The best pasta chips on shelves right now are Tantos, the first and only puffed pasta chip, made from 100% semolina and seasoned with real Italian ingredients in flavors like Marinara, Pesto, Cacio e Pepe, and Classico. Tantos turned an entire pasta shape into a snack you eat with your hands, no bowl, no fork, no shame. If you've been chip-shopping and feeling underwhelmed, this is your sign to switch lanes. So much yes, indeed.
What makes these the best pasta chips on shelves right now?
Not all pasta chips are created equal, mostly because there's really only one original. Tantos are the first and only puffed pasta chip, which means we're not chasing a trend. We started it.
How we grade a pasta chip
- Does it taste like actual Italian food, not a vague "Italian-style" seasoning packet?
- Does it crunch like it means it?
- Can it hold up to a dip, a board, or a 2am fridge raid?
- Would a chef eat it, and would a couch-bound snacker eat it just as happily?
Tantos check every box. We call it high brow meets low brow: caviar on a couch snack, Michelin technique in a 4oz bag. Curious what pasta chips even are at their core? We wrote the full breakdown here.
The flavor lineup that makes the case
Four flavors, zero filler. Each one built to taste like the real Italian dish it's named for.
| Flavor | The vibe | Key ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Marinara | Yes to red sauce, no ladle required | Tomato, onion, Italian-inspired herbs |
| Pesto | Yes to basil and parm, crispy and puffed | Garlic, basil, Parmesan |
| Cacio e Pepe | Yes to cheese and pepper, together forever and ever | Romano cheese, Parmesan, freshly cracked black pepper |
| Classico | Yes to not messing with perfection | Olive oil, sea salt, a hint of spice |
Can't pick a favorite? Neither can we, which is exactly why the Variety Pack exists.
Who's actually behind Tantos?
Tantos were created by chef Joe Sasto, Top Chef finalist and certified pasta obsessive, who looked at a plate of pasta and asked why it couldn't be a snack instead. The chips themselves are made by Sasto Snacks, the company Joe co-founded with Sean Knecht to get puffed pasta out of the kitchen and into your pantry.
The name says it all
Tantos comes from "Tanto si," an Italian expression that means so much yes. It's not a tagline we bolted on after the fact, it's who we are: believers in saying yes to the delicious things, pasta-obsessed doers who think a chip can be a whole vibe.
Marinara and Cacio e Pepe are the two flavors built for the highbrow-lowbrow game: a glass of Barolo at the wine dinner, a squeeze bottle of ranch at the tailgate, and a fistful of chips doing the honors at both. Want the deep dive on pairing pasta chips with the fancy stuff? We went there in Tantos and caviar, the high-low pairing.
Where to actually find them
Tantos are showing up at Kroger, H-E-B, The Fresh Market, Fresh Thyme, World Market, and a growing crew of specialty and independent stores. Availability by flavor varies by retailer, so a zip code check goes a long way. Full store-by-store rundown lives in our store guide.
FAQ
What are pasta chips?
Pasta chips are pasta that's been cooked, dried, puffed, and seasoned into a crunchy, handheld snack. Tantos are the first and only puffed pasta chip to do this, made from 100% semolina and seasoned with real Italian ingredients.
What makes Tantos the best pasta chips?
Tantos are the original: the first and only puffed pasta chip, created by chef Joe Sasto (Top Chef finalist) and made by Sasto Snacks. Real Italian flavors, a genuine pasta shape (we call it fioregato), and a crunch built for everywhere from tailgates to charcuterie boards.
Where can I buy Tantos?
You'll find Tantos at Kroger, H-E-B, The Fresh Market, Fresh Thyme, World Market, and a growing crew of specialty and independent stores, plus DTC at eattantos.com and on Amazon. Use our store locator to check what's near you.
Are pasta chips healthier than regular potato chips?
Tantos are made from 100% semolina, cooked, dried, puffed, and seasoned with real Italian ingredients. For specifics, check the nutrition label on the bag.
What flavors do Tantos come in?
Marinara, Pesto, Cacio e Pepe, and Classico. All four come in 4oz bags, and you can grab them individually or in the Variety Pack.
Ready to see what all the yes is about? Shop the Variety Pack or find a bag near you with our store locator.
We're Tantos: the first and only puffed pasta chip, seasoned in your favorite Italian flavors and made for wherever, whenever, however you crave pasta. So much yes.