Air Fryer Kale Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

These delicious air fryer kale chips are cooked in just 5 minutes, so you can munch on a crispy and healthy snack whenever the craving occurs! Perfect for serving at your game day party or just snacking on while bingeing on Netflix. Simply adjust the flavors according to your preference. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan too, so everyone can enjoy!

Jump to:

• The Health Benefits of Kale
• What to Do with Kale? Air Fryer to the Rescue!
• The Crispiest Kale Chips Ever
• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients You’ll Need:
• Ingredient Notes/Substitutes:
• How to Make Kale Chips in the Air Fryer:
• Dish by Dish Tips & Tricks
• Other Air Fryer Snacks You’ll Love:
• Appetizers to Enjoy:
• Crispy Air Fryer Kale Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

The Health Benefits of Kale

Kale has long been touted the superfood of vegetables, largely because of the fact that kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available.

A cruciferous vegetable and a member of the cabbage family, the most commonly available kale is the curly kale that comes with a hard, fibrous stem. Loaded with antioxidants, as well as Vitamins A, K, and C, among others, it’s definitely worth incorporating kale into our diet as much as we can.

What to Do with Kale? Air Fryer to the Rescue!

Recently, we’ve been getting quite a bit of kale in our weekly CSA delivery, and we’ve made kale and spring onion quiche, quinoa butternut squash and kale salad, sweet potato and kale breakfast skillet, as well as this warm millet bowl with mushrooms and kale.

And then I figured, why not make kale chips in the air fryer too? We love the air fryer to bits – possibly the best kitchen appliance investment we made in the past one year, and we’ve been making plenty of air fryer recipes.

From air fryer French fries, to air fryer zucchini fries, to air fryer chicken wings, to air fryer chicken tenders, to air fryer hasselback potatoes, and air fryer chickpeas, there’s just so much goodness that the air fryer can make!

The Crispiest Kale Chips Ever

Mostly, I find that the best part of the air fryer is that it makes everything turn out so crispy without having to use much oil at all (thats’s double win in my opinion)!

These kale chips are no exception. Crispy, crunchy and oh-so-addictive, these are crazy good and make snack time so much more fun! Also, you’re eating a bunch of healthy nutrients that you might not otherwise get from eating store-bought snacks!

Why This Recipe Works

The best part of this recipe is just how simple it is to make. All you need is just 5 minutes of prep time and 5 minutes in the air fryer and you’ll have a batch of delicious kale chips in no time at all! These kale chips are also naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, so everyone can snack on them too!

Got a bunch of kale that you don’t know what to do with? These kale chips are your answer!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Ingredient Notes/Substitutes:

• Oil: I used normal vegetable oil, but you can also use coconut oil or avocado oil if you prefer.

• Spices/Condiments: I like to garnish my kale chips with a bit of ground turmeric and ground paprika for a pop of color and extra flavor. However, you can use the spices of your choice – think ground chili powder, curry powder, ground cumin, ground nutmeg, garlic powder or even onion powder! The choice is yours.

How to Make Kale Chips in the Air Fryer:

1. Preheat

Preheat your air fryer to 390F.

2. Tear Kale Leaves from Stems

Use your hands to tear the kale leaves from the stems. Discard the stems directly.

3. Massage Kale Leaves with Oil

Place the torn kale leaves in a large bowl, drizzle the oil over, and use your fingers to massage the kale with the oil so that oil is spread all over. Sprinkle the salt over evenly.

4. Place Kale in Air Fryer Basket

Arrange the massaged kale leaves in a single layer in your air fryer basket.

5. Air Fry the Kale

Place kale in a single layer in your air fryer basket, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until kale is super crispy and has reduced in size. (Depending on how small or large your air fryer basket is, you may need to cook the kale chips in 2-3 batches.)

6. Season and Serve

Transfer the air fried kale to a bowl, sprinkle on the ground turmeric and paprika, and serve!

Dish by Dish Tips & Tricks

• Change up the Flavors: As I mentioned above, I like using ground turmeric and ground paprika for a pop of color and extra flavor. However, you can use the spices of your choice – think ground chili powder, curry powder, ground cumin, ground nutmeg, garlic powder or even onion powder! The choice is yours.

• Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer Basket: Make sure you arrange the kale leaves in a single layer so there is room for the hot air to circulate – this will help the kale become crispy on all edges. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook your kale in 2 or 3 batches.

• No Air Fryer? No Problem: If you don’t own an air fryer but would like to make these kale chips anyway, simply place the kale chips in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast them for 10 to 15 minutes in the oven at 350F, until they are crispy and brown but not burnt.

Other Air Fryer Snacks You’ll Love:

• Air Fryer French Fries (Fresh or Frozen)
• Air Fryer Zucchini Fries (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Air Fryer Corn on the Cob (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Easy Air Fryer Tofu (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Appetizers to Enjoy:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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