Plantain tacos are a fun twist on traditional tacos and a great way to mix things up this taco Tuesday!

I guess you could say plantain tacos are in the patacon or jibarito family, since they both incorporate fried plantains with fillings. But there’s just something different about eating it in the form of a taco, and I think it’s something that all the plantain lovers out there need to try.

Transform your tacos

The flavors in these plantain tacos are an exciting detour from your regular taco night. The sweetness of the plantain shells beautifully balances the spicy, flavorful jerk chicken.

Meanwhile, the crisp, tangy red cabbage slaw adds a refreshing contrast, making each bite a symphony of textures and flavors. Switching up the the main ingredients in a tacos infuses our all-time favorite taco tradition with a fresh, tropical twist

What you need to make plantain tacos

• Sweet plantain
• Vegetable oil
• Chicken thighs
• Jerk marinade
• Adobo or all-purpose seasoning
• Scallion 
• Thyme
• Red cabbage
• Mayonnaise
• Lemon juice
• Sugar
• Cilantro
• Salt and pepper

How to make plantain tacos

Jerk Chicken

• In a medium bowl, add the chicken thighs, jerk marinade, adobo seasoning, scallion, and thyme. Mix until the chicken is fully covered and cook in the airfryer at 400℉ for 25 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Once cooled, shred the chicken and place on the tacos.

Plantain Taco Shells

• Heat the oil in a wide pan over low to medium heat. Cut plantain in half and add the plantains and cook on both sides until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and place onto a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
• Press each plantain down by placing the plantain on a sheet of parchment paper and press down using a cutting board. Fry the pressed plantain again on both sides until golden brown and place onto taco stand to shape, using a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

Red Cabbage Slaw

• In a medium bowl, add the red cabbage, lemon juice, mayonnaise, sugar, cilantro, and salt and pepper. Mix until completely combined and place on top of the chicken plantain tacos. Enjoy!

Should you use ripe or green plantains?

To get that sweet and spicy mix from the ripe plantain and hot jerk chicken, you’re going to need to use ripe plantains. The kind that are yellow with darks spots!

And voilà! You have successfully created your plantain taco shells with jerk chicken and red cabbage slaw. Bon appétit, and until next time, keep exploring the world one plate at a time.

Let me know in the comments if you give this recipe a try. I’d love to hear how it turns out! Stay tuned for more adventurous fusion recipes coming your way.