Cheese Crisps

Cheese snacks abound. You’ve got your Cheez-Its, your Goldfish, your Cheetos. And if you’re like me, you love all of them. The purest, most unadulterated cheese snack of all, though, existed long before any of these processed favorites—and it’s called frico.

The Italian specialty has been around for generations, but thanks to the keto diet and the newfound call to know what’s in our food, frico is back in the mainstream. This time around, we know it as cheese crisps.

Cheese crisps are pieces of lacy fried cheese that can be formed into bowls, chips or a crunchy garnish. Hailing from northeast Italy, the dish—along with a softer version carrying the same name—has been passed down from one generation to the next.

Ingredients for Cheese Crisps

• Shredded cheese: For a cheese crisps recipe, you can use any hard cheese, such as Parmesan, Manchego, Asiago or aged cheddar. These cheese varieties retain enough of their shape to create a lacy texture but melt enough that the crisp holds together. Just make sure you’re grating the cheese fresh from the block. Pre-shredded cheese contains cellulose, an anti-caking agent, which may affect the outcome and flavor of your cheese crisps.

Directions

Step 1: Add the cheese to the skillet

Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. In batches, sprinkle 1/4 cup shredded cheese into the skillet.

Step 2: Cook the cheese

TASTE OF HOME

Cook the cheese until it’s melted and the edges start to brown, three to four minutes. Flip and cook for 30 seconds.

Step 3: Allow the cheese crisp to cool

Transfer the cheese to a paper towel-lined cutting board to cool and become crispy. Add the crisps to your salad or soup, and enjoy!

TASTE OF HOME

Recipe Variations

• Add mix-ins: Savory, tangy, salty cheese, crisped up any number of ways, is perfectly satisfying all on its own. But if you feel compelled to add some flair to this cheese crisps recipe, add some mix-ins, like jalapenos, savory seasonings, dried herbs and red pepper flakes.
• Try sun-dried tomato cheese crisps: Stir 2 tablespoons finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme into shredded Parmesan cheese before adding it to the baking sheet, skillet or air-fryer basket. Prepare the frico as directed.
• Fall into apple-pepper cheese crisps: Stir 2 tablespoons finely chopped dried apples and 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper into shredded aged cheddar cheese before adding it to the baking sheet, skillet or air-fryer basket. Prepare the cheese crisps as directed.
• Indulge in garlic bread cheese crisps: Stir 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 2 tablespoons dried parsley into shredded Parmesan cheese before adding it to the baking sheet, skillet or air-fryer basket. Prepare the cheese crisps recipe as directed.

How to Store Cheese Crisps

Once the cheese crisps have cooled to room temperature, store them in an airtight container. Humidity is the enemy of frico, so keep the container in a cool, dry place.

How long do cheese crisps last?

Cheese crisps will stay crisp for a few hours if you store them in an airtight container. After that, you may notice them start to get a little chewy and soggy.

Cheese Crisp Tips

TASTE OF HOME

How can you make a cheese crisps recipe in the oven?

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons finely shredded cheese into a 4-inch circle, making sure the cheese is spread evenly. Repeat with the rest of the cheese, leaving about 2 inches between each circle. Bake until the crisps barely begin to brown, six to eight minutes. Remove the cheese crisps to a paper towel-lined cutting board to cool.

How can you make a cheese crisps recipe in the air fryer?

Line an air-fryer basket with parchment. Spread 2 tablespoons finely shredded cheese to create a 4-inch circle in the center of the parchment. Cook at 375° for five minutes, occasionally checking for doneness. Let the cheese crisp cool on a paper towel-lined cutting board.

I usually err on the “well done” side when baking because I like things to be toasty brown. But frico is the exception—too-brown cheese tends to have an unpleasant charred flavor.

Are cheese crisps keto?

Yes, cheese crisps are keto. If you keep your cheese crisps straightforward (i.e., just shredded cheese), then they certainly fit within the popular diet’s stipulations. Most cheeses, including Parmesan, Asiago, Manchego and cheddar, are low in carbs and high in fat, making them ultra keto-friendly.

What can you do with cheese crisps?

Better to ask what you can’t do with them. Frico has nearly endless potential depending on the type of cheese you use, the herbs or spices you add, or the shape you choose.

• Make coin-sized disks to toss on a salad or into a bowl of soup.
• Keep them in a flat disk and add any number of your favorite toppings, just as with a cracker or crostini.
• Roll them into tubes to create an appetizer.
• Drape them over glasses to make Pringles-style chips.
• Shape them inside muffin tins or over inverted bowls to hold salads, taco ingredients or grapes for a charcuterie board.