Air Fryer Kale Chips

Homemade air fryer kale chips are super simple to make. Using convection cooking, take these kale leaves to extra crispy in under 5 minutes with less fat but still all the flavor. The only downside: they’ll go fast!!

A common theme with patients is to ‘eat more fiber’. Fiber is found in plants, i.e. whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts/seeds. Everyone can benefit from incorporating MORE fiber into their eating pattern. The key is to find ways that you can ‘sprinkle’ the fiber in throughout the day so it’s not something that seems like work. Not saying you have to eat kale, but these Air Fryer Kale Chips might just be a way to sprinkle some fiber into your day!

Another tip I tell patients is to eat vegetables in different forms. Maybe you’ve had a ‘not so great experience’ with a vegetable in the past and don’t want to try it again, however, vegetables can taste different depending on how they’re prepared. Not here to state the obvious, but I recently tried a raw beet. Beets taste quite earthy to me when roasted and unfortunately are a vegetable I want to like but just hadn’t up until recently. Enter a raw beet salad mixed with a tart apple and vinaigrette and success! Even had to try it a second time, with different beets, just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Again, the encouragement is to try vegetables in all their forms. You might be surprised and find a way you like them. Additionally, kids taste buds change as they grow, so important for them to keep trying also!

On to the Air Fryer Kale. Sautéed Kale was one of the first recipes I posted on the blog. Kale can and will be quite bitter if not prepared just right. For a salad the kale needs to be massaged. Once I had the kale salad at Houston’s restaurant I immediately came home to try to replicate their salad. Enter my Copycat Emerald Kale Salad. And while kale chips trended a few years back I’m here to do it again! Not to have as a ‘chip’ but to have a way to ‘sprinkle your fiber’ in one veggie at a time!

Ingredients: Air Fryer Kale Chips

• Kale: Either curly kale or lacinato kale works well. Curly kale is more readily available (where I live), however, I grabbed some lacinato kale aka dinosaur kale at the farmer’s market this weekend. Lacinato kale is more delicate and will cook more quickly.
• Oil: Olive oil or avocado oil will work in this air fryer kale chip recipe. If you want less oil, you can spray the leaves lightly with oil spray. The key is making sure to massage the oil into the kale to help each leaf crisp up!
• Salt: As always, I used just a small amount. If you have dietary restrictions, use none. However, the small amount added does bring out just a bit of flavor. If you opt to add a seasoning from below, you may be able to leave it out completely.

Kale Chip Seasoning Ideas

• Ranch seasoning: You could buy the packet and use a store bought version OR you could simply combine 2 tablespoons dried parsley, 1 tablespoon dried dill, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper. I omitted the salt here again, but start with just one tablespoon of this homemade ranch seasoning for your kale and feel free to add more to your liking.
• Cheese: My favorite go-to is adding a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Use whatever your favorite cheese is. And if you want it vegan, use 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast for that savory flavor!
• BBQ seasoning: My homemade BBQ seasoning works great on homemade chips, as paired here. And if barbecue sauce is a favorite seasoning for you, this might get you to eat more kale! Simply mix 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon brown sugar, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper is optional.
• Everything But the Bagel seasoning: I feel this is the ‘it’ seasoning these days. If you don’t have this seasoning on hand you could use tahini in place of the oil to massage into the kale and then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

How To Prepare Kale for Chips

Following these simple steps, you’ll have air fryer kale chips in no time. The key is making sure your kale is completely dry to ensure maximum crispness. The only downside (or could be an upside) to an air fryer is that you might have to make the kale in small batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

• Wash and dry kale: Wash your raw kale leaves under cold water. To dry, line a baking sheet with paper towels, place the wet leaves on top, and pat them dry with more paper towels. A salad spinner can also be used to dry your kale to avoid using extra paper towels.
• Remove stems: Using a cutting board and a sharp paring knife, remove the stems of your kale. Fold the kale leaves in half, so the stem lies at one end, and then slice along the stem to separate the leaves. Or, pull the stem through one closed fist to detach the leaves without using a knife.
• Tear the kale: Once de-stemmed, tear your leaves into bite-sized pieces. Try to keep your pieces of kale as equal as possible to ensure even cooking.

How To Make Air Fryer Kale Chips

The hardest part is always the ‘being prepared part’. Once you’ve washed and cut your kale, this recipe is as simple as 1-2-3 and you’ll have air fryer kale chips in less than 5 minutes.

1. Prepare the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F..
2. Mix the ingredients: Add the fresh kale leaves, olive oil, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
3. Massage the kale: Using your hands, lightly massage the kale such that you evenly coat each leaf with olive oil.
4. Arrange in the air fryer basket: Transfer the massaged kale pieces to the air fryer basket. Spread the leaves in a single layer, being sure not to overcrowd them. I recommend frying your kale leaves in batches to make crispy kale in the air fryer for the amount in this recipe. However, I prep the kale and prepare in small batches for just myself.
5. Air fry the kale: Air fry the arranged kale leaves for ~3 minutes for lacinato kale and between 4-5 minutes for curly kale. You can turn and/or flip (depending on your air fryer basket) halfway during the process.

Expert Tips

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a master chef or new to the air fryer game. This air fryer kale recipe will come out perfectly crisp every time with a few tips. Get ready to sprinkle some fiber in to your day!

• Dry kale leaves thoroughly: Drying your kale leaves is the *key* to getting crispy air fryer chips. I recommend using a salad spinner or laying your washed kale on a paper towel-lined sheet pan for complete dryness. Important to note, also don’t let your kale sit out for too long, as the leaves will lose their firmness.
• Lightly massage kale to coat them with oil: A light, even oil coating is necessary to give your kale chips sufficient crunch. For this reason, it’s essential that you gently massage your leaves in the oil for 30-40 seconds before adding them to the air fryer.
• Arrange leaves in a single layer: For proper cooking, it’s crucial to arrange your kale leaves in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Overcrowding will prevent the chips from crisping up evenly. Remember that you’ll likely have to cook your kale in batches to avoid overcrowding. Check often to avoid burning the chips, as you can see happened in the picture below. *real life*

Other Kale Recipes

• Sautéed Kale
• Copycat Emerald Kale Salad

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