Easy Homemade Plantain Chips: Crispy & Healthy Snack Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

These baked plantain chips are the tastiest crunchy snack that are perfect for scooping up your favorite dips, and can be made in just a few easy steps!

Easy Homemade Plantain Chips: Crispy & Healthy Snack Recipe - Fed & Fit (1)

If you tell me a dish has plantains I’m automatically 100% in! Whether it is a side ofpan-fried breakfast plantains, aplantain pizza crust, or roasted plantains for aCuban Casserole, I love plantains in all forms. But of all the things I’ve used plantains for, I have to say that these crispy, crunchy plantains chips are my absolute favorite use for them!

Plantain chips are the perfect alternative to potato chips or tortilla chips. Plus, they are perfect for snacking, are really easy to make, pack well for on-the-go, and are ideal for scooping upsalsa,guacamole, orceviche.

Ingredients Needed

  • 1 green plantain
  • 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon of course sea salt

Where can I find plantains?

Plantains are common in Caribbean and Latin American cooking. If you’ve never had one before, know that even though they look like a banana, they do NOT taste like one! Instead, they are very starchy and have a mild flavor that is unique to the plantain. You can typically find them in the produce aisle with international fruits, and they look just like a larger version of a banana.

What type of plantain is best for making plantain chips?

When it comes to choosing a plantain, there are two options: more ripe or less ripe. The more ripe plantains are yellow with brown spots. The less ripe plantains are green. The green plantains have a higher starch content, which makes them firmer and less sweet, and they are easy to slice thinly. On the other hand, yellow or brown plantains can be a little sticky, because their starch has converted into sugar. This makes them a little bit mushier and harder to cut and leads to a sweeter taste. Brown plantains make a great breakfast starch option, like thesebison plantain bowls!

While you can make plantain chips out of yellow or brown plantains if you can’t find another option, I recommend using green plantains for a perfectly crisp chip with a mild flavor that easily pairs with any dip.

Video

How to Make Baked Plantain Chips

Now that you’ve picked out your plantains, let’s talk about how to make these chips!

  1. Peel the plantain.While a plantain may look like a banana, it doesn’t peel as easily as one. The peel of the plantain is much thicker. Instead, you’ll need to score the plantain along the seams, then slide your finger under the peel to break it off. Watch the video above for a complete step-by-step!
  2. Slice the plantain.The key to making crispy plantain chips is thin, evenly sliced plantains. The thinner you can slice them, the crispier they will be! Taking care here to slice evenly will also help you get crisper, more evenly cooked chips.
  3. Season the plantains.Next, you’ll toss the plantains with either olive oil or coconut oil and a bit of sea salt.
  4. Spread the plantains on a cookie sheet and bake.Finally, you’ll spread the plantain chips on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in an even layer and bake the chips at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. If you weren’t able to slice all of the plantains to a consistent thickness, some may be done before others. Simply pull those off, then bake the remaining chips for an additional few minutes, until crisp.

Flavor Variations

While we love the classic sea salt flavor, there’s plenty of other ways to spice up your plantain chips!

  • Chili Lime– These chips are spiced with chili powder and lime juice for a totally addictive flavor combo that is perfect for dunking into homemade guacamole or ceviche!
  • Cinnamon Sugar – For a sweet snack, toss the chips with 1 tablespoon of cane sugar or coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Lemon Pepper – Before baking, toss the chips with 1/2 teaspoon of cracked black pepper and the juice of a lemon.
  • BBQ – Use one teaspoon of your favorite BBQ rub (we have a great recipehere) on the chips before baking for a fun replacement for the classic BBQ potato chip!
  • Curried – Toss the plantain slices with one teaspoon curry powder and 1 teaspoon lemon juice before baking for an addictive savory treat.
Easy Homemade Plantain Chips: Crispy & Healthy Snack Recipe - Fed & Fit (2)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to slice plantains?

The best way to get perfectly-thin, even plantain slices is to use amandoline. A mandolin slicer will help you work quickly through slicing the plantains, and guarantees that your slices will be the exact same thickness every time. However, if you don’t own a mandoline you can absolutely still make these. Just make sure you are using a sharp knife, and slice slowly and methodically. If a few slices are a bit uneven, that’s ok! Just let the thicker slices cook a bit longer.

Are plantain chips healthy?

Yes, plantain chips are a great healthy snack! Since they are oven-baked, they are not high in fat and calories like deep-fried plantain chips would be, and since you are making them from home, you can use a high-quality, healthy oil like olive or coconut oil to make your chips. Plantain chips are also Paleo and Whole30 compliant.

How long do plantain chips keep?

Plantain chips will be the best within 2-3 days of making them! We recommend storing them in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crisp. If your chips get a little bit soft, you can pop them back in a 350 F oven for 3-5 minutes to quickly re-crisp them!

Paleo Plantain Chips

5 from 1 vote

By Amber Goulden

Servings: 36 chips

Easy Homemade Plantain Chips: Crispy & Healthy Snack Recipe - Fed & Fit (3)

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The perfect crisp, and slightly salty snack – great for dipping!

Ingredients

  • 1 green plantain
  • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil or melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat: the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Peel the plantain: Cut off the ends of the plantain then score the 3 edges of it with a knife, being careful to only cut into the skin, not the plantain itself. Run your fingers down the cut edges of the plantain to lift off the skin, then discard it.

  • Slice the plantain: Thinly slice the plantain on a diagonal into 1/8th inch slices, or as thinly as you can consistently manage.

  • Bake the chips: Toss the plantain slices with olive oil and sea salt then lay on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp.

