If you love crispy, salty, and healthy snacks, this air fryer banana chips recipe is for you.
With the air fryer, the bananas earn a crispy crust just like a potato chip. Garnished with a little salt, they’re both sweet and salty at the same time.
My favorite thing about this recipe is the bananas are a blank canvas for seasoning. Make them sweeter with sugar and cinnamon, or reach for a savory spice.
No matter how you make them, you won’t be able to resist them!
Ingredients
This snack only requires a few ingredients. If you have bananas on hand, you’re almost there!
Here’s everything you need for these banana chips.
- Bananas – To earn that crispy crust, use bananas at peak ripeness. Firm bananas don’t have much flavor, but overly ripe bananas are too mushy.
- Olive oil or coconut oil – You only need a little oil for the salt and seasoning to stick to the bananas. Olive oil or coconut oil offers a nice, gentle flavor. To cut down on oil, you can also use coconut oil spray.
- Salt – Adding salt to these banana chips makes them delightfully salty. Plus, it draws out the flavor of the bananas. Add a little or a lot, depending on how salty you like your snacks.
- Cinnamon or lime juice – If you want to dial up the flavor of these chips, add some garnishes. Use cinnamon for a dessert-like snack or lime juice for more acidic notes.
How to Make Air Fryer Banana Chips
The great thing about this recipe is the air fryer does all the hard work. It only takes 10 minutes, and it’s worth the short wait.
Check out how easy it all comes together.
1. Preheat. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut the bananas. Cut the ripe bananas into 1/4-inch rounds. A mandoline works great for achieving even slices, but a sharp knife works in a pinch.
3. Season the bananas. Put the sliced bananas in a bowl and coat them with olive oil or cooking spray. Add them to the fryer basket and garnish them with salt.
4. Bake. Cook the banana rounds in the air fryer for 6 minutes. Then, flip them over and cook for 4-5 more minutes.
5. Garnish. Allow the bananas to cool on a wire rack, and garnish them with additional seasoning while they’re still warm.
6. Serve. Once they’re cool enough to handle, serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
No one wants mushy banana chips. Follow these tips so your chips are crispy, crunchy, and addictive!
- Space out your slices. Place the banana slices in a single layer in your air fryer basket. If you overcrowd the basket, they won’t become crispy. You may need to work in batches for the best results.
- Uniformity is key. It’s super important that all banana slices are the same size. You can eyeball it with a knife, but a mandoline works well for even slices. Cutting them the same size ensures they all cook at an even rate.
- Keep the temp low and slow. Keeping the temperature low ensures the bananas won’t burn. If you love super crispy snacks, cool them for 5 more minutes instead of turning up the heat.
Flavor Variations
Ready for some fun variations? With a few additions, you can create the most drool-worthy snack in minutes. Here are some of my favorite variations of this recipe.
- Switch up the salt. Table salt works great in this recipe, but you don’t have to stop there! Using smoked, seasoned, or black salt is an easy way to tinker with flavor.
- Tropical banana chips. In the mood for something tropical? Before popping your bananas into the air fryer, toss them in lime juice, coconut oil, and shredded coconut.
- Herbal banana chips. If you love a savory snack, bust out that spice rack! Adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, onion, or garlic powder takes them to a new level. Plus, they’re amazing dipped in hummus!
- Chocolate banana chips. Chocolate-covered bananas, anyone? After the chips come out of the air fryer, drizzle a little chocolate on top. They’re great as a snack but even better with ice cream.
- Cinnamon sugar banana chips. Cinnamon sugar banana chips are hard to resist. So, consider yourself warned. Before they hit the air fryer, try tossing them with cinnamon and brown sugar.
How to Store
Like any good chip, once you start devouring them, it’s hard to stop. If you have a little thing called self-control, here’s what to do with any leftovers. Luckily, they keep well for a long time!
- To Store. Cool the chips completely before storing or they’ll become soggy. Once cooled, place them in an air-tight container. They will stay fresh on the countertop for up to 3 weeks.
- To Freeze: Place the cooled chips in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze them for 2 hours. This step prevents them from sticking together. Then, toss them in a freezer bag. They’ll stay fresh for up to 8 months. They won’t be as crispy, but they’ll still taste great!
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Apple Chips
Air Fryer Hush Puppies
Air Fryer Corn Dogs
Air Fryer Quesadillas
Air Fryer Potato Wedges