
I’m a sucker for good quality cheese, so it’s no surprise these rainbow cheese crisps are one of my favourite snacks to make. Like so many whole foods, I believe cheese has been let down by the food processing industry, which has traded the natural ageing process (so important for digestion and health) for speed and convenience – and that’s when problems arise.
One of my favourite things about cheese is the crispy bits that appear when it oozes out of a toastie or forms that golden layer on top of lasagne or my Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie. My kids love them too, which usually leads to arguments over who gets the crunchy bits. That’s what inspired me to create these rainbow cheese crisps – a simple savoury snack that captures everything we love about crispy cheese, with the added goodness of colourful vegetables for a nutritious twist.
Health benefits
Not only are these cheese crisps high in protein from the parmesan, but they also pack a nutrient punch from the grated carrot and zucchini. The chia or sesame seeds add a little boost of omega-3s and fibre, making this snack both delicious and nutritious.
I’ve made these with Parmigiano-Reggiano – real parmesan cheese which I’ve discovered over the years that many lactose sensitive people find much to digest than other cheeses. As a general rule, the longer a cheese is aged, the more time bacteria have to break down sugars, resulting in lower overall lactose content. For those with sensitive stomachs, heavily aged cheeses like Manchego and Parmigiano-Reggiano, which are generally aged for at least 18 months, are often well tolerated. Plus, I find a little really satisfies and my whole family just loves the flavour.
As much as I like Parmesan, I also like to inject a little more goodness into the mix, so these crunchy, crispy, cheese bites were born.
This rainbow cheese crisp is a fun and colourful snack, perfect for when you want something crunchy but wholesome. They’re super easy to make with just a few simple ingredients like parmesan cheese and grated veggies. Plus, they’re great for sneaking in extra veggies for the kids while still delivering that cheesy flavour everyone loves.
Ingredients
You’ll need grated parmesan, some carrot and zucchini, and a sprinkle of chia or sesame seeds. That’s it! These simple ingredients come together to create a crispy, cheesy snack that’s loaded with flavour and texture.
How to make rainbow cheese crisps
Start by grating your cheese and vegetables, then squeeze out the extra moisture from the veggies. Mix everything together, shape into thin layers on a baking tray (baking sheet) lined with baking paper (parchment paper), and sprinkle with seeds. Grill for 5-7 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let them cool completely—they’ll crisp up as they cool, and you can even pop them in the freezer to speed up the process.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve these gluten-free cheese crisps as a snack on their own, or pair them with dips like guacamole or hummus for a tasty treat. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to a couple of days—just give them a quick freeze if they soften to restore the crunch.
Vary rainbow cheese crisp to suit your dietary needs
If you want to mix it up, try using different vegetables like grated beetroot. You can also switch up the seeds—flax seeds or poppy seeds work just as well. Just make sure the mixture is thin enough so the crisps turn out perfectly crunchy.
For more delicious, easy to make healthy savoury snack recipes, click HERE.
Ingredients
- 150 g parmesan cheese (1 cup) grated
- ½ cup/s grated carrot and zucchini (in total not each)
- 1 tbsp chia or sesame seeds
Method
- Preheat your oven grill to 150℃/300°F. Line a baking tray with non-stick, baking paper*.
- Grate your cheese and vegetables.
- In a muslin cloth or paper towel squeeze the grated vegetables to remove a bit of moisture.
- Mix the cheese and veggies together and arrange very thin layers on your baking paper (I used an egg ring to shape them).
- Sprinkle over the seeds and grill for 5-7 minutes keeping an eye on them so they don't burn (I find grills can vary in temperature so keep an eye on them the first time you make them).
- They need to brown and bubble for a minute or two and you'll smell the parmesan cooking when they are ready.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. They will crisp as they cool (pop them in the freezer to fast track them).
Store
- In an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for a couple of days.



Chantal Frenchy says
HI Goergia,
Thanks for the recipe, was wondering if I was to garte the ingredients in thermomix 5 seconds on speed 5, it would give same results and not fall apart when cooking. Just trying to save time by not grating, it is my pet hate chore:) thank you chantal
Georgia Harding says
I haven’t tried it as yet Chantal. I really just wanted a consistent grate size with the cheese and veggies so it cooked evenly and held together so I’ve always hand grated. I’d probably pulse and look after each pulse to check the size. Also make sure you give the veggies a good wring as I find they release a little more moisture in the TMX. Love to hear how they go if you do try it G x
Judith says
Just made these to have along with carrot soup this evening – really tasty! They were a bit soft, but I was too impatient to wait for them to cool down. I’ll see if the leftover ones are crisper tomorrow after some fridge time. I don’t think I cooked them quite long enough either, but the baking paper was scorching and I was worried about starting a fire!
Leroy Brown says
Hi Georgia
Neither of my kids can eat parmesan cheese for some reason – would this work with another kind of cheese do you think? Such a shame because I love it and these sound delicious 🙂
Michelle
Georgia Harding says
Hi Judith – try the ‘If You Care’ range of baking paper if you can find it. It is amazing and doesn’t scorch at all, you can also re-use one piece over and over. Also try pop them in the freezer to crisp them G x
Georgia Harding says
I have only tested it with parmesan. Another cheese is fine, they may not just crisp to the same degree G x
Tania says
I will try this with a spiraliser – it’s pretty quick and easy to shred carrot and zucchini with one of these, and should give a good consistency and hold together well.
Agree on the if you care paper – I am re-using my sheets many times before they go. Fantastic stuff.
Georgia Harding says
Hope you love them Tania G x
Max says
Thanks for another amazing recipe. Just a quick note for those with egg allergies that Parmesan (and Manchego) is not egg free. It contains egg enzyme. Found out the hard way after my egg anaphylactic toddler ate a tiny piece and ended up in the ER.