How to make Crispy Kale Chips in the Air Fryer or Oven
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.
Ingredients
- 2 Bunches Kale
- 4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil Avocado oil or melted butter
- 2 tsp Onion Powder
- ½ tsp Paprika or chilli powder
- ¼ tsp Salt add extra after crisping for desired saltiness
Instructions
Prepare the kale:
- 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.
- 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.
- Add olive oil, onion powder, paprika, and salt to a small bowl. Stir to combine into a thick, grainy paste.
- With clean hands, lightly dip the curly part of each kale piece into the spice rub and rub the mixture over the kale piece.
- Doing this one kale piece or a few pieces at a time ensures the rub evenly coats the kale. 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
- Preheat the air fryer to 160 °C for 3 to 5 minutes.
- 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.
- 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 crispen before serving.
To Bake
- Preheat the oven to 300° F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- 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.
- If you have an Air Fryer setting on your oven, bake the kale in an air fryer tray for 12 minutes at 300°F.
Notes
Tips on making Crispy Kale Chips (Air Fryer or Baked)
- 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 crispen.