Crispy, crunchy, and super tasty, these Air Fryer Kale Chips are a delicious way to eat kale. This easy-to-make, low-carb, and low-calorie snack is ready to enjoy in 10 minutes. Serve them with a 5-minute lemon caper sauce or good old tartar sauce, and munch away!
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My family has a mixed reaction to kale! They'll eat it in soups and salads but are never excited about it. But these crispy kale chips in the air fryer have been a game-changer!
We love snacking on these, dipping them in creamy lemon caper sauce or sriracha-mayo, and even adding them to our salads. They add such a vibrant, crispy contrast to whatever you add them to.
Kale chips are a really satisfying low-carb snack for hubby and me. The air fryer works out perfectly for a one-time quantity, and when I want to make a bigger batch, I bake kale chips in the oven. I've included both methods, so pick whichever works best for you.
So, if you thought kale was only meant for soups and salads, try these air fryer kale chips- you'll be pleasantly surprised!
For more easy air-fried vegetable recipes, check out this recipe collection: Best Air Fryer Vegetables
Ingredients- Notes & Variations
You just need 3-4 basic ingredients to make kale chips in the air fryer. Here's what you need:
- Kale- I prefer using regular kale since baby kale leaves may burn fast. Buy a kale bunch with vibrant green, firm leaves (not limp). Feel free to take a store-ready shortcut by picking up a bag of triple-washed kale leaves from the salad section.
- Oil- Any neutral oil will work here. I use avocado or olive oil.
- Seasoning- I've used a classic salt and pepper mix here, but feel free to add any seasoning of choice or take inspiration from some of my favorites below:
- Parmesan Kale Chips: 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese and seasoning. Skip the salt if adding parmesan.
- Spicy Kale Chips: Add ⅛ teaspoon cayenne to the seasoning.
- Indian twist: Skip the salt and add ¼-½ teaspoon chaat masala instead.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Kale Chips in Air Fryer
Cut and prepare kale leaves: To remove the stem, lay a kale stem flat on a cutting board and cut on either side of the stem, separating the leaves from the stem. Alternatively, Fold the leaf and cut along the stem. Tear the leaves in small pieces.
Rinse Kale: Rinse kale leaves and shake off excess water using a salad spinner or by spreading and air drying them on a kitchen towel.
Season kale: In a large mixing bowl, add kale leaves and toss with olive oil, salt, black pepper, or seasoning of choice.
Air Fry Kale Chips: Spread the kale in the fryer basket without overlapping too much. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in 2-3 batches.
Air Frying Tip: If your air fryer has a fan under the basket, place a wire rack or a trivet on top to prevent the kale chips from flying around.
Check on chips: Air fry at 350°F for about 3 minutes, checking on the chips after 2 minutes. If the chips on the sides are done, pull them out and continue air frying the remaining chips.
Alternate Method: Oven Baked Kale Chips
Preheat the oven to 300°F. Spread the kale on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the kale is crispy and slightly brown at the edges. Flip the chips halfway through.
Since these chips can burn easily and oven temperatures vary, check them after 18 minutes, then continue cooking as needed.
Serving Suggestions
These kale chips are best served right away. Enjoy them as-is, or dip them in lemon caper sauce, tartar sauce, or this spicy sriracha mayo.
How to Store
Air-fried kale chips are best served right away. You can store them for 3-4 days at room temperature in a brown paper bag or on a paper towel-lined bowl, covered partially.
If they lose their crispness, air fry them for a minute before serving.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Fresh kale: Make sure you start with fresh, vibrant green kale leaves. For best results, cook it within 1-2 days of buying.
- Crispy texture: Ensure that kale is absolutely dry before seasoning it. To allow enough time for drying, rinse the night before or a few hours before assembling them.
- Save time: To save time, look for the pre-washed and prepped kale bags in the salad section of your grocery store.
- Place a trivet: If your air fryer has a fan under the fryer basket, place a trivet on top of the kale leaves. This prevents them from flying around.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can keep kale chips crispy by ensuring that they are dry before you air fry them. Store leftovers at room temperature in a brown paper bag, or on a paper towel-lined bowl, covered partially.
If the kale isn't dried well, the excess moisture causes them to steam rather than crisp. This results in a chewy or soggy texture.
More Air Fryer Snacks & Appetizers
Check out the full range of Air Fryer Appetizers and Snacks recipes.
📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Kale Chips
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We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Video
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut and prepare kale leaves: To remove the stem, lay a kale stem flat on a cutting board and cut on either side of the stem, separating the leaves from the stem. Alternatively, Fold the leaf and cut along the stem. Tear the leaves in small pieces.
- Rinse Kale: Rinse kale leaves and shake off excess water using a salad spinner, or by spreading and air drying them on a kitchen towel.
- Season: In a large mixing bowl, add kale leaves and toss with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, or seasoning of choice.
- Air Fry Kale Chips: Spread the kale in the fryer basket without overlapping too much. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in 2-3 batches.Note: If your air fryer has a fan under the basket, place a wire rack or a trivet on top of kale to prevent the kale chips from flying around.
- Check on chips: Air fry at 350°F for about 3 minutes, checking on the chips after 2 minutes. If the chips on the sides are done, pull them out and continue air frying the remaining chips.
Notes
- Fresh kale: Make sure you start with fresh, vibrant green kale leaves. For best results, cook it within 1-2 days of buying it.
- Crispy texture: Ensure that kale is absolutely dry before seasoning it. To allow enough time for drying, rinse the night before or a few hours before assembling them.
- Save time: To save time, look for the pre-washed and prepped kale bags in the salad section of your grocery store.
- Place a trivet: If your air fryer has a fan under the fryer basket, place a trivet on top of the kale leaves. This prevents them from flying around.
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