Perfectly crisp Air Fryer Kale Chips are easily made in minutes for a healthy low-carb snack! Fresh kale is tossed with oil and salt then air fried into crunchy chips in this quick recipe. Get creative and customize these simple keto and vegan chips with tons of tasty seasoning options!
Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe
There’s always a bunch or two of kale in the fridge in our 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 throwing it in the air fryer and crisping it up!?
In my humble opinion, store bought kale chips 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.
Because making kale chips in the air fryer 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.
Not to mention you can season them with WHATEVER you want! Turning this nutrition-packed green into a tasty and even somewhat ADDICTING snack to munch on!
Ingredients
The simple ingredients you need to make these crispy Kale Chips include:
- Kale – Buy the bunches of fresh kale instead of the pre-cut kind. Organic is preferred. The most common type to use is curly leaf kale, but you can also try out red or lacinato 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 Prep Kale for Chips
Before you can air fry the kale, you need to get it ready:
- Clean the kale. Rinse the kale well so that it is free of any dirt. Make sure that it’s completed 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. Try to make them similar in size, about 1 to 2 inches. Smaller pieces cook up faster than larger pieces. Also, they will shrink some after air frying, so tear them a little larger than you want your chips to be.
How to Air Fry Kale Chips
These are the quick and easy steps to take in order to make crunchy Air Fryer Kale Chips:
- Toss kale leaves 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.
- 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!
Seasonings
These healthy kale chips taste great with just a hint of salt. However, there are also a ton of other delicious seasoning options you can try! Toss any of these on after they’re done cooking:
- Nutritional Yeast
- Garlic Powder
- Greek Seasoning
- Chili Seasoning
- Ranch Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
Storage
Store these low-carb kale chips in a paper bag, or in a plastic bag with a paper towel. Keep them at room temperature for up to one week. They will be best the first 2-3 days as they begin to lose their crispiness after that.
If they do get soft, you can make them crispy again by popping them back in the air fryer at 300° F for 1-2 minutes.
FAQs
How do you keep kale chips crispy?
Keep kale chips crispy by storing them in a paper bag, or a plastic bag along with a paper towel. Make sure to cool them completely before storing.
Are kale chips healthy?
Yes they are! Kale is packed with healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And, since these chips are air fried, they don’t use a lot of oil.
Why are my kale chips soggy?
Kale chips can become soggy if they are not dried properly, or if too much oil is used.
Can I refrigerate kale chips?
No. It is best to leave these chips at room temperature. Storing them in the refrigerator will cause them to get moist.
Pro Tips and Tricks
- Slide the kale leaves off the ribs. It’s much easier and faster to use your fingers instead of a knife.
- Tear chips a little larger. These tend to shrink down a good bit after air frying.
- Don’t over-do the oil. The chips will be soggy and not crispy.
- Keep a close eye on them. They cook up quickly! Depending on your Air Fryer they can crisp up in as little as 3 minutes or up to 5.
Other Air Fryer Veggie Recipe
Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe
Perfectly crisp Air Fryer Kale Chips are easily made in minutes for a healthy low-carb snack! Fresh kale is tossed with oil and salt then air fried into crunchy chips in this quick recipe. Get creative and customize these simple keto and vegan chips with tons of tasty seasoning options!
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale rinsed and dried
- 1 Tbsp. oil olive or avocado
- ¼ tsp. salt to taste
Instructions
-
Set 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.
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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.
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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.
-
Sprinkle with additional salt or seasonings, to taste, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Storage
Store these low-carb kale chips in a paper bag, or in a plastic bag with a paper towel. Keep them at room temperature for up to one week. They will be best the first 2-3 days as they begin to lose their crispiness after that.
If they do get soft, you can make them crispy again by popping them back in the air fryer at 300° F for 1-2 minutes.
Pro Tips and Tricks
- Slide the kale leaves off the ribs. It's much easier and faster to use your fingers instead of a knife.
- Tear chips a little larger. These tend to shrink down a good bit after air frying.
- Don't over-do the oil. The chips will be soggy and not crispy.
- Keep a close eye on them. They cook up quickly! Depending on your Air Fryer they can crisp up in as little as 3 minutes or up to 5.
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