Nothing is more satisfying to our fitness journey and your taste buds than Air Fryer Sweet Plantains. It is the perfect healthy alternative to the deep-fried version we all know and love. You would never know these were air-fried and you can eat them guilt-free knowing that they weren't swimming in oil. Eating Jollof rice and chicken will continue to feel complete with this side dish.

Plated and cooked air fried sweet plantains on a blue serving dish

Air frying sweet plantains changed the game for me!

West Africans don't play with their fried plantains. There is even some debate on what level of ripeness is ideal.

It is a key part of the food culture and often gets tossed to the side when people are trying to be conscious of their weight loss goals.

There is something about a hot plate of white rice and chicken stew with plantains that gets the people going.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe is easy to make, involves very little clean up, and doesn't force your body to store unnecessary fat.

Who doesn't like fried food? Appliances like the air fryer really expanded the way we view fried foods in our diet. For example, chicken wings aren't viewed as "unhealthy" when they are baked, but the minute they are fried it's a no-go. The same goes for plantains.

Even though they are high in natural sugars and carbohydrates, sweet plantains provide more macronutrients than bananas and are high in flavonoids and phenols which decrease inflammation.

So if you felt the need to stop eating sweet plantains, you will enjoy this recipe and use it over and over again.

Ingredients You'll Need

ripe plantain. This recipe calls for two ripe plantains. A ripe plantain will have colors ranging from yellow to yellow-black. Slice the plantains into ¼-inch slices. I was able to get about 8-9 slices.
salt. Sprinkling a little salt after the plantains have cooked is a simple addition to enhance its natural flavors. If you are feeling fancy, add garlic-salt instead or regular salt to give the plantain more flavor.

pictured are 2 ripe plantains — 2 medium sized sweet plantains

sliced sweet plantains ready for the air fryer — 2 medium sized sweet plantains

Air Fried Plantain Calories

This breakdown is for 1 serving of sweet plantains, which is around 3-4 pieces, depending on how thick your slices are.

Total Calories: 109

Protein: 1 gram

Fat: 0 grams

Carbs: 29 grams

How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Plantains

Preheat. Set air fryer to 350° for about a minute. Warming the air fryer allows for all the slices to cook evenly.
Cooking spray. Spray the rack with cooking oil and place your slices without overcrowded. Spray the top of your slices as well.
Air Fry. Cook for 4 minutes then flip the plantain slices and cook for the remaining 4 minutes. The total cooking time is 8 minutes.
Remove, sprinkle with salt, and Enjoy!

uncooked slices of sweet plantain in an air fryer

Recipe Tips

Do not overcrowd the air fryer. It will cause uneven cooking won't allow for proper air circulation.
Spray the rack so there is no sticking. Also spray the top of the plantain slices so they brown and crisp-up the way you want.
Make sure the slices aren't too thin or too thick. This would change the cooking time. If they are too thin they will be plantain chips. If they are too thick they will be undercooked in the middle.

Storage Tips

For cooked plantain, store then in an air tight container and leave in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can also use a storage bag, just remember to remove as much air as possible before sealing.

cooked air fried sweet plantain slices on a blue plate

Check Out These Fit-Friendly Recipes...