These Air Fryer Kale Chips flavored with ranch seasoning provide a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional potato chips that you can enjoy as a midday snack or party appetizer.
The air fryer does a fantastic job of turning hardy kale leaves into crispy chips with a little bit of olive oil, salt, and ranch seasoning to add irresistible flavor. These nutritious and gluten-free kale chips are perfect for anyone looking to reduce carbs and sodium in their diet and can be served with various dips or varied by the use of different seasonings.
⭐ Looking for more air fryer easy snack recipes? Try our quick Buffalo Cauliflower or Parmesan Fries next time!
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Why It's Yummy
- Healthy snack - Kale chips are a great (nutritious) alternative to traditional chips. These chips are made with just a little oil and simple seasonings which makes them much lower in calories and fat than any regular potato chips.
- Nutritional benefits - kale is loaded with essential nutrients that boost the immune system, strengthens our bones, and helps with digestion. Kale has many important vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, iron, and fiber.
- Ease- with only 3-4 minutes with almost no prep time, these kale chips are great for a quick easy snack option. I love how easy it is to customize these, add your favorite seasonings, and toppings to suit your taste preferences.
Ingredients
My few comments on the ingredients + don't forget to read the Tips section!
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
- Kale - Wash and rinse the kale to remove any remaining dirt from the leaves. If you have a salad spinner, it makes life easier. Just like in my Tahini Kale Salad, I’ve used curly kale here, but you could also use another type of kale, such as Lacinato kale (also known as Tuscan kale and Dinosaur kale)
- Olive oil - Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Salt - Just a pinch or leave out if ranch seasoning is already high in sodium.
- Ranch seasoning - Store-bought or homemade mix.
Instructions
Wash and dry kale leaves. Spread each leaf in a single layer on a cutting board. Cut the leaves from the spine.
Discard the spine and roughly tear the leaves into larger bite-sized pieces. Let the kale dry properly and entirely, otherwise, it will not be crispy.
It is better to leave bigger leaves so they don’t burn that much, some of the edges will burn and it is fine, just discard them from the bunch later.
Transfer kale to a bowl. Toss with olive oil and ranch seasonings, making sure each leaf is coated with a thin layer of oil.
Transfer them to air-fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches based on the size of your air fryer.
Air fry them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes. No need to shake the basket.
Healthy Kale chips are ready. Remove in a serving plate. Enjoy as is or with a tasty dip.
Storing Kale Chips: Let the chips cool completely. Then store in an airtight container for 3-4 days at room temperature.
If they are less crunchy, air fry them again for a minute or two.
Choosing The Right Kale
Select fresh kale for this recipe, as these will produce the crispiest chips with the best flavor. When buying kale lookout for the following signs:
- Color: The kale should be bright vibrant green, firm, and free from discolored spots.
- Texture and marks: Inspect the leaves for insects and holes which may be a sign that kale has been sitting on the shelf for too long and has lost its freshness.
- Go Organic: If you can, choose organic and seasonal whenever possible. Always wash your veggies and lettuce with vegetable washing liquid or soak them in vinegar to remove all the pesticides.
Which Kale Variety To Choose?
For these chips I've tried curly kale which is widely available in most stores and Lacinato kale (also known as Tuscan kale and Dinosaur kale). I prefer curly kale for its tender leaves and for fine flavor.
Incorporating kale into your diet can be a great way to support overall health and well-being.
Recommended Equipment
- Air Fryer Cosori - 5.8 quart
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Airtight Food containers
- Mixing Bowls
- Ninja Foodi
- Air Fryer Basket Liners
Tips
- Ensure that the kale leaves are patted dry to remove excess moisture otherwise, the chips won’t be crispy. You can use a clean kitchen towel to pat the rinsed leaves dry gently.
- You don’t need a lot of oil to coat the leaves. The oil will help create crispy leaves and allow the seasonings to stick to the leaves.
- It’s important that the air fryer basket is not overcrowded. Good air circulation is required for the kale chips to become crispy on all sides. If you need to, rather cook the kale leaves in batches.
- Cooking these kale chips at a high temperature is key. Make sure to shake the basket once or twice during the cooking time to ensure even cooking on all sides of the chips.
- Watch that the kale chips don’t burn. The chips are ready to be removed once they are crispy and lightly browned. Any burnt edges on the leaves can be trimmed before serving.
- You can add different seasonings as well as toppings to your chips (nuts, seeds), nutritional yeast or grated parmesan cheese. Serve with drizzle of lemon juice and your favorite dipping sauces (but it's totally optional, these chips are tasty on their own!).
Serving Suggestions
Serve as it with toppings and dipping sauces:
- Avocado Crema
- Sweet and Spicy Tahini Dressing
- Spinach Dip
- Guacamole
- Caramel Sauce - Something Sweet
Storing Instructions
- To Store. Let the chips cool completely. Then store in an airtight container for 3-4 days at room temperature. If they are less crunchy, air fry them again for a minute or two.
