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Air Fryer Banana Peppers

Air Fryer Banana Peppers

These Air Fryer Banana Peppers are a crunchy, tangy, and incredibly easy appetizer made with just a few simple pantry staples. Whether you need a zesty pizza topping or a healthy game-day snack, this 20-minute recipe delivers a satisfying crunch without the mess of deep-frying.
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsps garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsps sea salt
  • 1 lb fresh banana peppers sliced into rings with seeds removed
  • Olive oil spray or avocado oil spray

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Prepare the flour mixture: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper until well combined.
    1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tsps garlic powder, 0.5 tsp ground black pepper, 2 tsps sea salt
  2. Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is hot and ready for the peppers.
  3. Coat the peppers: Toss the sliced banana pepper rings into the seasoned flour mixture. Let them sit in the flour for about 5 minutes; this allows the moisture from the peppers to help the flour adhere, creating a thicker, crunchier coating.
    1 lb fresh banana peppers
  4. Arrange in the basket: Place the coated banana peppers into the air fryer basket in a single layer. It is important not to overcrowd them so the air can circulate properly.
  5. Spray with oil: Generously spray the peppers with olive oil or avocado oil spray on both sides. This is the secret to getting that golden-brown, "fried" texture.
    Olive oil spray or avocado oil spray
  6. Air fry: Cook the peppers for 8 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
  7. Cool and serve: Transfer the hot peppers onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil. Let them cool for about 5 minutes to allow the coating to crisp up further before serving.

Notes

Make sure your pepper rings are relatively uniform in thickness so they cook evenly. Letting the peppers sit in the flour for those extra 5 minutes is a crucial step—it prevents the flour from blowing off in the air fryer.
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