I make air fryer kale chips when I want something crunchy and salty without grabbing a bag of chips. They're light, crispy, and full of flavor - the kind of healthy snack you'll actually crave.
You'll love this easy recipe because it takes just a few minutes, uses simple ingredients, and satisfies your chip craving in a guilt-free way. Whether you're following a keto diet or just want a healthy crunchy snack, these kale chips are perfect.
These chips are gluten-free, vegan, Whole30, low-carb, and keto-friendly.
Things to Know Before Making Air Fryer Kale Chips
- Dry your kale completely. Any moisture left will cause soggy chips instead of crispy ones.
- Don't overload your air fryer. Air circulation is key to even crispiness.
- Use just enough oil. Too much oil can make the chips greasy instead of crisp.
- Watch closely. Kale can go from perfectly crisp to burnt in seconds, so keep an eye on it in the last minute of cooking.
The first time I tried making oven kale chips, it seriously took 5 batches to get it right. Kale chips are easy to make yet also easy to burn OR have them turn out soggy. After many many batches of both oven and air fryer kale chips (in 2 different types of air fryers no less!), we feel we've mastered the tips and tricks to get perfect kale chips in an air fryer, each and every time.
If you're looking for more low carb snacks and sides, try Microwave Pepperoni Chips, Baked Parmesan Crisps, or Parmesan Zucchini Chips next.
Ingredients Overview
- Kale: The star of the show. Use fresh, firm leaves and remove the stems for the best texture.
- Olive oil: Helps the kale crisp up evenly while adding flavor.
- Sea salt: Enhances the flavor and gives that classic salty crunch.
- Optional seasonings: Add everything bagel seasoning, garlic salt, or chili flakes for extra flavor.
Note: Full measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.
How to Cook Air Fryer Kale Chips
Step 1: Wash and thoroughly dry the kale leaves. Remove the stems and tear the leaves into large bite-sized pieces.
Step 2: Add the kale to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. Massage gently with your hands to coat every leaf. Sprinkle on any extra seasoning you like.
Step 3: Preheat your air fryer to 300°F. Place the kale in a single layer in the basket or on the tray. Air fry for 3-5 minutes, checking halfway through. The kale should be crisp but not browned.
If you're using an oven-style air fryer, there's no need to flip the kale chips. Just avoid overcrowding the tray so air can circulate evenly. Cook for 4-5 minutes until crisp. (In the Omni fryer, we found that the chips did not fly around at all.)
For a basket-style air fryer, check the chips after 3 minutes since they can move around during cooking. Rearrange as needed and cook for another 1-2 minutes, keeping an eye out so none fly up into the heating element.
Step 4: Let the chips cool for a few minutes before serving since they'll crisp up even more as they rest.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use avocado oil instead of olive oil for a neutral flavor and higher smoke point.
- Add everything bagel seasoning, dried Ranch dressing mix, or Elotes seasoning for a bold flavor twist.
- Sprinkle parmesan or nutritional yeast for a cheesy crunch.
- For a spicy kick, toss with smoked paprika or chili powder before air frying.
- Add a dash of vinegar for salt and vinegar chips.
- Use popcorn seasoning.
- Make sweet and salty chips by adding a little sweetener when you add the salt.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Kale Chips
Serve these kale chips with your favorite dips like ranch, spicy mayo, or guacamole. They're also great alongside sandwiches or used as a topping for soups, salads, and pasta dishes.
Storage and Freezing
Store leftover kale chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If they lose their crispiness, pop them back in the air fryer for 1 minute to re-crisp.
FAQ
Why are my kale chips soggy?
They likely weren't dried completely or had too much oil. Make sure the kale is fully dry before seasoning.
Why do my kale chips burn so fast?
Your air fryer may run hot or the kale was too close to the heating element. Lower the temp to 280°F and check early.
Are Kale Chips Keto?
Yes, air fryer kale chips are completely keto-friendly as long as you skip non-keto seasonings like packaged ranch mixes or sugar. Stick with spices, sea salt, or parmesan for a delicious low carb snack.
Are Kale Chips Healthy?
Absolutely! They're light, nutrient-dense, and a great alternative to store-bought chips. Here's how to fit them into different diets:
- Vegan: The base recipe is naturally vegan. Add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
- Keto: Kale is low carb and full of fiber. The olive oil adds healthy fats, and you can top with parmesan for extra flavor.
- Whole30: Swap olive oil for coconut oil if you prefer.
- Fat-Free: Skip the oil, but keep in mind that seasonings won't stick as well. Try a splash of vinegar or enjoy them plain.
More Easy Low Carb Snack Recipes
- Air Fryer Pepperoni Chips
- Easy Keto Cheese Crackers
- Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks
- Keto Candied Pecans
- Stuffed Celery with Cream Cheese
- Low Carb Ham Pickle Roll Ups
Check out our favorite Easy Keto Snacks On the Go or our favorite Keto Snacks to Buy too!
If you loved our recipe, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and leave us a comment too! Connect with us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube!
Recipe
Kale Chips in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- Half a bunch of kale 4 oz- This is this weight before you trim the stem from the leaves. If you buy pretrimmed bagged kale, you'll need about 2-2.5 oz per batch since the center stem section is already removed.
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
Prep
- Wash and dry the kale. This is important, as wet kale turns into soggy kale chips since it won't crisp properly. Dry with paper towels. (if using garden kale, discard the leaves with small holes since there's a good chance it still has tiny bugs or worms.)
- Cut the kale from the stems, and then dry. Feel free to save any of the tiny kale leaves that are too small to turn into chips and add them to your next salad. The easiest way to cut the stems is to stack the kale pieces like a book and cut them all at once along the stem.
- After you trim the kale, tear them into large bite-sized pieces
Season The Kale
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix the kale prepped pieces, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Massage the leaves with your hands to help get the oil as evenly distributed as possible. Sprinkle on any optional seasoning you are adding after massaging.
- Preheat air fryer at 300F for 3-5 minutes.
- Air fry on 300F for 3-5 minutes depending on the style of air fryer you are using.
- If you are using an oven-style fryer, you won't need to flip the kale chips. Simply make sure you are not overloading the tray so the warm air can move around. In the Omni fryer, we found that the chips did not fly around at all. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
- If you are using a basket-syle fryer, check on your kale chips after 3-minutes. Your kale pieces will fly around more in the basket so you may need to rearrange pieces in the basket. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Be sure to watch for chip flying up into your burner.
Notes
- Be sure you dry your kale completely. If you attempt to make kale chips with soggy kale, you will get soggy kale chips.
- If you have less kale than we used here, decrease the oil as well. Too much oil will result in soggy kale chips.
- Air fry at 300F to prevent your kale chips from burning in the fryer.
- Optional seasonings - everything but the bagel seasoning, elotes seasoning, popcorn seasoning, cheese powder, garlic salt, the sky is the limit!
- Toaster oven style air fryer - We use the Onmi and found we didn't need to flip the kale chips since it does a good job circulating on both sides. Air fry for 4-5 minutes depending on how crispy you want your chips. If you are using a toaster-oven style fryer you can slightly overlap the kale as they will shrink during cooking.
- Smaller basket style air fryer - Our basket style fryer is a 3.2L Farberware and we couldn't cook as many kale chips at one time, but they do cook up quickly! Layering and stacking the kale chips does work fine, but be sure to check on them after 3-minutes.
- If the kale leaves are blowing around in your air fryer, add a rack on top to prevent that. The air fryer fan is what circulates the air and helps to get the food really crisp in an air fryer. That same fan will blow lightweight food around inside too, as we discovered with our air fryer smores experiments!
Nutrition
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