of soda equally well.
Do pasta chip flavors pair with dips too?
Yes, dips are their own kind of pairing. Tantos are made for dipping, topping, and boarding, so treat the flavor chart as a starting point, not a finish line.
Which Tantos flavor is the most versatile for pairings?
Classico. It's built on simplicity, so it plays well with almost anything you put next to it, from Champagne to whatever's in the cooler.
Ready to build your own pairing board? Shop the Variety Pack to get all four flavors in one order, or find Tantos near you with our store locator.
Tantos was created by Chef Joe Sasto, Top Chef finalist, and made by Sasto Snacks. It's the first and only puffed pasta chip, seasoned in Italian flavors and built for pairing with pretty much anything. Tanto si means so much yes, and that's exactly how we feel about a good flavor combo.