Perfectly crisp Air Fryer Kale Chips are easy to make in minutes for a healthy, low-carb snack! Fresh kale is tossed with oil and salt, then air fried into crunchy chips in this quick recipe. Get creative and customize these simple keto and vegan chips with tons of tasty seasoning options!

Air fryer kale chips are lifted out of a white bowl from the counter.
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Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe

There’s always a bunch or two of kale in the fridge in my house.

It’s used to make green drinks and huge kale salads almost daily. But this time, I wanted to change up the kale game. Instead of eating it raw, why not try crisping it up as Air Fryer Kale Chips!?

In my humble opinion, kale chips from grocery stores are OK, but nothing to write home about. If you’ve been in this same boat, then your viewpoint on kale chips is about to change… for good.

That’s because making your own kale chips with this air fryer method is not only super-duper quick and easy (like under-10-minutes kind of easy) but their flavor and texture is out-of-this-world incredible. And they’re a fraction of the fat of regular potato chips.

Not to mention you can season them with WHATEVER you want, turning this nutrition-packed green into a tasty and even ADDICTING and easy snack to munch on!

Kale, oil, and salt are the only ingredients needed for this recipe.

Ingredients

  • Kale. The main ingredient! Buy it by the bunch instead of pre-cut. Organic is preferred. The most common type to use is curly leaf kale, but you can also try out red or lacinato, also known as dinosaur kale.
  • Oil. A mildly flavored oil works best, such as olive oil or avocado oil.
  • Salt. A little bit of salt goes a long way. Remember, you can always add more but you can’t take it away!
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How to Air Fry Kale Chips

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

1. Prep the Kale

Clean the kale. You’ll need to rinse the it well so that it is free of any dirt. Make sure that it’s completely dried, too. Extra moisture will result in soggy chips!

Remove the leaves from the rib. Starting from the base, pinch the leaves and slide up the rib. All of the leaves should easily separate from the stem. You can also cut the leaves off using a knife.

Tear kale into bite-sized pieces. You can also use a cutting board and a sharp knife. Try to make them similar in size, about 1 to 2 inches. Small pieces cook up faster than large, chip-sized pieces. Also, they will shrink some after air frying, so tear them a little larger than you want your chips to be.

2. Add the Flavor

Toss the pieces of kale in a bit of oil and salt. 

Get in there with your hands to ensure that each piece is lightly and evenly coated in the oil.

The prepared kale leaves are tossed with oil and salt in a bowl.

3. Cook in the Air Fryer

Place in a single layer in an air-fryer basket. Using a 6-quart air fryer is preferred since you can normally cook a bunch of kale in 2 batches.

Cook at 350°F for 4-5 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking. Start to keep an eye on them after the 3 minute mark—they crisp up really fast after this!

4. Add More Seasonings

These healthy kale chips taste great with just a hint of salt. However, there are also a ton of other optional, delicious seasonings you can try! Toss any of these on after the kale is done cooking:

Crispy air fryer kale chips are enjoyed for a healthy snack.
Are kale chips healthy?

Yes, kale chips are very healthy! Kale is packed with healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And, since these chips are air fried, they don’t use a lot of oil. You can enjoy this good-for-you snack any time.

How to store kale chips?

Kale chips are best stored in a paper bag or a plastic bag with a paper towel. Be sure to keep them at room temperature, and they should be good for about a week.

How long do kale chips last?

Kale chips should last for about a week at room temperature.

How to keep kale chips crispy?

To keep kale chips crispy, be sure they are cooked properly and keep them in a bag at room temperature. Kale chips can become soggy if they are not dried properly before cooking, or if too much oil is used.

Recipe Tips

  • Just the leaves. Slide the kale leaves off the ribs. It’s much easier and faster to use your fingers instead of a knife.
  • Go big. Tear chips a little larger. These tend to shrink down a good bit after air frying.
  • A little goes a long way. Don’t over-do the oil, or the chips will be soggy and not crispy.
  • Watch close. They cook up quickly! Depending on your air fryer they can crisp up as quickly as 3 minutes and up to 5.
  • Add some flavor. You can season these up in just about any way you like. Try some Parmesan cheese, chili powder, or even a splash of lemon juice for different flavor.
An overhead shots shows a bowl of crunchy air fryer kale chips on the counter with fresh kale.

Other Air Fryer Veggie Recipe

Vegetables turn out beautifully in the air fryer and are ready in less time than a conventional oven. Try one of these air fryer recipes next.

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 6 votes

Air Fryer Kale Chips Recipe

Perfectly crisp Air Fryer Kale Chips are easy to make in minutes for a healthy low-carb snack! Fresh kale is tossed with oil and salt then air fried into crunchy chips in this quick recipe. Get creative and customize these simple keto and vegan chips with tons of tasty seasoning options!
Air fryer kale chips are lifted out of a white bowl from the counter.
Yield 4 servings
Prep 3 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 8 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 1 bunch kale rinsed and dried
  • 1 Tbsp. oil olive or avocado
  • ¼ tsp. salt to taste

Instructions 

  • Prepare the Kale: a 6-quart Air Fryer to 350°F and let it heat up for at least 3 minutes. Remove the ribs from the kale and then tear the leaves of kale into 1-2 inch pieces.
    1 bunch kale
  • Season the Kale: Add the kale leaves to a large bowl. Drizzle with oil and then sprinkle with salt. Toss until all of the leaves are evenly coated.
    1 Tbsp. oil, ¼ tsp. salt
  • Air Fry the Kale: Working in two batches, place half of the kale leaves in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket. Cook for 4-5 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through. Keep a close eye on them after the 3 minute mark – they will crisp up really fast after this! Repeat with the remaining kale.
  • Serve the Kale Chips: Sprinkle with additional salt or seasonings, to taste, and enjoy!
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 6 votes

Notes

Prep Ahead Instructions:
You can prep the kale a day or two before air frying
Storage Directions:
Keep these low-carb kale chips in a brown paper bag, or in a plastic bag with a paper towel. Keep them at room temperature for up to one week. They might get soggy in an airtight container. They will be best the first 2-3 days as they begin to lose their crispiness after that. It is not recommended to freeze these kale chips. You can make them crispy again by popping them back in the air fryer at 300° F for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Tips:
  • Just the leaves. Slide the kale leaves off the ribs. It’s much easier and faster to use your fingers instead of a knife.
  • Go big. Tear chips a little larger. These tend to shrink down a good bit after air frying.
  • A little goes a long way. Don’t over-do the oil, or the chips will be soggy and not crispy.
  • Watch close. They cook up quickly! Depending on your air fryer they can crisp up as quickly as 3 minutes and up to 5.
  • Add some flavor. You can season these up in just about any way you like. Try some Parmesan cheese, chili powder, or even a splash of lemon juice for different flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 40kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 125mg, Potassium: 70mg, Vitamin A: 1424IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 1mg

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

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