Sweet Air Fryer Plantains Recipe

Making air fryer plantains has been one of the best things that have happened in my house since owning my air fryers. Plantains are a staple and part of our regular meals. So, air frying gives a healthier and easier when cooking other meals served with plantains.

Indulge in the delightful flavors of air-fried plantains, a healthier and easier version of the traditional deep-fried platanos maduros. This recipe uses less oil, making it a much healthier option than frying in a pan of oil while still achieving that irresistible caramelized texture. Perfect as a tasty snack or a delicious side dish, these sweet air fryer plantains will become a favorite in your home, especially if you’re trying them for the first time.

Ingredients for the air fry plantains:

• 2 ripe plantains (look for yellow plantains with brown spots for the best results)
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. You can substitute with avocado oil, coconut oil or olive oil spray
• A pinch of salt
• Optional: a sprinkle of brown sugar or chili powder for extra flavor

How to Make Air Fryer Plantains 

Step 1 – Preparation: Begin by peeling the plantains. Using a sharp knife or a paring knife, slice off the ends of the plantain and make a shallow cut along the , green skin. If the plantain is particularly starchy and the skin is green, it might be a bit harder to peel, typical of a starchy vegetable or fruit from west africa, Southeast Asia or Latin American countries.

Step 2 – Slice the Plantains: Cut the plantains into slices about ½ inch thick. This increases the surface area, allowing for a quicker cooking time and ensuring each plantain slice caramelizes nicely.

Step 3 – Toss with Oil: Place the plantain slices in a large bowl. Add a teaspoon of oil (avocado, coconut, or a light spray of olive oil) and a little salt. Toss the plantains gently to ensure each slice is lightly coated. This step uses much less oil than traditional frying methods, making it healthier.

Step 4 – Air Frying: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the plantain slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer rack, ensuring they’re not overlapping. This might require cooking in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through until they are golden brown and have begun to caramelize. The exact time might vary, so it’s a great idea to start checking early to prevent burning.

Serving: Once the plantains are cooked, they should be golden brown with edges that might just start to crisp up. For a bit of extra flavor, you can sprinkle a little more salt, a dash of lime juice, or even a light dusting of brown sugar or chili powder as they come out of the air fryer.

Storing: If you have air fryer plantain chips leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. To reheat, simply put them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to warm up and regain a bit of their crispiness.

PRO Tips for the Perfect Air Fryer Plantains

• Choosing Plantains: For this recipe, ripe plantains are best. They’re sweeter and more suitable for air frying than the unripened green plantains or platanos verdes, which are better for making crispy tostones.
• Adding a little oil to coat the plantain helps prevent sticking to your air fryer basket.
• Health Benefits: Plantains are a great vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium source. When air-fried, they retain most of their health benefits since they’re cooked with significantly less oil than when you deep fry. 
• Variation: For those who enjoy experimenting, adding garlic powder or other seasonings before air frying can introduce a new twist to the traditional sweet plantain flavor.

This easy recipe for sweet air fryer plantains is a testament to the versatility of this delicious starchy fruit and the ease and health benefits of air frying. Whether making them for the first time or looking for a healthier version of your favorite Latin American or Caribbean dish, this recipe card will guide you to perfect sweet plantains every time.

Enjoy this delicious snack or side dish, which is quickly becoming popular on social media, from TikTok to Instagram, and discover why air-fried plantains are considered a great food by many worldwide.

Don’t have ripe, raw plantain; you can try unripened plantains or cooking bananas in the air fryer.

Other yummy air fryer recipes to try

Sweet Air Fryer Plantains

Simple but yummy way to enjoy ripe plantains and still healthy is to air fry them!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 4 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine African, Latin American

Servings 6

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Sharp knife

Ingredients

  

• 2 Ripe plantains
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• A pinch of salt

Instructions

 

• Preparation: Begin by peeling the plantains. Using a sharp knife or a paring knife, slice off the ends of the plantain and make a shallow cut along the , green skin.
• Slice the Plantains: Cut the plantains into slices about ½ inch thick.
• Toss with Oil: Place the plantain slices in a large bowl. Add a teaspoon of oil (avocado, coconut, or a light spray of olive oil) and a little salt. Toss the plantains gently to ensure each slice is lightly coated.
• Air Frying: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the plantain slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the air fryer rack, ensuring they’re not overlapping. This might require cooking in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through, until they are golden brown and have begun to caramelize. The exact time might vary, so it’s a great idea to start checking a little bit early to prevent burning.

Keyword Airfryer, Plantains