These Crispy Air Fryer Banana Peppers are a tangy, crunchy snack that rivals any restaurant appetizer. By using the air fryer, you get golden-brown pepper rings with a satisfying crunch without the heavy grease of deep frying.
With a savory garlic-seasoned coating and the natural zest of the peppers, this dish is the perfect finger food for game days or a unique side dish for your next burger night.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: The peppers offer a mild tangy heat that pairs perfectly with the savory garlic and black pepper crust.
- Texture: You get a crispy, golden exterior that gives way to a tender, juicy pepper inside.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 8 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves a simple dry dredge and air frying.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need an air fryer to achieve that crispy texture. A medium mixing bowl is used for the seasoned flour mixture. You will also need a knife and cutting board to slice and deseed the peppers. The ingredients are simple pantry staples combined with fresh banana peppers.
Ingredient Notes
- Banana Peppers – You need 1 lb of fresh banana peppers or sweet peppers. These peppers are known for their tangy flavor and mild heat. Slicing them into rings and removing the seeds makes them easy to eat.
- All-Purpose Flour – This creates the base of the crispy coating.
- Garlic Powder – Adds a savory depth to the crust that complements the peppers well.
- Olive Oil Spray – Essential for air frying. It helps the flour coating crisp up and turn golden brown instead of staying powdery.
- Seasonings – Ground black pepper and sea salt round out the flavor profile.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spice – If you want an extra kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika to the flour mixture.
- Peppers – If you cannot find banana peppers, you can use other mild peppers like cubanelle or even sliced bell peppers for a sweeter version.
- Dip – While ranch is recommended, these are also delicious with marinara sauce or a spicy mayo.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Banana Peppers
- Mix Seasoning: In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, and ground black pepper.
- Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 350° F.
- Coat the Peppers: Dip the sliced banana peppers into the seasoned flour. Let them sit for 5 minutes. This resting time allows the natural moisture of the peppers to absorb some of the flour, creating a thick coating.
- Arrange: Place the coated banana peppers in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overlap them.
- Spray: Spray cooking oil all over the banana peppers on both sides. This ensures the flour cooks and becomes crispy.
- Cook: Air fry the banana peppers for 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
- Cool: Move the banana peppers onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels to remove any extra oil. Let them cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve: Move the dish onto a platter or a bowl and pair it with a small bowl of ranch dressing for dipping.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip the resting step after dredging the peppers in flour. Since this recipe doesn’t use an egg wash, letting the flour sit on the peppers for 5 minutes is crucial for the coating to adhere properly and crisp up in the air fryer.
Recipe Tips
- Single Layer: Air fryers work by circulating hot air. If you pile the peppers on top of each other, they will steam instead of crisp. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Spray Generously: Be sure to spray any visible dry flour spots with the olive oil spray. Dry flour will not brown and will have a chalky texture.
- Seed Removal: Removing the seeds and white membranes helps reduce the heat slightly and improves the texture of the rings.
FAQs
- Are banana peppers spicy? They are generally mild to medium, with a tangy kick. They are much milder than jalapeños but have more flavor than bell peppers.
- How do I store leftovers? These are best eaten fresh. However, you can store them in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to crisp them back up.
- Can I use frozen peppers? Fresh peppers are highly recommended. Frozen peppers release too much water and will make the flour coating soggy.
Serving Suggestions
- Appetizer Spread: Serve alongside mozzarella sticks or onion rings for a fried food platter.
- Side Dish: These make a great crunchy topping for salads or a side for sandwiches.
- Sauce: A creamy ranch dressing or blue cheese dip is the perfect cool contrast to the warm, tangy peppers.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can slice and deseed the peppers a day in advance and store them in the refrigerator.
- Cooking: It is best to coat and air fry the peppers right before serving to maintain the best crispy texture.
Crispy Air Fryer Banana Peppers
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Description
These Crispy Air Fryer Banana Peppers are a tangy, crunchy snack that rivals any restaurant appetizer. By using the air fryer, you get golden-brown pepper rings with a satisfying crunch without the heavy grease of deep frying. With a savory garlic-seasoned coating and the natural zest of the peppers, this dish is the perfect finger food for game days or a unique side dish for your next burger night.
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh banana peppers (or sweet peppers), sliced into rings and seeds removed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Olive oil spray (non-aerosol preferred)
Instructions
Mix Seasoning
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper. Whisk to distribute the spices evenly.
Preheat
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
Coat the Peppers
Toss the sliced banana pepper rings into the seasoned flour mixture until fully coated. Crucial Step: Let them sit in the flour for 5 minutes. This resting time allows the natural moisture of the peppers to seep out and bond with the flour, creating a batter-like crust without using eggs.
Arrange
Place the coated peppers in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overlap, or they will steam instead of crisp. You will likely need to cook in batches.
Spray
Spray the peppers generously with olive oil spray. Tip: Ensure you hit any white powdery spots. The flour needs the oil to turn golden and crispy.
Cook
Air fry for 8 minutes, or until the coating is golden brown and crunchy. Shake the basket halfway through if needed (spray again if you see dry flour after shaking).
Cool & Serve
Transfer the peppers to a baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture/oil. Let cool for 5 minutes (they crisp up as they cool). Serve with ranch dressing.
Notes
The “Resting” Rule: Do not skip step 3! Since there is no egg wash in this recipe, the 5-minute rest is the only thing holding the flour to the pepper. If you rush it, the flour will blow off in the air fryer.
Spray Generously: If the finished peppers look chalky or white, you didn’t spray enough oil. Dry flour will not brown on its own.
Pepper Prep: For a milder snack, be sure to remove all the seeds and the white inner membranes, which hold most of the heat.
Storage: These are best eaten fresh. If you have leftovers, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2–3 minutes to revive the crunch. Microwaving will make them soggy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Side
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of Recipe
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1180mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: air fryer banana peppers, crispy peppers, appetizer recipes, fried peppers healthy, game day snacks, vegetarian air fryer recipes, tangy snacks
