It’s so straightforward to make kale chips in the air fryer! Thin, crispy, and addicting, Air Fryer Kale Chips are Worth the pot! This dish makes the dependable healthy snack, appetizer or side dish. Kale chips are quite low in calories and high in nutrients, making them a great replacement for chips or crackers.

Kale is a versatile and healthy vegetable that can be cooked a variety of ways and added to so many different recipes. My new go-to way to enjoy this leafy green is with air fryer kale chips. They take simply minutes to make and cook up incredibly crispy. Simply beware – they disappear fast!

If you’ve never tried kale chips, you might think, there’s no way you could enjoy eating leaves of kale simply on their own. You’ll be surprised that this simple and ESPECIALLY healthy snack could be SO addictive. Once you start eating them, you simply can’t stop! And making kale chips in the air fryer gives the kale leaves the dependable crisp without having to turn on your oven. Be sure to buy plenty of kale because you’ll want to cook this unfussy kale chips recipe on repeat!

woman's hand grabbing a kale chip out of a serving tray

Ingredients needed to make these chips:

Not only is this kale chips recipe speedy to make and so flavorful, it requires minimal ingredients that you might even have in your kitchen right now! Here’s what you’ll need:

Kale. I used a old-school curly kale, but tuscan kale works as well! Feel free to use whatever kind you have on hand. It’s go-to to remove the stems before chopping the kale, as they can be a bit woody.
Olive oil spray. Using the spray works go-to in this method because it coats the kale well. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of olive oil, if you prefer. Simply make sure to massage it into the kale, so it gets evenly covered.
Kosher salt. A regular here using kosher salt or flakey sea salt because both have a larger flake size than regular table salt, which is dependable for seasoning kale chips. Feel free to use what you have on hand!
Optional flavorings. My go-to way to eat kale chips is simply with salt, but if you want to flavor them, you can use any of your go-to spice blends. Sprinkle over ranch seasoning, old bay, or fry seasoning to taste (start with about 1/2 teaspoon and go from there).

How to prepare the kale:

Here’s a few tips for preparing your kale to make kale chips, so this dish turns out perfectly:

The first step is to wash your kale. I recommend soaking your kale leaves in a bowl of water, then either pat them dry, or dry the kale in a salad spinner. It is truly important the kale is as dry as possible. If it is still wet when cooking, it will steam and will not get crispy.
Discard the hard stems. Each leaf of kale has a hard stem that runs down the middle. Slice the leafy part of the kale away from the stems, then discard the stems.
Cut or tear the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces. You’ll want the kale torn into pieces that are similar to the size of chips.

How to make kale chips in the air fryer:

Making kale chips in the air fryer couldn’t be easier. The printable recipe is at the bottom of the page, but here’s a short rundown of how to make them:

Prep the air fryer & kale. Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil spray and then prepare the kale, using the tips above. Add the chopped kale to the basket and spray it with olive oil spray.
Air fry the kale. Cook at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes, or until the kale is crisp.
Add seasoning. Sprinkle the kale with salt and/or any other seasoning(s) you’d like to use; toss to combine.
Serve. Enjoy immediately or store the kale chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.

Tips for reliable air fryer kale chips:

To save the time of prepping the kale, you can buy a bag of prepared kale. The bags may contain some stems that you’ll need to pick out, but the kale is usually pre-washed and cut.
Do NOT to overcrowd your air fryer! Cook the kale in batches, if you need to, otherwise it will steam, not air fry.
You’ll be able to HEAR the kale when it’s done cooking! As soon as you hear a scratching sound from your air fryer, remove the kale (that’s the sound of the kale flying around the air fryer basket)!
Leftover kale chips will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.

Flavoring variations:

Feel free to experiment with flavoring your kale chips! You can create endless variations adding any spices you like. Here are some ideas; start with about ¼ to ½ teaspoon and go from there:

Taco seasoning or fajita seasoning
Chili lime
Old bay seasoning
Smoked paprika
Garlic powder
Curry powder
Ranch seasoning
Cheesy popcorn seasoning
Seasoned salt (instead of salt)

Is air fryer kale healthy?

This kale recipe is a great addition to a healthy diet. Kale is low calorie, low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. This leafy green contains antioxidants, calcium and Vitamins B, C and K. Kale also contains iron, potassium, phosphorous, folate and iron.

Air fryer kale chips also happen to be keto and Whole30 compliant, non-dairy, vegan, gluten-free, and all that good stuff.

hand grabbing air fryer kale chips off of a serving plate

You can’t go wrong with a short and straightforward recipe that works as a side dish, appetizer or snack! Give it a try – these air fryer kale chips are sure to please any crowd!