Air Fryer Kale Chips

Crispy, crunchy, and flavorful, air fryer kale chips are a healthy way to scratch that itch for potato chips.

Are you trying to eat less processed food, but your taste buds yearning for a bag of greasy, salty potato chips? This recipe is the perfect solution.

Air fryer kale chips are just as addictive as any bag of chips, but are a thousand times healthier!

Kale leaves are not only low in calories but they’re also packed with a myriad of nutritional benefits.

That means you can snack on this nutritious treat as much as you like, without the guilt.

Move over Lays and Ruffles, kale chips are in, and they’re here to stay.

Air Fryer Kale Chips

Kale chips are usually baked in the oven to yield crispy results without needing oil. The only downside is, it takes so long! 

This is where the air fryer comes in. With this handy appliance, you’ll get to enjoy the most addictive crispy fried kale chips in as fast as 8 minutes!

Ingredients 

• Kale – For me, curly kale leaves work best because the edges help hold the seasonings. But you can also use other kale types such as dinosaur, red Russian, and Chinese kale.  
• Oil – I like using olive oil, but coconut and avocado oil work, too. Just as little as 2 tablespoons can make the leaves extra crispy. However, it’s 100% optional. If you’re on a strict, no-fat diet, by all means, skip this ingredient.  
• Salt and Pepper – Simple seasonings that add spectacular flavor.
• Garlic and Onion Powders – This flavor combination makes the leaves as addictive as your favorite potato chips!

Prepping the Kale 

You can either use full kale leaves or buy bags of pre-chopped kale. 

If you’re using full leaves, start by chopping off the ribs. Aside from being tough, they’re also bitter and take longer to cook.

Roughly chop the kale into bite-sized pieces. 

Next, you have to clean them. Rinse and dry the leaves with a salad spinner. 

If you don’t have a salad spinner, place the kale leaves in a colander and run them under water.

Lay them out on a kitchen towel and pat them dry.

How Do You Cook Kale in an Air Fryer? 

If your air fryer requires preheating, set it to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces and discard the stems. You’ll use 6 cups of kale for this recipe.

It seems like a lot, but they’ll wilt after cooking. The yield will make 6 servings. 

Rinse the leaves. A salad spinner works best because it can rinse and dry the leaves thoroughly. 

Alternatively, you can place the leaves in a colander and run them under water. Pat them dry with a kitchen towel.

For this recipe, you’ll the kale leaves with oil for extra crunch. It’s not necessary, though! Skip the next step if you’re not using oil.

In a large bowl, toss the kale leaves in olive oil until completely coated.

The best way to do this is to massage the leaves with your hands.

Next up, prepare the seasonings. Stir together the garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and pepper.

Pour the seasoning mix over the leaves and toss until they’re completely coated.

Place the leaves in the air fryer basket. Avoid piling the leaves on top of each other.

Cook in batches if your basket isn’t big enough.

Air fry the leaves at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes.

Shake the basket to move the leaves around, and cook for another 2 minutes or until crispy.

Transfer the chips onto a baking sheet to cool. Arrange them in a single layer to prevent them from steaming.

Season the chips with more salt, if needed. Kale chips are best eaten right away. 

Leftovers will stay crispy for up to a week if stored in a sealed plastic bag lined with a paper towel at room temperature.

If they lose their crunch, air fry them for 1 to 2 minutes.

Tips for the Best Chips 

• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Hot air needs to circulate in the basket to cook the leaves. If there are too many leaves in the basket, there won’t be enough space for the air to move. Just cook the leaves in batches if they don’t fit.
• If you notice the leaves flying around the air fryer, cover them with an air fryer rack or a trivet to keep them in place.   
• Shake the leaves after 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
• This recipe has a relatively simple seasoning mix. Feel free to experiment with dry herbs and seasonings for more flavor! Here are some suggestions:
  • Ranch seasoning: 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Cheese: 1 teaspoon cheese powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Italian: 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Indian: a blend of ground turmeric, paprika, chili powder, curry powder, and cumin
• You can also season the chips post-cooking with coarse salt and grated parmesan cheese.
• Serve the chips with your favorite dipping sauce. Garlic herb yogurt sauce tastes amazing with these chips!

More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

Air Fryer Appetizers
Air Fryer Apple Chips
Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
Air Fryer Ribs
Air Fryer Breakfasts