These Air Fryer Plantains are a great meal prep snack that lasts all week! Sweet, ripe, plantains cook up quickly and easily in the air fryer to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
recipe overview
Plantains are a staple ingredient in Caribbean cuisine as well as Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican dishes. Luckily, plantains are readily available in American grocery stores, and you are about to learn how to make air fryer plantains that are just as delicious as anything you’d get in the Caribbean!
Air Fryer Plantains are easy to make, and this recipe needs only three ingredients. Traditionally, plantains would be fried in oil to get tender and crispy on the outside, but we are using just a tablespoon of oil to get the same effect from the air fryer.
Want to air fry some regular bananas? We have a recipe for Air Fryer Banana Chips! Or maybe your should pair these plantains with a side of Fat Elvis Ice Cream! Trust me on that one!
list of ingredients
- Plantains – You want two very ripe plantains that are still fairly firm. The more black you see on the skins the better. Similar to bananas, they get sweeter and softer the riper they get.
- Oil – A little bit of any neutral-flavored oil works here. Avocado oil, light olive oil, or vegetable oil are my go-to options.
- Sugar – Sugar is added to enhance the natural sweetness of the plantains. If you prefer not to add sugar, you can leave it out, or use a sprinkle of salt instead. Pro tip: Add a little sugar AND salt to the basket when they are still hot. Trust me.
how to air fryer plantains
- Slice ripe plantains into 1/2-inch thick diagonal slices. Be sure all the plantain chips are the same size for even air frying.
- Put the sliced plantains into a bowl and drizzle with half of the oil. Toss until evenly coated.
- Place plantains in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You may need to do two batches, depending on the size of your plantains.
- Cook plantains at 370F for 5 minutes. Brush the tops of the plantains with the remaining oil, flip over and cook an additional 5 minutes, or until plantains are browned and the insides are tender.
Serving ideas
Plantains make a beautiful side dish for any meaty meal, or can even act as a meat substitute in vegetarian meals. They are very versatile!
Enjoy sweet plantains with Air Fryer Chicken Legs, Air Fryer Smoky Chicken, or Air Fryer Pork Belly. The sweetness pairs well with the smoky, savory flavors of these meat dishes.
Use air fryer plantains as a filling for tacos, topped with your favorite taco fixings.
Make a vegan meal using air-fried plantains served with seasoned beans and rice. It’s got all the textures and flavors you need in a well-rounded dish with none of the meat!
You can even use plantains on top of an ice cream sundae!
how to pick the perfect plantain
A ripe plantain looks like it may have gone bad! If your plantain is yellow or green, it is not ready to eat yet. Allow your plantains to sit out on the counter until they are mostly black. This is when they are perfectly soft and sweet and ready to be cooked.
The ideal plantain for this recipe is very ripe and still fairly firm. The more black you see on the skins the better.
Typically you will buy the plantain green and will need to give it a few days at home to get ripe, so if you are planning ahead, allow some time.
Need to ripen your plantains fast? Put them in a paper bag with a ripening apple or banana to speed up the process by a couple of days.
how to peel a plantain
Plantains might look like bananas, but they don’t peel the same!
Here’s the best way to peel a plantain:
- Use a paring knife to cut off both ends.
- Score a line down the peel.
- Place the knife into the cut your just made and slice off a strip of the peel.
- Continue gently prying the peel off of the plantain and cutting when necessary.
- Try not to cut the plantain while you are peeling it!
No need to boil first!
If you were frying these plantains in a traditional fryer you’d need to boil them first. But not with the air fryer!
This air fryer plantains recipe is made with less fat than a traditional fried version, plus there is less work required! All you need is an air fryer and a sharp knife for this easy snack recipe.
Air Fryer Plantains
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Plantains very ripe
- 1 tbsp Avocado Oil divided
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
Instructions
- Slice plantains into ½-inch thick diagonal pieces.
- Place plantain slices in a bowl and drizzle with half of the oil. Toss until evenly coated.
- Place plantains in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If you do not have enough space, you may need to work in batches.
- Cook plantains at 370F for 5 minutes. Brush the tops of the plantains with the remaining oil, flip over and cook an additional 5 minutes, or until plantains are browned and the insides are tender.
- Sprinkle with granulated sugar and serve immediately.
Notes
- These are sweet plantains, also known as maduros. I like to sprinkle mine with a little sugar to really enhance the sweetness of the plantains. However, you can also sprinkle them with salt instead.
- The key to this recipe is in the ripeness of the plantains. If your plantains are still green, they are not yet ready to be air fried yet. Unripe green plantains are best for making tostones. You want your plantains to have a lot of black marks on the skin. The amount of black on the skin in our ingredients shot is exactly what we’re looking for. If your plantains are not ripe enough, they will come out tasting starchy rather than soft and sweet.
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
- ProTip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes airfying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
- Have oven recipes that you’d like to convert to an air fryer recipe? Use our Air Fryer Calculator to help you estimate cooking times and temps! Calculator here: https://airfryereats.com/air-fryer-conversion-air-fryer-calculator/
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
These look so delicious and crispy. My husband is going to love it. Can’t wait to make these delicious and yummy treat!
Air fryer Plantain Chips are simply the best.. so easy to make.
Loved these plantains! They were so delicious and easy to whip up!
Yum! A quick and easy snack that my whole family loved.
Yummy! This will be added to the dishes I do with my airfryer!
This was amazingly good. In my 66 years, I’ve never eaten plantain. This recipe is a keeper!
Hi Pat! So glad you hear that you loved the air fryer plantains! That is great!! Glad its a keeper recipe! I think so too!