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    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Bananas

    Published: Sep 15, 2022 · Modified: Aug 5, 2023 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments

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    These air fryer bananas are so sweet and so simple to make. Using the air fryer, you get rich, deep banana flavor along with the extra sweetness of brown sugar and the crunch of nuts!

    Closeup photo of a white platter full of banana quarters. The bananas have been cooked inside an air fryer and are topped with brown sugar and chopped pecans.

    I'm a big fan of cooked bananas. I love their natural sweetness. Of course, they're great in baked goods like banana bread or cake, but I think they really shine when they're the star of the show in an air fryer recipe like this one.

    I've been making bananas in the air fryer for years, and everyone always loves them. They've been a particular favorite of my husband and son since I first started making them.

    We all love bananas foster so this fast and fabulous banana recipe is right up our alley. My son enjoys these bananas on top of our peanut butter and jelly ice cream or our easy peanut butter cup ice cream, minus the Snickers sauce.

    Yep I said Snickers sauce.

    This banana side dish was inspired by my banana egg roll recipe on this site. That recipe makes bananas the main ingredient, and years ago, I decided that the only way to make it better was to create a recipe that was fully banana-centric.

    These tasty bananas make the perfect quick and easy banana dessert after a hearty meal of margarita grilled chicken because it creates such a delicious flavor contrast.

    Ingredients

    This is the best kind of recipe - the EASY kind. It only takes three ingredients to make these delicious caramelized bananas. Actually 4 if you count cooking spray!

    Overhead photo of all the ingredients needed to make bananas in an air fryer. the ingredients are placed on a counter top.
    • Bananas: I always look for the biggest bananas I can find so I get the most out of this recipe.
    • Brown Sugar: Brown sugar does a great job of adding extra sweetness and highlighting the banana's flavor.
    • Chopped Pecans: That earthy, nutty flavor is the perfect pairing with the sweet bananas.

    How to Make Air Fryer Bananas

    Making these bananas is a snap. It only takes a few simple steps, and you're all done. You'll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.

    1: Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.

    Bananas sliced vertically in quarters on a wooden cutting board. A knife with a blue handle is on the wooden cutting board.
    Banana quarters on a wooden cutting board with two bowls of pecans and brown sugar.

    2. Prep the bananas. Then, spray them with cooking spray and press brown sugar on to them.

    Closeup photo of a banana quarter. The banana is covered with brown sugar.
    Brown sugar covered banana quarters inside an air fryer basket which is lined with a baking sheet.

    3. Air fry the bananas in a single layer for 7 to 9 minutes or until the brown sugar melts and begins to crystalize.

    Banana quarters cooked inside an air fryer. The brown sugar has caramelized onto the banana quarters.
    Closeup photo of a pair of tongs holding a banana quarter. The banana is covered in melted brown sugar.

    4. Carefully remove the bananas using tongs and immediately sprinkle with pecans.

    Closeup photo of a banana cooked inside an air fryer. The banana is topped with melted brown sugar and chopped pecans.
    Overhead photo of banana quarters cooked inside an air fryer and topped with chopped pecans.
    Closeup photo of banana quarters on a white platter. The bananas have been topped with chopped pecans.

    5. Carefully peel them, and serve bananas on their own or with vanilla ice cream or your favorite flavor, with pancakes or french toast or on a piece of toast covered in peanut butter.

    Closeup photo of a bowl of vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is topped with slices of the cooked bananas. A spoon is standing vertically inside the bowl.

    Substitutions and Variations

    This recipe is super easy to make, which means it's incredibly easy to play around with to keep things interesting.

    • Plantains: You can use plantains in place of bananas if you like. They're a great variation to try.
    • Brown Sugar: If you don't have brown sugar, mix regular sugar with a bit of molasses.
    • Nuts: Try any of your favorite nuts. They're all delicious with bananas.
    • Banana Slices: Using a sharp knife, cut banana slices inside the peel before you spray bananas with cooking spray and cover with brown sugar. Decide if you want to do it depending on how you're serving them.
    • Melted Butter: Instead of cooking spray use melted butter instead.

    Storage

    Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    To reheat them, simply microwave them at 30-second intervals until hot.

