• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Med Diet
  • Subscribe
The Matbakh
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Med Diet
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Med Diet
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    Za'atar Pita Chips

    By Lily・Published: Jun 26, 2022・Updated: Oct 24, 2024・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Za'atar pita chips are an easy way to jazz up homemade pita chips with some dry za'atar spice mix. These pita chips take only 10 minutes and use four ingredients: za'atar, pita bread, oil, and salt.

    zatar pita bread chips

    It's easy to make your own pita chips and season them the way you like with sea salt, za'atar, parmesan, or truffle oil. I prefer fried pita chips over baked pita chips (personal preference) because they taste better.

    My favorite way to eat these pita bread chips is with some homemade labneh or garlic labneh. Also, I like to use za'atar fried pita bread in my fattoush salad recipe. These chips are a delicious snack by themselves too.

    Za'atar Pita Chips

    If there is a way I can use za'atar to add some flavor, I'm all in! Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend that's slightly different depending on which Arab country you are in. Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon all have slight variations in the way their za'atar spice tastes.

    I mostly cook with the Lebanese za'atar mixture and use it for manakish za'atar (Lebanese flatbread with za'atar spice and olive oil), za'atar labneh, and za'atar and cheese spring rolls. Za'atar usually pairs well with labneh or some kind of white cheese like mozzarella, akawi, or halloumi.

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients needed to make za'atar pita chips
    • Za'atar spice: Lebanese za'atar is a blend of sesame seeds, sumac, and dried thyme. Use any za'atar you have available.
    • Pita bread: Pita bread comes in varying thicknesses and diameters. I prefer thin pita bread, like the Lebanese pita bread shown in the photos. However, pita bread will work. Thick pita bread results in thicker chips. Repurpose leftover pita bread or stale pita bread for pita chips.
    • Frying oil: I prefer vegetable oil or sunflower oil to fry. Extra virgin olive oil can shallow fry the chips also.
    • Salt: Use sea salt, flaked salt, or table salt.

    How To Make Za'atar Pita Chips

    split the pita bread into halves

    There's a pita pocket of air. Split the pita bread so the top and bottom are separate. If the bread is hard to split into top and bottom halves, don't split it (this sometimes happens with stale pita).

    cut the pita bread into squares

    Using kitchen scissors, cut the pita bread into 2" squares (or pita triangles).

    fry the pita bread in oil

    Heat the oil to medium heat. If the oil is too hot, the pita bread will cook faster than you can remove from the oil, leaving you with burned pita chips. The oil is the proper temperature if you dip the bread and some bubble action happens. Fry pita bread in small batches.

    strain the fried pita chips

    Once the pita pieces turn golden brown, use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil.

    za'atar pita bread chips

    Place the homemade pita chips on a paper towel-lined bowl or plate. Salt and season with the za'atar spice mixture immediately after removing the chips from the oil so the spices will stick to the crispy chips.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Make sure the oil isn't too hot. Pita bread fries quickly. One way to tell if the oil is just right is to add a piece of pita bread. The oil should bubble and the color should change gradually, not immediately.
    • Fry the pita bread in a high-rimmed pot. Although pita bread is dry and has a low moisture content, it will likely not boil over. However, I don't take any chances and use a high-rimmed pot when frying anything.
    • Salt and season with za'atar after removing the chips from the oil. The salt and za'atar will stick to the chips better if they are seasoned directly after removing from the oil.

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Add more or less of the za'atar spice as preferred.
    • Bake the pita chips instead of frying. Heat the oven to 375 ℉ (190 ℃). Using a pastry brush, spread olive oil on pita bread. Top with sea salt and/or za'atar. Lay the pita bread flat on a baking sheet or pizza pan, and place it in the middle of the oven. Keep an eye on the pita bread every couple of minutes. Remove once the pita bread is golden brown (about 5 to 7 minutes).
    • Break the pita bread into pita chips using your hands rather than kitchen scissors.
    • Use whole wheat pita bread and extra virgin olive oil. Shallow fry in olive oil rather than frying oil. Olive oil is more expensive, so if I fry with it, I use less.
    fried pita bread chips topped with zaatar spice

    Ways to Serve

    Use zaatar pita chips for dips like homemade hummus, baba ganoush, olive tapenade, or labneh. These pita chips are great as a standalone snack. Another way I like to eat these is with fattoush salad. The za'atar jazzes things up a bit.

