These Air Fryer Plantains are a healthy alternative to potato chips, and they’re so good! There are days when cooking seems too much work, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If you love store-bought plantain chips, this is a great way to make them at home!

overhead: air fryer plantains cooling on a wite rack
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Air Fried Plantains

Air Fryer Plantains…talk about a great and healthy snack! I made a batch for my kids while they were doing virtual school.

They loved them, and I added some ground cinnamon which enhanced the flavor. Today, I am giving you my tips for how to make this plantain chips recipe in the air fryer!

If you have never made homemade chips, this is the perfect place to start. They are super simple to make, and they bake up in minutes with the air fryer!

A delicious snack that you can feel good about feeding to the family!

If you have not roasted fruit in the Air Fryer yet, some of my favorite Air Fryer Fruit Recipes are AIR FRYER GRILLED PEACHES, AIR FRYER GRILLED STRAWBERRY ANGEL FOOD CAKE, AIR FRYER STRAWBERRY MASCARPONE BRUSCHETTA, and AIR FRYER ROASTED PEAR SALAD.

Why You’ll Love Plantains in Air Fryer

  • Perfect for healthy snacking
  • Only 4 ingredients
  • Kid-tested and approved
  • So easy in the air fryer!

Watch How To Make Homemade Plantain Chips

What Is A Plantain?

If you ever walked through a grocery store and thought to yourself, that is a strange green banana, then it was probably a plantain.

So, the plantain is a fruit, but it is air fried and cooked as a vegetable, just like a tomato. It has thick skin, and you will soon realize this if you ever try to peel it. It can not be eaten raw like it’s look-alike, a banana.

It is usually found in Central and South American, Caribbean, African, and Southwestern Asian dishes. They were originally native only to Southeastern Asia, but during the trade routes, they were brought there and became trendy in those cultures.

Ingredients Needed to Air Fry Plantains

If you’re looking for a healthy and delicious snack, look no further than air fryer plantain chips. This easy recipe only requires a few simple ingredients, and the end result is crispy and flavorful — perfect for satisfying your cravings.

overhead: ingredients needed to air fry plantains

For complete ingredients and quantities, keep on scrolling until you get to the bottom with a printable recipe card.

  • Plantains
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Olive Oil: You can also use coconut oil, avocado oil, or even grapeseed oil.
  • Granulated Sugar

What Is A Ripe Plantain?

Like the banana, green plantains mean that they are not riped yet. A great ripe plantain is yellow with some black spots. The best plantains to roast are yellow with some green still, as they will hold their shape.

How To Peel A Plantain

If you have ever tried to peel a plantain, you will soon learn it’s not easy. The skin is VERY thick, and you must remove it before you air fry plantains. Here are my tips:

  1. Cut the ends with a sharp knife.
  2. Use your fingernails to go underneath the skin to peel it. It’s not easy and will require some work. If it is green and will not budge, simply use a knife and cut the skin.

How To Make Air Fryer Plantains

overhead: sliced plantains to make this plantain chips recipe

Step 1: Prepare the plantains

Start by peeling and slicing the plantains. You ideally want to get them the same width so they air fry evenly. I would recommend about 1/4-inch thick pieces. You can also use a mandolin slicer.

Add the plantain slices and oil into a large bowl. Mix well, so all of the plantains are coated, which will help get that roasted flavor.

plantains in air fryer basket

Step 2: Air fry plantains

Add the coated plantains to a PREHEATED air fryer basket, making sure not to crowd them.

Make sure that they are in a single layer, so they cook up perfectly, to a golden brown.

overhead: air fried plantains cooling on a wire rack

Step 3: How long to cook plantains in air fryer

Set the temperature to 350 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 4 to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip the plantains with a spatula or a fork. Continue to air fry for another 3 to 5 minutes.

As the chips become ready, remove them from the air fryer. Season with granulated sugar and ground cinnamon before serving.

Let your air fried plantains cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will last about a week.

You can reheat them in the microwave, air fryer, or stove.

a bowl of air fryer plantains

Tips For The Best Air Fried Plantain Chips

  • Use your favorite air fryer: This recipe has been prepared in several different air fryers including the Ninja Foodi, PowerXL, Nuwave, Cosori, Instant Pot, and other Air Fryer Basket and Air Fryer Oven Models. The recipe will remain the same, with the timing varying by a minute or two.
  • For best results, do not crowd your air fryer basket. Otherwise, you will find that some of them won’t crisp up.
  • Try to cut the plantains into the same size pieces, so they all air fry up at the same time.

Are Air Fryer Plantains Healthy?

