Crispy Air Fryer Kale Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

These deliciously crispy air fryer kale chips are cooked in just 5 minutes, so you can munch on a crunchy 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 low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan too, so everyone can enjoy!

Jump to:

• The Health Benefits of Kale
• What to Cook with Kale?
• Air Fryer to the Rescue!
• The Crispiest Kale Chips Ever for The Perfect Healthy Snack
• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients You’ll Need:
• Ingredient Notes/Substitutes:
• How to Make Your Own Kale Chips in the Air Fryer (Step by Step):
• Dish by Dish Tips & Tricks
• Recipe FAQs:
• Other Air Fryer Snacks You’ll Love:
• Gluten-Free 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 this leafy green into our diet as much as we can.

What to Cook with Kale?

Recently, we’ve been getting a bunch 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.

Air Fryer to the Rescue!

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 for The Perfect Healthy Snack

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 a double win in my opinion)!

These crispy kale chips are no exception. Crispy, crunchy and oh-so-good, these 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!

Next time, rather than opening a bag of chips, bust our your air fryer and air fry kale chips instead!

(Tip: replace your potato chips with kale chips for a healthy crunchy snack!)

Why This Recipe Works

• Simple Ingredients: All you need for these easy air fryer kale chips are a handful of ingredients that you might already have (nothing fancy needed)!

• Easy 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!

• Naturally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: These healthy kale chips are also naturally low calorie, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, so even those who have Celiac diease or gluten and lactose intolerances, or those simply on a gluten-free, paleo, keto or vegan diet can snack on them too!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required to make this crispy air fryer kale chips recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

Ingredient Notes/Substitutes:

• Kale: There are many different types of kale, and in this recipe I used curly kale. However, feel free to use any sort of fresh kale that you have access to.

• 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 Your Own Kale Chips in the Air Fryer (Step by Step):

1. Preheat the Air Fryer

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.

Wash and rinse kale leaves and then spin them dry in a salad spinner. If you don’t own a salad spinner (which is life-changing in my opinion), you can also use a paper towel to dry the leaves.

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.

Alternatively, you may spray the kale leaves with olive oil spray if you prefer.

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

• 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.

• 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 or seasonings of choice – think ground chili powder, curry powder, ground cumin, ground nutmeg, black pepper, nutritional yeast, parmesan cheese, garlic powder or even onion powder! The choice is yours.

• 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.

Recipe FAQs:

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)

Gluten-Free 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!