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Crispy Air Fryer Kale Chips

ByKristen Wood Last updated
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Quick, easy, and healthy Air Fryer Kale chips make a perfect snack with a dose of green power!

a black bowl filled with kale chips
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I recently fell in love with my air fryer. The hype is real! I had a bunch of kale to use and thought I would try my hand at making some kale chips as they can be so expensive to buy pre-made at the store, and who doesn’t love a crunchy snack? The results: oh my gosh, these are so EASY and TASTY — so much better than store-bought! I can’t wait for you to give these a go yourself! My kids were gobbling these down before I could finish taking pictures, and I always see that as a success.

a vibrant green bunch of kale

Why You’ll Love These Air-Fried Kale Chips

  • Super quick and easy to make.
  • Healthy as can be.
  • Satisfyingly delicate and crunchy.
  • Versatile, and can be seasoned to suit your tastes (though simple salt will blow your mind alone!).
  • Naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, keto, low-carb, sugar-free, nut-free and soy-free.
Crispy green kale chips, effortlessly crafted in an air fryer, are artfully scattered on a textured gray surface with a fresh bunch of kale in the background.

Ingredient Notes

  • 1 bunch of kale – I like to choose a healthy, organic bunch of common curly kale for best results (and taste!).
  • Oil – I like to use avocado oil, but coconut oil, olive oil, and grapeseed oil work great too.
  • Salt – Pink salt or sea salt works great to season these kale chips.

That’s it! These three ingredients make perfectly crunchy, delicious kale chips that are great on their own or seasoned however you would prefer (see seasoning suggestions below).

A hand holds a bunch of fresh kale with curly leaves, perfect for making air fryer kale chips, against a gray background.
A hand lifts a piece of crispy kale chip, fresh from the air fryer, above a black bowl brimming with more kale chips on a textured surface.
A hand holds a piece of kale, ready to transform into crispy air fryer kale chips, as it rests on a wooden cutting board.
Fresh kale leaves in a red bowl atop a wooden surface, ready to be transformed into crispy air fryer kale chips.
Hand mixing fresh kale leaves in a red bowl on a wooden cutting board, prepping them for delicious air fryer kale chips.
Freshly air-fried kale chips rest on a metal rack, with raw kale leaves placed beside them on a gray surface.
Fresh kale leaves crisp up beautifully in an air fryer, nestled on a perforated tray.

How To Make Air Fryer Kale Chips

  1. Remove kale leaves from the stems and tear them into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Rinse well and pat dry.
  3. Toss with oil and salt, massaging to coat.
  4. Spread in a single layer in the air fryer.
  5. Crisp to perfection, then enjoy!
A hand holding a single air fryer kale chip with a bowl of kale chips in the blurred background.

Seasoning Ideas

These are absolutely fabulous all on their own with simple salt, but here are some other ways that we like to enjoy them from time to time! Before popping the basic recipe in the air fryer sprinkle your kale chips with one of these combinations:

  • Nutritional yeast and smoked paprika for a “cheesy” taste.
  • Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
  • Chili powder, cumin, and dried oregano.
  • Nutritional yeast, dried dill, dried parsley, a sprinkle of lemon juice, and a dash of black pepper for a ranch-like flavor.
  • And if you want to get super fancy, a combo of nutritional yeast, coconut sugar, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and onion powder lends a deep, smoky-sweet flavor.
  • Also, I must say, they are super delicious sprinkled with my homemade rosemary salt as well.
Crispy green kale chips, freshly made in the air fryer, rest on a light wooden surface.
A bowl of crispy air fryer kale chips with a fresh kale leaf in the background rests on a gray surface.

Expert Tips

Kale

You can use any variety of kale that you prefer, I find the more commonly found curly kale to lend excellent results but this recipe also works well with lacinto (dinosaur) kale, Chinese kale, red kale, and Siberian kale.

Oil

I love how well avocado oil holds up with high-heat cooking, but any oil of your choice will work in a pinch! And on a low or no-oil diet? You can lower the amount of oil or omit it and still get some crunchy and delicious kale chips!

Salt

Salt only serves to enhance the natural flavor of kale, but it can be omitted for low-sodium diets for still-tasty kale chips.

Storage

These kale chips keep well stored in air-tight containers at room temperature for up to 5 days. It’s important to keep the moisture out to maintain crispiness. If your kale chips absorb any moisture, simply pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to re-crisp.

Close-up of air fryer kale chips in a dark blue bowl.

More Healthy Snack Recipes You Might Enjoy

Baked Garlic Pepper Polenta Fries

Sea Salt Chickpea Crackers

Maple Walnut Goji Berry Granola

Fresh kale leaves and wilted kale pieces on a textured gray surface, perfect for transforming into crispy air fryer kale chips.
A child's hand exploring the crisp texture of air fryer kale chips on a richly hued blue surface.

A hand holds a piece of crispy kale chip above a bowl brimming with more kale chips, freshly made in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe

4.72 from 7 votes
Quick, easy, and crispy Air Fryer Kale chips make a perfect plant-based snack with a dose of nutritional green power!
Author: Kristen Wood
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizers, Snacks, Vegan
Cuisine: Air Fryer
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Halal, Hindu, Kosher, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Remove stems from kale and tear kale leaves into chip-sized pieces. Rinse and drain well.
  • Place clean kale in a bowl. Sprinkle with oil and salt. Massage well.
  • Arrange prepared kale in a single layer in your air fryer basket or tray.
  • Air fry for 6 minutes at 385°F, or until kale chips are sufficiently crispy.
  • Let cool, and enjoy!

Notes

Please see the TIPS and SEASONINGS sections above in the post for valuable information!

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 160mg | Vitamin A: 3247IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

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Kristen is a writer, photographer, recipe developer, and certified functional nutrition expert. She is also the author of Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook, Vegetarian Family Cookbook, and Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications including Elle, NBC, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, MSN, New York Daily News, Healthline, and many more. Kristen is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.

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One Comment

  1. I have such a weakness for kale chips! These look absolutely perfect out of the air fryer! So bright and vibrant! I’m going to try these!!!

    Reply