Crispy Air Fryer Kale Chips
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Own an Air fryer? Try these crispy kale chips and treat your family to this healthy homemade version of this popular snack.
We all have that hankering for crispy chips from time to time. But instead of getting the store-bought ones, you can now make them at home and that too – a healthier version.
Say hello to kale chips! A crispy, crunchy snack that you can whip in no time in your air fryer.
Why is kale considered a super food?
Kale is a great source of vitamins and minerals along with Vitamin B6, calcium, thiamine, folate, iron, and other nutrients. Since it is high in nutrients and low in calories, it is. considered a superfood.
Read more: Health benefits of kale.
Reasons to love this recipe
- It cooks in 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes that the oven takes!
- Air-fryer evenly cooks the kale and makes it perfectly crunchy. This homemade kale chips looks as good as it tastes.
- Made with ingredients that are good for you.
Here’s what you need
Ingredient notes
- Kale – Lacinato (flat leaf) are the best if you can find it. Common curly will do as well.
- Avocado oil or any oil of your choice
- Ground black pepper, salt and garlic powder or any seasonings of choice
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below.
Prepping kale for chips
I’ll let you in a secret. Whenever I make these chips, I get the precut kale from Trader Joe’s. It certainly is a time-saver!
But if you got a bunch of kale leaves, here’s how you can prep them.
- Wash them and pat them dry using a clean towel or paper towels.
- Separate the leaves from the stem. Discard the stem.
- Tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
Tools
You’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. Here are the two that I recommend –
- Basket style (Phillips 7 QT, 1725W) – easier to flip food but cooks a smaller amount (2-3 servings).
- Convection oven-style (Instant Pot 20 QT, 1800W) – This one takes more space but can bake, broil, toast, warm, dehydrate and even has a rotisserie feature. Holds more food – perfect for families of 4 or more.
FAQs about making kale chips in the air fryer
Make sure the leaves are dried before your massage in the oil. Also, allow the kale chips to cool down without overcrowding them in the pan to ensure crispiness.
Allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, you can store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Kale chips are low caloric food meaning you can eat them without adding many calories to your diet. This makes them the perfect weight-loss food.
💭 Air Frying Tips
For best results, follow the guidelines below
- No overcrowding – Always arrange food in a single layer and cook in batches if needed.
- Spray oil on your food unless the protein already has oil in the marinade.
- Use a parchment paper or grease your tray / basket to ensure food won’t stick.
- Toss or flip the food halfway during cooking to make sure the food is cooked evenly.
Don’t forget to save this pin for later!
Variations to try
You can mix up the seasonings to your taste to vary it up every time. Here are some of my favorite picks –
- Onion powder
- Dried oregano
- Cayenne pepper
- Everything but the bagel seasoning
- Nutritional yeast
- Parmesan cheese
- Smoked paprika
- Himalayan salt
The variations are truly endless..
Storage
Store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for a week. If they lose their crispiness, toss them in the air-fryer for a minute or so, to get their crunch back.
Other air fryer recipes to try
- Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges – These crispy, air fryer potato wedges make for a delicious appetizer or side dish that’s perfect for any occasion. All you need is a few simple ingredients and 30 minutes!
- Air-Fryer Roasted Chickpeas – This crunchy and spicy chickpea recipe comes together with 6 ingredients and can be ready in under 30 minutes for a naturally gluten-free and vegan snack!
- Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes – Trying to eat more vegetables? You’ll love this quick and easy recipe for air fryer roasted sweet potatoes. Getting a healthy side dish on the table has never been easier.
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries – These crispy vegan air-fryer French fries are so damn good that they could give the deep-fried ones a run for their money.
- Air Fryer Bhindi Masala (Indian okra) – You’ll love this air fryer version of Punjabi bhindi masala. It comes together in less than 30 minutes with very little hands-on time and yields perfect results every time!
Air Fryer Kale Chips
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale ~5 packed cups
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Wash the kale leaves and pat them dry using a clean towel or paper towels. Separate the leaves from the stem. Discard the stem. Tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
- Transfer the kale leaves to a medium-sized bowl.
- Add oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder over kale. Massage it in until all the leaves are coated.
- Preheat the air fryer and set it to 375°F.
- [Optional step] Line the air frying tray with parchment paper.
- Transfer the kale leaves over the parchment paper – don't overcrowd them. Depending on the size of your airfryer, you may have to make them in batches.
- Place the air fryer tray in the air fryer and cook at 375°F. Set the timer for 5 minutes.
- Stir around the 2-minute mark and continue to cook till kale chips have nicely browned and turned crisp. [Note: If using an oven-style air fryer, rotate the tray and if using the basket-style air fryer, shake the basket to ensure even cooking]
- Transfer the kale chips to a baking tray without overcrowding them. Allow it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.
