Easy Parmesan Crisps Recipe – Low Carb Cheese Chips

Looking for a low carb recipe with a prep time of fewer than 5 minutes and a cook time of only 6 minutes? Look no further…these Parmesan Crisps are the absolute perfect crispy, cheesy snack!! 

When eating low carb it’s easy to find so many recipes for dips and salsas, but it can be hard to find something to actually dip into those recipes. Yes, you can make your own Homemade Keto Crackers and Homemade Low Carb Tortilla Chips, but they can be a bit more time-consuming. 

But today I have a fantastic recipe that’s easy to make and more importantly super quick….PARMESAN CRISPS!!!! Did you know that you can make a cracker/crisp out of just parmesan cheese?? I’ve seen them in the grocery stores, and they are pretty pricey for a small container of them. 

Now you can make your own fresh parmesan crisps for all of your hot and cold dip recipes! 

What Are Parmesan Crisps?

What are parmesan crisps? They are exactly how they sound….shredded parmesan cheese made into crisps or crackers. I didn’t know that this was even a thing until about last year when I noticed them in the grocery store. They can be very expensive for a small little bag of them. So, also what I didn’t know was that we can make our own crisps. 

I’m not sure who invented these but whoever did they are brilliant. Parmesan crisps are a great low carb and keto snack while being a perfect on-the-go option, which let’s face it when eating low carb makes eating on-the-go tough at times. 

What Do They Taste Like?

Parmesan crisps taste just like you are eating a slice of fresh parmesan cheese but with a nice little crisp or crunch. You can add different seasonings like Everything Bagel Seasoning, Garlic Powder, or Italian Seasoning to give your parmesan a different flavor.  

Can I Eat Parmesan Cheese on a Keto Diet?

Parmesan cheese is a great food choice while on a keto diet. I know that cheeses all have different carb contents and some may contain more carbs than others. Parmesan is one of the better ones though and very low in carbs, in fact:

1 OZ Parmesan Cheese – 1.2 NET CARBS 

1 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese – 0.2 NET CARBS

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese – 4 NET CARBS *something to keep in mind is 1 cup of cheese is a lot*

Are Parmesan Crisps Keto?

Seeing that eating parmesan cheese while on keto or a low carb diet is perfectly acceptable, that also means eating parmesan crisps is acceptable! 

1 Parmesan Crisp has only 0.2 NET CARBS, 21 CALORIES, and 1.9 grams of PROTEIN. 

It’s a great low carb snack, to eat by itself and also perfect for dipping.

What Ingredients are in Parmesan Crisps?

Ok, so what’s needed to make these homemade parmesan crisps? Get ready for a long list…just kidding!!! The beauty of these parmesan crisps is that there’s only 1 ingredient! 

Parmesan Cheese – This is not only the most important ingredient it’s really the only ingredient. I prefer using shredded parmesan cheese, not grated. I’ve tried both but shredded just works much better.

What Kind of Parmesan Cheese Should I Use?

Shredded parmesan cheese is the best kind of parmesan to use. I have tried using finely grated parmesan but honestly, it just didn’t work that well. 

You can buy pre-shredded parmesan which I have used, but you also can buy a large block of parmesan and shred it yourself. I normally tell you guys to always shred your own cheese and not use the pre-shredded but when you are in a pinch then go ahead and use the pre-shredded. 

But remember that they tend to add additives, so whenever possible shred your cheese from a block. 

Can I Use Other Cheeses to Make Them?

You don’t have to use just parmesan to make crisps, you can also use other cheeses or even mix and match for great results. The most common types of cheese that are used to make cheese crisps are parmesan and cheddar. Using other hard cheeses that are low in moisture would probably work as well. 

If you are looking for a little bit more of a crispier chip then sticking with parmesan is probably the better choice, because they will pretty much always come out crispy. Also, parmesan is already a salty cheese, so there is no need to add any additional salt. 

Cheddar cheese will make good low carb crisps as well, but cheddar can be a little temperamental because you need to get the timing right. If you overcook them they can burn easily, but if you don’t cook them enough they will be soft and they won’t crisp up. Sounds just like a Goldilock scenario right? 

So which one is better? It’s up to you…but I think I’m going to give Parmesan Crisps a slight edge over cheddar. But here’s a thought, why not mix the two? Blending parmesan and cheddar can be a great variety! 

Different Variations on Parmesan Crisps

There are lots of different ways to spice up your homemade parmesan crisps. When you think of parmesan crisps, think about crackers and all the different varieties of crackers. Different things you can add are:

• Everything Bagel Seasoning – a personal favorite lately…goes with so many things
• Italian Seasoning will add a nice Tuscan flavor
• Black Cracked Pepper
• Ranch Seasoning 
• Fresh dill or Rosemary
• Garlic Powder
• Sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper – for a spicy kick

How to Make Parmesan Crisps 

You’re going to love how easy this recipe is to make! 

