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Three-ingredient Air Fryer Kale Chips are so light and crisp! A wonderful vegetable-based snack, you’ll cook them to perfection in just minutes using the air fryer. It’s the easiest way to get the family to eat their dark leafy greens!
Why You’ll Love This Kale Chips Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Air Fryer
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
You would think that given the name of my blog, I would have had a kale chips recipe since Day 1. Well, I am no longer a hale chip hypocrite because I’ve finally found my favorite way to make them.
If you like kale – and even if you don’t – I am sure you will love these air fryer kale chips! Little bites of crisp leafy greens make the best snack or side dish, especially when you serve them with a bowl of homemade ranch! Once I start eating these chips it’s hard to stop, which is OK because they are made from leafy greens. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe.
- Easier than the oven. I used to make kale chips in the oven but I found that it was harder to control how the chips cooked (sadly, I often ended up with the batch half-burned). When I use the air fryer I don’t need to worry at all and the kale chips cook up perfectly.
- Great alternative to potato chips. Now don’t get me wrong – I love a good potato chip! However, I know that they aren’t always the best snack option. Enter kale chips, which make me feel good about snacking when I know I’m eating a veggie.
- Season, or not! Once you’ve mastered this simple recipe I encourage you to try other seasoning options! A pinch of paprika or cayenne pepper can add warmth and interest. Then again, I absolutely love these chips just with a little salt. So, you do you!
What You’ll Need
Only three ingredients are all you’ll need to make this quick snack! Don’t forget to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Kale: You can use any type of kale you prefer for this recipe.
- Olive Oil: Or use avocado oil.
- Salt: I use fine sea salt in this recipe.
How To Make Air Fryer Kale Chips
Here’s my easy method for making kale chips in air fryer. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Prepare. Wash and dry your kale, then separate the stem from the leaves.
- Tear leaves. Break the leaves into 2-3-inch pieces.
- Mix. Add the kale to a bowl along with oil and salt.
- Massage. Rub the oil and salt into the leaves.
- Add to the air fryer. Place the kale leaves in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook. Air fry for 3-5 minutes until crispy.
Tips for Crispy Kale Chips
- Dry the kale well. After you wash the kale, make sure to dry it very well so that it will cook quickly in the air fryer and won’t get soggy.
- Cut large pieces. Note that the kale pieces will shrink in the air fryer, so tear pieces that are a bit larger than the chips you want.
- Use any type of kale. You can use any kind of kale you like! In my tests, lacinato kale, also known as black/dinosaur kale, took 1 minute less cooking time than green (curly) kale. However, different varieties of kale will affect the cooking time, so monitor it closely to make sure that it doesn’t burn.
Seasoning & Variation Ideas
Make this recipe plain as written, or play around with a few different flavors. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Seasonings: You can add seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, or nutritional yeast to the kale along with the salt. However, these are very light and delicate chips so add the seasonings sparingly so that they don’t overwhelm the chips. I recommend starting with about ⅛ teaspoon per bunch of kale.
- Lemon juice. A bit of bright lemon juice is a nice complement to the earthy kale. Add about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice to the kale along with the olive oil.
- Soy sauce. Likewise, salty soy sauce adds a pop of flavor to kale chips. You can add flair with liquids like lemon juice or soy sauce. Add it together with your oil and salt, but just like with the powdered seasonings, use these flavors very sparingly.
- Cheese. I love a little grated Parmesan cheese added to the kale chips! In keeping with using a light hand, sprinkle about 1/4 cup or less of Parmesan into the bowl after you mix in the olive oil and lightly toss to coat.
Proper Storage
Kale chips are best fresh out of the air fryer, but you can store these in an airtight container at room temperature on the counter for up to a week. They may absorb some moisture from the air over time and become less crispy. If that happens, just put them back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes to re-crisp.
Serving Suggestions
Air-fried kale chips are great on their own as a snack, or you can dunk them in a creamy dip like these:
More Easy Snacks
Air Fryer Kale Chips
Ingredients
- 1 bunch (8 ounces, 225 grams) kale
- 2 teaspoons olive oil or avocado oil
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Wash and dry your kale leaves, then separate the stem from the leaves. (You can use a knife to do this, or use your hands to pull the leaves from the stem.) Then tear the leaves into 2-to-3-inch pieces.
- Place the kale leaves in a large mixing bowl, then add oil and salt. Use your hands to rub the oil and salt into the kale leaves, making sure all the leaves are coated with oil, and the salt is evenly distributed.
- Place the kale leaves in a single layer (some overlap is okay) in the air fryer basket and cover with the air fryer rack. (You will likely need to work in batches to cook the entire bunch).
- Air fry for 3-5 minutes at 350°F (180°C), until crispy, stopping halfway to shake the basket. Different varieties of kale may need more or less time, so check it frequently to make sure it doesn't burn. When your kale chips are crunchy and delicate, they're ready.
Notes
- The kale chips will shrink in the air fryer, so tear pieces that are a bit larger than the chips you want.
- You can add seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, or nutritional yeast. Add your seasoning together with the salt, before frying. Use seasonings very sparingly, however, because kale chips are light and delicate, and it is easy to overpower the chips with seasoning. I recommend starting with 1/8 teaspoon per bunch of kale.
- You can add flair with liquids like lemon juice or soy sauce. Add it together with your oil and salt, but just like with the powdered seasonings, use these flavors very sparingly.
- You can use any kind of kale you like! In my tests, lacinato (black/dinosaur) kale took 1 minute less cooking time than green (curly) kale. However, kale will vary so monitor it closely to make sure it doesn’t burn.
Did you make this?
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