Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe
There’s always a bunch or two of kale in the fridge in my house.
It’s used to make green drinks and huge kale salads almost daily. But this time, I wanted to change up the kale game. Instead of eating it raw, why not try crisping it up as Air Fryer Kale Chips!?
In my humble opinion, kale chips from grocery stores are OK, but nothing to write home about. If you’ve been in this same boat, then your viewpoint on kale chips is about to change… for good.
That’s because making your own kale chips with this air fryer method is not only super-duper quick and easy (like under-10-minutes kind of easy) but their flavor and texture is out-of-this-world incredible. And they’re a fraction of the fat of regular potato chips.
Not to mention you can season them with WHATEVER you want, turning this nutrition-packed green into a tasty and even ADDICTING and easy snack to munch on!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Kale. The main ingredient! Buy it by the bunch instead of pre-cut. Organic is preferred. The most common type to use is curly leaf kale, but you can also try out red or lacinato, also known as dinosaur kale.
- Oil. A mildly flavored oil works best, such as olive oil or avocado oil.
- Salt. A little bit of salt goes a long way. Remember, you can always add more but you can’t take it away!
How to Air Fry Kale Chips
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Prep the Kale
Clean the kale. You’ll need to rinse the it well so that it is free of any dirt. Make sure that it’s completely dried, too. Extra moisture will result in soggy chips!
Remove the leaves from the rib. Starting from the base, pinch the leaves and slide up the rib. All of the leaves should easily separate from the stem. You can also cut the leaves off using a knife.
Tear kale into bite-sized pieces. You can also use a cutting board and a sharp knife. Try to make them similar in size, about 1 to 2 inches. Small pieces cook up faster than large, chip-sized pieces. Also, they will shrink some after air frying, so tear them a little larger than you want your chips to be.
2. Add the Flavor
Toss the pieces of kale in a bit of oil and salt.
Get in there with your hands to ensure that each piece is lightly and evenly coated in the oil.
3. Cook in the Air Fryer
Place in a single layer in an air-fryer basket. Using a 6-quart air fryer is preferred since you can normally cook a bunch of kale in 2 batches.
Cook at 350°F for 4-5 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking. Start to keep an eye on them after the 3 minute mark—they crisp up really fast after this!
4. Add More Seasonings
These healthy kale chips taste great with just a hint of salt. However, there are also a ton of other optional, delicious seasonings you can try! Toss any of these on after the kale is done cooking:
- Nutritional Yeast
- Garlic Powder
- Greek Seasoning
- Chili Seasoning
- Ranch Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
Yes, kale chips are very healthy! Kale is packed with healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And, since these chips are air fried, they don’t use a lot of oil. You can enjoy this good-for-you snack any time.
Kale chips are best stored in a paper bag or a plastic bag with a paper towel. Be sure to keep them at room temperature, and they should be good for about a week.
Kale chips should last for about a week at room temperature.
To keep kale chips crispy, be sure they are cooked properly and keep them in a bag at room temperature. Kale chips can become soggy if they are not dried properly before cooking, or if too much oil is used.
Other Air Fryer Veggie Recipe
Vegetables turn out beautifully in the air fryer and are ready in less time than a conventional oven. Try one of these air fryer recipes next.
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer French Fries.
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Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale rinsed and dried
- 1 Tbsp. oil olive or avocado
- ¼ tsp. salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Kale: a 6-quart Air Fryer to 350°F and let it heat up for at least 3 minutes. Remove the ribs from the kale and then tear the leaves of kale into 1-2 inch pieces.1 bunch kale
- Season the Kale: Add the kale leaves to a large bowl. Drizzle with oil and then sprinkle with salt. Toss until all of the leaves are evenly coated.1 Tbsp. oil, ¼ tsp. salt
- Air Fry the Kale: Working in two batches, place half of the kale leaves in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket. Cook for 4-5 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through. Keep a close eye on them after the 3 minute mark – they will crisp up really fast after this! Repeat with the remaining kale.
- Serve the Kale Chips: Sprinkle with additional salt or seasonings, to taste, and enjoy!
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Notes
- Just the leaves. Slide the kale leaves off the ribs. It’s much easier and faster to use your fingers instead of a knife.
- Go big. Tear chips a little larger. These tend to shrink down a good bit after air frying.
- A little goes a long way. Don’t over-do the oil, or the chips will be soggy and not crispy.
- Watch close. They cook up quickly! Depending on your air fryer they can crisp up as quickly as 3 minutes and up to 5.
- Add some flavor. You can season these up in just about any way you like. Try some Parmesan cheese, chili powder, or even a splash of lemon juice for different flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