    FAQs

    What is za'atar seasoning made of?

    Za'atar seasoning is a blend of dried thyme, sesame seeds, and sumac.

    How can I use za'atar?

    Za'atar is a spice that can be mixed with olive oil and used to make flatbreads. It can also be sprinkled on pita chips, added on top of labneh, and stuffed into spring rolls with cheese.

    Join The Tribe

    Subscribe to The Matbakh Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest pages. We also have a saucy newsletter.

    📋 Recipe

    close up view of fried pita chips with zaatar spice

    Za'atar Pita Chips

    Author: Lily
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Lebanese
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Cook: 5 minutes mins
    Total: 10 minutes mins
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 4
    Za'atar pita chips are an easy way to jazz up homemade pita chips with some dry za'atar spice. They are quick, easy, and delicious!

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    • 2 large pita bread or 4 small pita bread See note 1
    • 1 tablespoon za'atar
    • frying oil
    • salt to taste

    Instructions

    • Split the pita bread. Cut the pita bread into 2" squares using kitchen scissors.
    • In a high-rimmed pot, fill with oil. Heat oil on medium heat.
    • Add 1 pita worth of pita pieces into the hot oil. Once the pita chips have turned golden brown, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon.
    • Place the pita chips on a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with sea salt and za'atar spice.

    Notes

    1. Large pita bread is about 10" to 14" in diameter. Small pita bread is about 8" in diameter.
    2. Storage: Allow the chips to cool. Store them in an airtight bag at room temperature for up to a week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 10 pita chips | Calories: 132 kcal | Carbohydrates: 15 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 7 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 165 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 0 g

    Dips For Your Chips

    • homemade labneh in a bowl
      Homemade Lebanese Labneh Dip From Milk
    • creamy and light hummus
      Creamy Vitamix Chickpea Hummus (Easy & Authentic)
    • easy olive tapenade in a bowl
      Mediterranean Black Olive Tapenade
    • oven-roasted baba ganoush with pomegranate
      Baba Ganoush Without Tahini

    More All Types Of Snacks

    • Apples and granola on top of cinnamon maple greek yogurt.
      Apple Cinnamon Greek Yogurt Granola
    • a side view of the dark chocolate almond covered dates.
      Chocolate Almond Dates with Coconut
    • Semolina Pudding Syrian Mamouniyeh
      Syrian Semolina Porridge (Mamouniyeh)
    • the best rice krispie treats
      Biscoff Rice Krispie Treats

    About Lily

    Howdy! My name is Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

      Leave A Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Cheynna

      June 28, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      Was very good and easy to make. Made a lot of pita chips. Liked the za’atar spice and will try making it in the oven too.

      Reply
      • Lily

        June 28, 2022 at 5:46 pm

        Thanks for the comment! You can definitely bake these as well. I recommend spreading some olive oil on the pita bread, then sprinkling za'atar on top. Bake in a 375 oven until golden brown. The baking temperature will vary depending on the type and thickness of the pita bread.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    lily at the matbakh

    I'm Lily

    I'm an American Lebanese living in Texas. My kitchen, or matbakh, is a hodgepodge of recipes from the U.S. and Mediterranean region.

    ABOUT ME

    Mediterranean Desserts

    • basbousa semolina cake with honey and yogurt
      Basbousa Semolina Cake

    • baklava rolls
      Walnut Baklava Rolls

    • mafroukeh close up
      Mafroukeh Pistachio Dessert With Cream

    • pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing.
      Pumpkin Olive Oil Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

    Footer

    Stay Connected

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • X

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    Privacy

    Terms

    Accessibility

    About

    The Matbakh

    About Me

    Med Diet

    Resources

    Shop

    Recipes

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 - 2025 Amooni Media LLC

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.