Yes, air fried plantains are so healthy. Using a little bit of olive oil, they are a healthy and delicious snack that you can serve to your family!

If you compare air frying plantain chips to deep frying them, you will save a ton of calories and fat from frying them!

Same great taste but a healthy version! Plantain chips are also known as Kerala Banana chips as they are a very popular snack in India. 

closeup: a hand with red nail polish holding an air fryer plantain chip

What Are Plantain Chips Made Of? 

Plantain chips are made from plantains, which are a type of banana. They have more starch than regular bananas and can be cooked in different ways to make them crispy or soft. They’re usually cut into thin rounds before they’re fried, but you can also bake them if you want to stay away from oil!

For simple ingredients, any grocery store in America will have some plantains, usually found near bananas.

You can use either green or yellow varieties to make this plantain chips recipe! There is nothing better than a bowl of plantain air fryer chips!

How Long Does Plantain Take In Air Fryer?

Air fryer plantains take about 8 to 10 minutes. It will depend on how thick the plantain chips are.

Of course, since every model is slightly different, remember to check on plantains in air fryer frequently during cooking time! This way, you end up with a perfectly cooked batch!

How Long Does It Take To Dehydrate Plantains?

Plantains are delicious but often take a long time to prepare. If you want to avoid spending hours in the kitchen, it might be better to dehydrate them instead of frying or baking them.

Depending on what air fryer you own, it will take about 8 to 12 hours to dehydrate plantains.

Are Plantain Chips The Same As Banana Chips?

Plantain chips are a great alternative to homemade banana chips. They taste better! But what if plantains and bananas aren’t the same things? Is it possible that those delicious plantain chips you enjoy so much are just banana chips in disguise?

Besides the apparent reason, plantain chips are made from plantains, and bananas are made from bananas. Banana chips are less crispier than plantain chips and taste different.

closeup overhead: air fried plantains in a white bowl

Are Plantains High In Sugar?

Plantains are a type of fruit that can be eaten as a vegetable, and they offer many health benefits. They contain nutrients like Vitamin A and potassium, but do they also have elevated sugar levels? Many people think so, but it turns out that plantains don’t contain any more sugar than other vegetables.

They are very low in sugar. In other countries, they are used in baked goods to give natural sweetness. They are also known as Kerala Banana Chips since unripe plantains are nendran bananas.

Can This Be Made In The Oven?

Use the same method as indicated on the plantain chips recipe card below, then bake them in a preheated oven for 5-7 minutes at 425 degrees F.

Are Plantain Chips Keto?

No, plantains are a high-carbohydrate food and very starchy vegetable. The standard ketogenic diet allows for about 50 grams per day. Since plantain has 36 carbs in just one serving, this will bring you very close to your limit if eaten on top of the other foods that should only contain protein and fat!

Health Benefits of Plantain Chips

Yes, if you’re like most people, you probably think of plantains as a starchy side dish that’s served at Caribbean restaurants. However, what you may not know is that plantains make great chips that are both healthy and delicious.

The natural vitamins A and C found in plantain chips offer many health benefits to your skin, immune system, and eyesight.

They are a healthier option than potato chips, making plantains in air fryer a perfect snack!

Sweet Plantain Chips Recipe

Now that you know how to air fry plantains, you can easily use this recipe with sweet varieties instead to get the most delicious, crispy plantain chips ever! Made from sweet yellow bananas, they’re naturally gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and tasty!

More Air Fryer Fruit Recipes:

Air Fryer Plantain Chips

Air Fryer Plantains

4.15 from 7 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

These Air Fryer Plantains are a healthy alternative to potato chips, and they're so good! There are days when cooking seems too much work, but that doesn't have to be the case. If you love store-bought plantain chips, this is a great way to make them at home!

Ingredients 

  • 2 large green plantains
  • 4-6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Start by peeling and slicing the plantains. You ideally way to get them the same width, so they air fry at the same time. I would recommend about 1/4 inch thick pieces.
  • Add the sliced plantains and olive oil into a large mixing bowl. Mix well, so all of the plantains are coated, which will help with them getting that roasted flavor.
  • Add the coated plantains to a PREHEATED air fryer basket, making sure not to crowd them.
  • Set the temperature to 350 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 4 to 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, flip the plantains with a spatula, or use a fork. Continue to air fry for another 3 to 5 minutes. As the chips become ready, remove them from the air fryer.
  • Season with granulated sugar and ground cinnamon before serving.
  • Plate, serve, and enjoy!

Equipment

  • Air Fryer Recipe

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 390mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

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titled image (and shown): air fryer plantain chips