Start off by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.

Then take your block of parmesan cheese and shred it using a box grater.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (that’s something I haven’t gotten yet but I’m definitely going to very soon).

Using a measuring spoon, add a heaping tablespoon of the shredded cheese to the baking tray. Lightly pat down the circle with your fingers or the palm of your hand.

Repeat 11 more times, leaving a space in between each circle. Keep in mind, my tray fits 12 but yours might fit less. Don’t overcrowd them. 

Bake for 6 minutes or until the edges start to crisp up. 

You want the edges to start getting golden brown and the top to start to bubble. They should look something like this:

Let the crisps cool down, then remove from the tray.

Place on paper towels to soak up any excess grease from the cheese.

Wait a few minutes for them to crisp up and serve!

Best Tips & Tricks for Making Parmesan Crisps

• Line the baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, to prevent the crisps from sticking to the tray.
• The thinner you make the crisps, the crispier they will be. If you make them too thick they will be too chewy and you won’t get that CRUNCH.
• Before removing crisps off the baking tray, make sure they are completely cooled off otherwise they might break. 
• When taking the crisps off the tray, transfer to paper towels to soak up any excess grease from the cheese.
• Rather than making individual round parmesan crisps, you can make one big baking sheet of parmesan and break it apart after it’s cooled down. 
• Baked cheese crisps can be made with parmesan or cheddar cheese, or a combo of both.
• Adding herbs or spices will give you more flavor. Stay away from adding salt, only because parmesan cheese is already very salty. 

Why Are My Parmesan Crisps Chewy?

What happens if your low carb parmesan crisps are chewy and not crispy? Well, first of all, even though they are a bit chewy it still makes them completely edible, so don’t throw them away or anything. 

But the reason they are chewy is probably that you added too much parmesan on the baking tray and made them too thick. You want to make sure that they are thin crisps. 

Can I Make Parmesan Crisps in the Microwave?

Making keto parmesan crisps in the microwave is possible, but keep in mind that it’s going to take more time only because you have to make them in small batches. It’s still my preference to make them in the oven, mostly because I can make 12 crisps per batch. 

If you are only making a small batch of crisps then making them in the microwave will totally work. 

Place a piece of parchment paper on top of a plate. Place the small scoops of parmesan cheese onto the plate and microwave for 30 seconds. If the cheese has not completely melted then microwave for another 30 seconds. Once it’s done, allow them to cool before removing them from the plate.

Other Diets Parmesan Crisps are Good For

These parmesan crisps are not only a good keto or low carb snack they are also completely gluten-free and also sugar-free. Seeing that there is no sugar or gluten in parmesan cheese, it makes them an even better snack for those of you with dietary restrictions.

What to Serve Parmesan Crisps With?

There’s a lot of different things you can serve with your parmesan crisps. Here’s a handful of ideas I came up with. Along with our homemade Low Carb Tortilla Chips, these Parmesan Crisps will solve all your dipping needs. 

Delicious low carb appetizers to dip:

• Pepperoni Pizza Dip
• French Onion Dip
• Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip

A few more ideas:

• Add them to your salads instead of croutons
• Add them to soups, such as Low Carb Cheddar Broccoli Soup  
• Top them with fresh tomatoes, prosciutto, or salami in place of regular crackers
• Serve with warm marinara sauce
• Add them to your Charcuterie Board
• Top them with fresh mozzarella, basil, and fresh tomatoes

How to Store Parmesan Crisps and Keep them Crispy

How well you store your parmesan crisps is going to go a long way to determine whether or not they stay fresh and crunchy. 

Store your parm crisps in an air-tight container at room temperature for 2-4 days. Keep them stored away from humidity, moisture and keep them sealed tightly. To help them stay crispy, place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper in between each layer of crisps.

Do Parmesan Crisps Need to be Refrigerated?

The crisps may last just a little bit longer if you keep them in the fridge, but most likely they will lose their crispiness. If you want to store them in the fridge place them in an airtight container. Since they are so easy to make and only take 6 minutes in the oven per batch, I recommend making them a day or two days ahead of time. 

Can You Freeze Parmesan Crisps?

Homemade parmesan crisps can be made and then frozen. Place the crisps in an airtight container and place them in the freezer for a few months. 

Something to keep in mind is that they may not be nearly as crispy once they are defrosted because of the ice crystals and humidity that can form. Eating them fresh is always the best idea, but having the option of freezing them is nice to have.  

Other Low Carb Snack Recipes:

If you’re in the mood for some other Keto Snacks then try our:

• Keto Crackers
• Easy Keto Salsa
• Low Carb Tortilla Chips

Both of them are low carb and your family and friends will love them!

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