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These Air Fryer kale chips are the perfect low carb snack! All you need is a bunch of kale and some pantry staples to make this delicious, good-for-you-snack that you can enjoy guilt-free.

These crisps are made using a fraction of oil compared to regular potato chips- team them up with a Greek yogurt dip, some Air Fryer sweet potato chips or Air Fryer beet chips to make them absolutely irresistible!

I agree, kale is one of those veggies that can be a hit or miss- either you like it, or you absolutely don’t. But there’s one thing I can bet on- you will really enjoy these air fried kale chips- especially if you love crunchy, salty snacks.

I’ve tried making Air Fryer tortilla chips and Air Fryer popcorn to satisfy my snack cravings, but I have to say- these kale chips are dangerous close to my top 3.

Quick Look At This Recipe

Flavor: Crispy and salty!

⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes.

🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes.

⏲️ Total time: 15 minutes.

👥 Servings: 4 servings.

🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.

❄️ Freezer friendly: No.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tip: Use a rack to cover the seasoned kale leaves to keep them from flying around your Air Fryer.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • They’re a delicious, low-calorie healthy snack that you can whip up in just 10 minutes.
  • They have a nice delicate crispiness and a subtle flavor- which you can adjust to your liking!
  • They’re perfect for mid-day snacking or any time of the day- just like my classic Air Fryer potato chips.
Pic of Jen Gamble

Recipe Ingredients

  • Kale: Try to look for kale that has full, large leaves- that means you’ll have larger, crispy air fried kale to enjoy.
  • Olive oil: To help the seasonings stick to the kale. You can use avocado oil or coconut oil as well.
  • Seasonings: I just used a bit of salt and pepper here. You can add some Italian seasoning or my homemade poultry seasoning too, if you want a bit of extra flavor.

See recipe card for quantities.

Variations

  • You can experiment with different seasonings to try different variations of these air fried kale chips. I like adding a bit of garlic powder or my homemade Ranch seasoning sometimes.
  • For a bit of a citrusy zing, you can also add some freshly squeezed lemon juice on the top!
  • You can also sprinkle some grated Parmesan during the final 2-3 minutes of cooking time to make some cheesy kale chips. If you’re vegan, try nutritional yeast- it has a delightful nutty Parmesan-like flavor that works SO well with kale.

How to Make Air Fryer Kale Chips

A cutting board with washed, cut-up kale leaves being prepped for cooking in the air fryer. In the top right of the picture is more kale.
  1. Wash and pat dry the kale. Spread each leaf on a cutting board and cut the leaves from the spine. Roughly tear the leaves into small pieces.
Picture of the kale that has been transferred to a glass bowl. Above the glass bowl of kale are two more glass bowls, one containing salt and the other containing pepper.
  1. Transfer to a medium bowl, drizzle a bit of olive oil, and then toss with salt and pepper. Make sure each leaf is coated with a thin layer of olive oil.
Seasoned kale that has been transferred to the air fryer basket and is ready to cook. The top right of the picture has a glass bowl with more kale leaves and a wire rack in the top right of the image.
  1. Transfer the seasoned kale leaves to the Air Fryer basket and air fry at 350°F for about 4 minutes.
A picture of the kale fully cooked in the air fryer basket.
  1. Shake the basket at the 4 minute mark and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Remove and serve!

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

There’s no wrong way to enjoy these crispy kale chips! Since they’re in bite-sized pieces, you can just pick them up and pop them into your mouth. If you have a dip, dip the air-fried kale chips and then eat. Or do a combination of both and enjoy.

I love sprinkling some of my homemade everything bagel seasoning on the top, and occasionally a drizzle of miso or soy sauce for some umami depth whenever I’m serving these as an appetizer. They can also work wonderfully as a side with some Air Fryer chicken burgers or Air Fryer black bean burgers.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

  • Don’t overcrowd the basket with too many leaves. This is crucial, especially if you want that crispy texture. I realized this when I made my Air Fryer zucchini chips.
  • Make sure the kale leaves are completely dry before you coat them in the olive oil and seasonings. This will ensure the leaves crisp up nicely.
  • Depending on the kind of Air Fryer you’re using, you may need to add a couple of extra minutes of cooking time to get the kale nice and crispy.
  • If you’re adding cheese, sprinkle it on towards the final few minutes of cooking time- or it’ll end up getting burnt.

Recipe FAQs

How do I store leftover Air Fryer kale chips?

If you have some leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store them for up to 3 days.

Why are my kale chips not crispy?

Overcrowding the Air Fryer basket is one of the top reasons why your kale chips could not be turning out as crispy as you’d like them to be.

How do I make the air fried kale chips crispy again?

To make them crispy again, simply pop them back in the Air Fryer for a couple of minutes- keeping an eye on them and making sure they don’t burn.

More Air Fryer Veggie Sides

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.

Kale chips are fully cooked in the air fryer and served in a round white bowl.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 4

Air Fryer Kale Chips

By Jen
These Air Fryer Kale Chips are the perfect crunchy healthy snack to curb any cravings!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
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Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 1 bunch kale
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions 

  • Wash and dry kale leaves. Spread each leaf on a cutting board. Cut the leaves from the spine. Discard the spine and roughly tear the leaves into small pieces.
  • Transfer the prepared kale chips to a medium sized bowl. Spray the Kale leaves with olive oil, and then toss with salt, and pepper. Make sure each leaf is coated with a thin layer of olive oil.
  • Transfer the seasoned kale leaves to the air fryer basket. You may need to cook these chips in batches based on the size of your air fryer.
  • Air fry Kale chips at 350°F (180 C) for about 6 minutes. Shake the basket at 4 minutes. Monitor the kale chips after 4  minutes to ensure they aren’t overcooking.
  • Carefully remove the Kale chips from the air fryer and serve with your favorite healthy dipping sauce, such as a greek yogurt dip.

Notes

  • Use a rack to cover the seasoned kale leaves to keep them from flying around your Air Fryer. 
  • Check the Air Fryer at the 6-8 minute mark and cook the kale chips for a couple of extra minutes if they still don’t look crunchy. 
  • Make sure the kale leaves are completely dry before you air fry them, or they’ll end up steaming and turning soggy instead of getting crispy. 

Nutrition

Calories: 43kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 163mg, Potassium: 115mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.3g, Vitamin A: 3247IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 83mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jen Gamble

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