Video

Recipe Notes

  • The key to great plantain chips is to slice the plantain as evenly as possible so all of the chips cook at the same time. If you aren’t able to slice them all evenly, they may not be done at the same time, so you can simply remove the ones that are crisp at the 20 minute mark, then continue to bake the ones that are still soft for an additional few minutes.
  • You can use ripe plantains to make these chips, but it is much easier to use a green, unripe plantain because it is more firm.

Nutrition

Calories: 9kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 0.1mg | Iron: 0.04mg

Additional Info

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 36 chips

Calories: 9

Keyword: baked, gluten free, vegan, vegetarian

Easy Homemade Plantain Chips: Crispy & Healthy Snack Recipe - Fed & Fit (4)

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About the Author

Cassy Joy Garcia, NC

Cassy Joy Garcia, a New York Times best-selling author, of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed & Fit.

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Easy Homemade Plantain Chips: Crispy & Healthy Snack Recipe - Fed & Fit (2024)

FAQs

How to make plantain chips very crunchy? ›

The most important thing to note when making plantain chips is to make sure that the slices are thin so that they crisp up in the oil. Using a mandoline, slice the plantains. At this point, you can either slice the plantain directly into the oil or you can slice them into a bowl to get them ready for frying later.

Can I eat plantain chips during weight loss? ›

Banana Plantain Chips aren't just healthy they have quite a few lot of benefits to it. Plantain Chips are best when they are baked not fried to get the most out off it, they contain complex carbs and fat in them. Each 3-ounce of serving of plantain chips have 27 milligrams of Vitamin C, it also helps in weight loss.

Are homemade plantain chips healthy? ›

They also have a lower sugar content than bananas, making them a better savoury snack option and perfect for turning into chips or crisps. Typically, plantain chips are a great source of fibre and other nutrients like potassium and sodium, and provide more vitamins A and C than potato chips.

Which oil is best for plantain chips? ›

Yes, plantain chips are a great healthy snack! Since they are oven-baked, they are not high in fat and calories like deep-fried plantain chips would be, and since you are making them from home, you can use a high-quality, healthy oil like olive or coconut oil to make your chips.

What makes chips more crispy? ›

The trick to getting the chips to taste like they are straight from the chip shop is to fry them twice in the hot oil. The first fry is at a lower temperature and softens the potato; the second turn in the hot oil is at a higher temp and achieves that signature crispy exterior.

Is plantain good for belly fat loss? ›

Most people want to know if plantain is good for weight loss. Plantain is less sweet, but some people know that banana is a sweet food. But this is not true, since the banana does not contain sweets and is full of diet foods. Plantain is useful for those who want to reduce their weight and abdominal fat.

Are plantain chips good for gut health? ›

Plantains are high in fiber. Intake of an adequate amount of dietary fiber helps normal bowel movements, while deficiency of it can lead to digestive problems such as constipation.

Are plantain chips junk food? ›

Are Plantain Chips Healthy? Plantains are an excellent source of fiber and essential nutrients that might make them a healthy snack depending upon the cooking method. If the chips have been fried, you should consider eating them in moderation as fried food may increase your risk of chronic health issues.

Is it okay to eat plantain chips everyday? ›

Plantain chips are a lot like potato chips or sweet potato chips. Most plantain chips are fried, rather than baked, which means that they're rich in fat as well as carbohydrates. While plantain chips are a source of some vitamins and minerals, like potato chips, they should be consumed in moderation.

Are plantains healthier than potato chips? ›

Store-bought plantain chips are addictively delicious, but they're no healthier than regular potato chips. If you bake your own plantain chips at home, however, you can control how much oil you use and you can add spices to boost the flavor without the fat.

Is plantain healthier than potato? ›

Cooked plantains are nutritionally very similar to a potato, calorie-wise, but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals. They're a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and the minerals magnesium and potassium. This hidden superfood warrants a trip your local grocery. Read on to learn why.

Who makes the healthiest plantain chips? ›

Barnana Organic Plantain Chips

There's a lot to love about Barnana plantain chips. First, these chips are made with just three ingredients: organic plantains, organic coconut oil, and Himalayan pink salt. They're also vegan, paleo-friendly, certified organic, and kosher (2).

What are crispy plantain chips called? ›

Plantain chips are a popular snack among Central American, Caribbean, and South American cultures. Depending on the country they hail from, they might be called platanitos, mariquitas, chifles, platanutres, or something else entirely.

How to make a rich plantain chips? ›

In fact, you just need to peel, slice and season green plantains with olive oil and salt, then bake them until crispy, golden brown. The best part is you can customize your plantain chips however you like – add your favorite spices and seasonings to jazz them up.

Why my banana chips are not crispy? ›

A common reason behind dehydrated bananas not being crispy enough has to do with the ripeness of the fruit before the drying process. Starting off with bananas that are a bit firm is best, as overripe bananas can take longer to dry and, as a result, become sticky rather than crispy.

Why are my fried plantains dry? ›

Cook Plantains On Lower Heat To Ensure No Burnt Flavor

The fruit needs only a few minutes on each side until the outside hits an appealing golden-brown color. Anything darker and the result will be too dry; anything less, and the plantains will remain hard.

How to make soft chips crispy? ›

Use the Oven:Preheat your oven to around 400°F (200°C). Place the soggy chips on a baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure they're not too crowded, allowing for proper air circulation. Bake the chips in the preheated oven for about 5-10 minutes, turning them over halfway through the baking time.

Why do you need to soak plantains before frying? ›

Soak green plantains before frying them to keep the fruit from oxidizing quickly. As soon as you slice the green plantains, put them in a little salt water to keep the plantains from turning brown; it also helps season them.

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