- To Make Ahead. Wash and rinse kale, and arrange these on large baking sheet to dry. Once ready, add oil and toss in seasoning and then air fry.
Kale Chips Variations
We love the endless options for seasoning these crispy kale chips. Here are more favorite ideas you could try next time:
- Simple and Classic - salt + black pepper + olive oil. Massage the kale leaves with olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper before cooking.
- Make it Hot - add spicy sauce or sprinkle with chili powder, chipotle powder, cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, or just a drizzle of hot sauce. We also like to use simple smoked paprika that will add flavor and smoky flavor without added spicy element.
- Garlic Kale Chips - add freshly minced garlic and grated parmesan to your chips before baking. Or for nondairy cheesy flavor option: sprinkle the kale chips with nutritional yeast right after cooking.
- Fresh citrus flavor - add dried herbs (favorites include: basil, rosemary, cilantro, oregano) and lemon or lime juice.
- Flavorful sauces - add some depth and dimension by tossing the kale leaves with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil instead of regular olive oil.
- Mexican inspired - season kale chips with homemade fajita, burrito or taco seasoning, or use two or more of popular taco-inspired seasonings: chili powder, ground cumin, ground paprika, ground cilantro.
- Sweet - If you prefer a sweeter snack, you can sprinkle the kale with cinnamon and sugar before baking. You can also use honey or maple syrup for a natural sweetener.
📋 JULIA'S TIP For a healthy sweet snack add cinnamon and sugar to your kale chips before air frying. Drizzle with maple syrup or honey for serving.
More Optional seasonings:
- Onion & Garlic powder
- Black pepper or flavorful pepper such as lemon pepper
- Garam Masala
- BBQ Seasoning
- Hot Chili Sauce
- Sweet - Maple syrup, honey, caramel sauce
- Umami - soy, miso sauce, oyster sauce
- Make them cheesy with parmesan or nutritional yeast (for vegan)
FAQs
Allowing the chips to cool completely before storing them is essential. Once cooled, these kale chips should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Adding a few grains of raw rice or silica packs (those you find in packaged kale chips) can also be added to the airtight container.
Kale chips are an extremely healthy alternative to traditional potato chips. Kale chips are a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also fat-free and don’t require loads of oil or salt!
Kale is naturally bitter in taste and requires some gentle massaging of the leaves to reduce that bitter taste. Adding olive oil to the kale leaves can also increase bitterness, especially if you are sensitive to the sharp, bitter flavor of some olive oil brands. In that case, I recommend using a different oil instead of olive oil.
Gently rub the kale leaves with your hands until it takes on a darker color and slightly wilted texture. This will help release bitterness in the leaves.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air fryer is my favorite thing lately, from my guest's favorite Air Fryer Nachos, Peanut Butter Cookies to Jalapeno Poppers.
Anything can be done in air fryer, plus it reheats beautifully and tastes and looks like from the restaurant!
For a full collection hop on to our Air Fryer archives.
💗I hope you'll enjoy this air fryer kale chips recipe, please leave a rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo of your food and tag me on Instagram @theyummy_bowl. I love seeing your creations! 💗
Happy Cooking,
Love,
Julia
Air Fryer Kale Chips
INGREDIENTS
- 1 bunch of Kale (about 5-6 cups, curly or flat)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash and dry kale leaves. Spread each leaf in a single layer on a cutting board. Cut the leaves from the spine. Discard the spine and roughly tear the leaves into larger bite-sized pieces. Let the kale dry properly and entirely, otherwise, it will not be crispy. It is better to leave bigger leaves so they don’t burn that much, some of the edges will burn and it is fine, just discard them from the bunch later.
- Transfer kale to a bowl. Toss with olive oil and ranch seasonings, making sure each leaf is coated with a thin layer of oil. Transfer them to air-fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches based on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry them at 375F for 3-4 minutes. No need to shake the basket.
- Healthy Kale chips are ready. Remove in a serving plate. Enjoy as is or with a tasty dip.
NOTES
- How do you keep kale chips crispy? Allowing the chips to cool completely before storing them is essential. Once cooled, these kale chips should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. Adding a few grains of raw rice or silica packs (those you find in packaged kale chips) can also be added to the airtight container.
- Why do my kale chips taste bitter? Kale is naturally bitter in taste and requires some gentle massaging of the leaves to reduce that bitter taste. Adding olive oil to the kale leaves can also increase bitterness, especially if you are sensitive to the sharp, bitter flavor of some olive oil brands. In that case, I recommend using a different oil instead of olive oil.
PRIVATE NOTES
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
air fryer kale chips with ranch seasoning are delicious and healthy snack that is readyin 4 minutes!