    What To Serve With Air Fryer Bananas

    These super delicious morning treats deserve to be served with something equally tasty! For that reason, we've included a list of mind-blowingly amazing breakfast finger foods for you to add to the bananas to create a well rounded meal. Trust me when I say that you'll have all who taste your breakie jumping for joy...the experience will be that great!

    Expert Tips

    Making these air fryer bananas is an incredibly simple process, but there are still some important things to keep in mind.

    • Use a sharp knife to cut the bananas for frying so you make clean cuts rather than smashing them.
    • Always preheat your air fryer before cooking the bananas. It's a myth that you don't have to preheat air fryers.
    • Be sure you line and spray your basket before making these bananas to avoid a mess.
    Closeup photo of air fryer bananas on a white platter. The bananas are topped with caramelized brown sugar and chopped pecans.

    FAQ

    Here are the most commonly asked questions about this recipe for air fryer bananas.

    Are bananas and plantains the same?

    No. Plantains are starchier than bananas and have thicker skin. Ripe plantains have the sweetness of a banana but don't taste like a banana.

    Can I use plantain in place of bananas?

    You sure can. This recipe is great with plantain. Although it doesn't taste like bananas, plantain is sweet when ripe and gets sweeter when cooked.

    How do you serve air fryer bananas?

    I love to serve these bananas over ice cream, on peanut butter toast or with pancakes or french toast.

    Video

    YouTube video

    More Banana Recipes

    If you like bananas, then check out these recipes.

    • Air fryer banana fritters piled on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Banana Fritters
    • Closeup photo of a Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Banana standing upright and leaning on another peanut butter chocolate covered banana.
      Peanut Butter Chocolate Bananas
    • Frozen chocolate covered banana pops stacked atop oine another on a plate.
      Chocolate Covered Banana Pops
    • Fruity Pebbles Banana Pops - Best Snack EVER!

    Air Fryer Bananas

    Air fryer bananas are rich, sweet, and so easy to make. They're a great snack or fresh dessert that everyone will love.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 9 minutes mins
    Total Time 19 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 89 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • Sharp knife
    • cutting board
    • Tongs

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 bananas sliced in half lengthwise and widthwise while still in the peel
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup chopped pecans

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat air fryer at 350ºF for 5 minutes.
    • Line air fryer basket with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
    • Spray the bananas with cooking spray.
    • Press brown sugar on to bananas and
    • Place prepared bananas in air fryer basket.
    • Air fry for 7-9 minutes or until brown sugar is melted and beginning to crystalize.
    • The bananas and brown sugar will be VERY HOT. Carefully use a tongs or silicone oven mitts to remove them from the air fryer basket and immediately sprinkle pecans on top.
    • Carefully remove the bananas from the peel and serve them over ice cream, pancakes, french toast or on top of peanut butter covered toast.

    Notes

    • Use a sharp knife to cut the bananas for frying so you make clean cuts rather than smashing them.
    • Always preheat your air fryer before cooking the bananas. It's a myth that you don't have to preheat air fryers.
    • Be sure you line and spray your basket before making these bananas to avoid a mess.
    To make the masses run down the street, telling others how good of a chef you are, try serving these air fryer bananas with one or two of our breakfast finger foods. Your meal will be top notch and bring a smile to the faces of all who taste it!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 184mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 29IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.3mg
    Keyword air fryer bananas
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Genie

      April 22, 2023 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      I had no idea I could put bananas in the air fryer. This is awesome! We like to put them on French toast. My daughter is not a fan of pecans so she likes things like whipped cream and/or melted chocolate. They are just so yummy no matter how I eat them.

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken

        April 22, 2023 at 8:57 pm

        Aren’t these bananas wonderful? We eat them all the time. So many ways to eat them too. I’m so glad you’re enjoying this recipe. I think it’s a keeper. All the best. Karin

    2. Anonymous

      September 15, 2022 at 6:24 pm

      Why not toast the nuts as well

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken

        September 15, 2022 at 6:30 pm

        You can toast the nuts too but some will burn. My husband makes his like that because he doesn’t mind a little charring and it saves a step. I do. I’d love to hear what you think if you try it. Enjoy. These bananas are delicious! Hope to talk soon. Karin

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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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