How to Make Crispy Kale Chips in the Air Fryer or Oven

Last updated on November 6th, 2025

Crispy Kale Chips are easy to make in either the air fryer or oven, making them an ideal alternative to potato chips. Lightly seasoned, these kale chips are a nutritious snack and a quick fix for salty junk food cravings, especially on those game day nights when tempting snacks surround you.

Crispy Kale Chips

Air-fried or oven-baked kale chips are nutritious, addictive, and a great alternative to regular salted potato chips. Once you start eating kale chips, you can’t stop eating them. Seasoned lightly with simple spices, these crispy chips are an easy snack on a low-carb diet.

Making kale chips in the air fryer or oven is practically foolproof, regardless of the method you choose. I’ve got you covered with everything you need to know. With just a bit of pre-planning and a few bunches of kale, you can easily turn them into healthy keto-friendly chips for your game-day snack table.

Tips on making Crispy Kale Chips (Before you get started)

• Use two or more kale bunches to make enough chips for snacking, as they shrink slightly during cooking.
• Wash the kale thoroughly and dry it well. For best results, lay the kale pieces out on paper towels and let them air dry for 15–20 minutes.
• Pull the kale pieces off the spine and discard the spine to make the chips less bitter.
• Preheat the air fryer or oven to maintain a steady temperature for the kale pieces to crisp.
• Combine the oil and seasoning to create a rub for the kale pieces.
• Lightly rub oil and spices on the kale pieces, one by one, before air-frying.
• Let the kale chips rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow them to crisp up.

Are Kale Chips Low Carb?

One serving (approximately 1 cup) of these Crispy Kale Chips contains 2.1g of carbs and 0.9g of fibre.

under 5g carbs per serving

• 2.1g of carbohydrates
• 0.9g of fibre
• 1.2g of net carbs

Kale is one of the best low-carb foods you can eat on a keto/low-carb diet. It is a cruciferous vegetable belonging to the same mustard family as broccoli, cabbage, and collard greens, which share similar nutritional values and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Do You Season Kale before or after Crisping?

Seasoning kale chips after or before cooking them is a personal choice. It’s up to you, but here’s what I’ve learned:

After baking or air-frying

For a long time, I seasoned my kale chips after cooking, much like you’d season fries. However, I noticed the seasoning would often slip off, leaving the chips unevenly flavoured and most of the seasoning at the bottom of the bowl.

Before baking or air-frying

I now prefer to season the kale before cooking. By rubbing the seasoning onto each piece, the spices adhere much better, resulting in consistently flavorful chips. While it takes a little more time, the seasoning stays put, and every bite bursts with flavour. In my experience, it’s absolutely worth the extra effort!

Ingredients you’ll need to make Crispy Kale Chips

• Kale – A few varieties exist, but I use curly-leafed kale and buy 2-3 bunches, since I know I’ll eat the first batch while making the rest, haha!
• Olive Oil – Extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or even melted butter works well for this recipe.
• Onion Powder – Flavours the kale with a savoury onion taste that doesn’t overpower it.
• Paprika – Adds a smoky taste, and only a small amount is used to avoid burning the kale.
• Salt – A little goes a long way, so I use it sparingly. You can always add more on top after crisping.

Steps to make Crispy Kale Chips (Air Fryer or Oven)

Prepare the kale:

1. The stems from kale leaves are rigid and bitter in taste, so begin by pinching off pieces from the stems and placing them in a colander.
2. Wash the kale and dry it thoroughly. You can put them in the spinner to completely drain out the water. It’s worth going through the extra step of laying them flat on a paper towel-lined sheet pan and letting them dry for about 15 minutes.

4. Add olive oil, onion powder, paprika, and salt to a small bowl. Stir to combine into a thick, grainy paste.
5. With clean hands, lightly dip the curly part of each kale piece into the spice rub and rub the mixture over the kale before placing it in the air fryer or on the baking tray.
6. Doing one kale piece or a few pieces at a time ensures the rub coats the kale evenly. Alternatively, place a quarter of the batch of kale in a bowl or on the baking tray (if using the oven), drizzle half of the spiced oil mixture over the kale, and rub each piece to ensure it is evenly coated with the oily rub.

To Air Fry: 

1. Preheat the air fryer to 160°C for 3-5 minutes.
2. Air fry the kale in batches. If you have another basket with a removable grid, use that to cover the kale, so they don’t fly around while cooking in the air fryer.
3. Air fry the kale for 3 minutes. The second batch may take less time because the air fryer has reached a suitable temperature. Remove the chips from the air fryer basket and let them sit for a few minutes to crisp before serving.

To Bake:

1. Preheat the oven to 300° F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Lay the rubbed kale pieces on the tray and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning. After 10 minutes, if they still feel a bit wet, turn off the oven and let them sit inside for a few more minutes. They will also crisp up further as they cool on the counter. Allow the chips to rest for a few minutes before eating.
3. If your oven has an Air Fryer setting, bake the kale in an air fryer tray for 12 minutes at 300°F.

Storage Tips

Store kale chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Unseasoned, prepared kale pieces can be wrapped in a paper towel and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also make the seasoning rub ahead of time and keep it on the counter for about two days.

Do you have leftover kale, or are you looking for a fresh meal idea? Try my Kale Salad Recipe!

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