Air Fryer Kale Chips

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Chef Abbie Gellman RD

Potato chips, meet air fryer kale chips – the new crunchy snack in town! I don’t know about you, but I love a good crunchy snack, and using the air fryer helps to achieve the perfect crispness for these kale chips. These kale chips go perfectly as a side to a sandwich (or even on a sandwich for that crunch factor), or alongside any meal. Bonus – you’ll get in some extra greens!

Health Benefits of Air Fried Kale Chips

The air fryer is one of my favorite kitchen tools not only because it cooks foods quickly, but because it discards excess fats and oils. This saves extra calories, and it prevents the food being cooked from getting soggy. While fat is important in our diet, excess fat can lead to adverse health effects. So, a kitchen tool like the air fryer serves very useful for this purpose. 

There’s a reason why kale became a popular food in 2011, it is packed with health benefits. Kale is an excellent source of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K, as well as the mineral manganese.1 

Are kale chips even good for you?

Each of these nutrients works in the body to serve different functions. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin whose role is to create collagen (think skin elasticity), create some neurotransmitters, and assist with wound healing.2

Vitamin A and K, on the other hand, are fat-soluble vitamins. This means that fat needs to be present in order for the body to absorb these nutrients. So, the addition of olive oil in this recipe helps your body better absorb these two vitamins. Vitamin A’s role is to assist with vision, immune function and cell health, while vitamin K’s role is to assist in blood clotting and bone health.3,4  

Lastly, manganese is a trace mineral, so that means you don’t need a lot of it to experience its benefits. In the body, manganese plays a role in metabolism, fighting free radicals, bone health, and immunity.5 All of those benefits are packed in just a green leaf!

However, with that being said, it is important to eat a variety of different colored foods for different nutrients and their benefits!

Kale Chip Ingredients

  • KaleI recommend using a lacinato kale as opposed to curly kale varieties. The lacinato kale is flat, which allows it to crisp up better. However, if you don’t have lacinato kale, that is okay, this recipe will still work. 
  • Oil – You can use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
  • Salt

How to Make Kale Chips in the Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.

Combine the kale, oil, and salt in a bowl. Mix well and massage the oil into the kale.

Add the kale to the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Cook for 5 minutes or until the kale chips are crispy.

How do you keep kale chips crispy?

My secret trick for keeping kale chips crispy after making them in the air fryer is to place them in a brown paper bag. I promise it works! And they will stay fresh on the counter for up to a week.

Why are my kale chips soggy?

You want to make sure the kale is as dry as possible before mixing in the other ingredients. If the leaves retain a lot of moisture, you are going to get “steamed” kale versus a crispy chip.

Kale Chip Seasoning Ideas

I like to keep things simple and to a minimum, but love spicing things up every once in a while. Here are some popular seasonings that taste great on cooked kale chips.

  • Ranch seasoning – add a packet instead of the salt.
  • Parmesan – sprinkle in some grated parmesan cheese and even a little garlic powder.
  • Everything But the Bagel Seasoning – adds a ton of flavor!
  • Cajun – add a little spice
  • Salt and Vinegar – Douse a little white vinegar in with the olive before frying
  • Nutritional Yeast – for those who want the cheesy flavor but keeping it vegan.

Don’t forget to share your air fryer kale chips with me on Instagram @ChefAbbieGellman!

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Side Shot, Air Fryer Kale Chips

Air fryer kale chips

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Keyword: air fryer, kale, kale chips
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Chef Abbie Gellman RD

Equipment

  • air fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch ~5 cups kale, stemmed and torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  • In a bowl, add kale, oil, and salt. Mix well and massage the oil into the kale.
  • Lay kale in a single layer in the air fryer basket and try not to overlap.
  • Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on your preferred level of golden brown and crispiness.

Video

Notes

I recommend lacinto kale because it is flat. It will store in a paper bag for up to one week.

Resources

  1. Gunnars K. 10 health benefits of kale. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-kale#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2. Published June 29, 2018. Accessed April 9, 2021.
  2. Vitamin C. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/. Accessed April 9, 2021.
  3. Vitamin A. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/. Accessed April 9, 2021.
  4. Vitamin K. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-HealthProfessional/. Accessed April 9, 2021.
  5. Manganese. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-HealthProfessional/. Accessed April 9, 2021.

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