Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Kale Chips Recipe
  • How To Make Kale Chips In The Oven
  • How Long To Bake Kale Chips?
  • Seasoning Variations
  • Tips For The Best Kale Chips
  • How To Store Kale Chips?
  • More Healthy Crunchy Snacks
  • Tools To Make Baked Kale Chips
  • Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!)

Have you ever tried a baked kale chips recipe before? I’m kind of obsessed with these, actually, and I don’t even love kale that much. The texture is light and airy, with a distinct crunch similar to making baked apple chips. I’ll show you how to make kale chips in the oven (no dehydrator required!), but if you have an air fryer, you might want to try air fryer kale chips, which are even faster.

I originally created these when I came back from a trip to Europe a few years ago. I adore traveling and trying out local foods, but I do always miss the variety oflow carb vegetablesthat I prepare at home. Upon returning, I made this easy kale chips recipe!

You can make these crispy kale chips plain or with any other seasonings you like — I have a basic version and 9 other flavor ideas for you below.

Why You’ll Love This Kale Chips Recipe

  • Crispy and crunchy texture
  • 6 savory seasoning options
  • Healthy snacks ready in 30 minutes
  • Naturally low carb, gluten-free, and packed with fiber and nutrients
  • Easy healthy snack — a healthier alternative to potato chips!
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Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this basic recipe for kale chips, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Kale – You’ll need one pound for this kale chip recipe, which is about one average bunch of kale. I prefer curly kale, because the curls will hold a bit more seasoning and also mean more crispy texture. You can also use lacinato kale (a.k.a. dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale) — it’s sweeter and thinner for an even crispier chip. No matter what variety you use, you’ll need to cut away the stems. You can see a visual for how to do this in my air fryer kale chips post.
  • Oil – I used extra virgin olive oil, but you can use any neutral cooking oil you prefer. Avocado oil is another great option.
  • Sea Salt – Captures the flavor you love in a crispy chip!

That’s all you need for the plain version, but you can also add seasonings! Check the Seasoning Variations section below to make your kale chip recipes in different flavors. I used a blend of cumin and chili powder when I took the photos below.

Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

How To Make Kale Chips In The Oven

This section shows how to bake kale chips, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Prep. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Wash and dry the kale thoroughly.
  2. Remove the stems. Cut away the tough stems of each leaf with a knife. Chop kale into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Massage. Spread kale on the baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with oil, massaging each piece until lightly coated with oil. (See tips below for how and why to do this.) Season as desired. Alternatively, you can oil and season the kale in a large bowl instead, then spread onto the baking sheet afterward.
Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (4)
Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (5)
  1. Bake. Cook kale chips in the oven until crispy, rotating the baking sheet halfway through.
Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (6)

How Long To Bake Kale Chips?

Bake kale chips for 25-30 minutes at 300 degrees F.

Seasoning Variations

The best part about kale chips recipes is that you can customize them with different seasonings! If the plain version seems boring, you can make these flavored versions just as easily:

  • Pizza – 1 tsp nutritional yeast, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Mexican – 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • Italian – 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Asian – 2 tsp furikake, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Caribbean – 2 tsp jerk blend seasoning, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Nacho Cheese – 3 tbsp cheddar cheese powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Flamin’ Hot – 2 tbsp cheddar cheese powder, 2-3 tbsp hot sauce, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Sour Cream and Onion – 2 tbsp buttermilk powder, 1/2 tbsp onion powder, 2 tsp dried parsley
  • Chili Lime – 4 tsp lime juice, 2 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder

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Tips For The Best Kale Chips

  • Dry thoroughly. If the kale has some water left on it, it won’t crisp up as well. For best results, use a salad spinner and then pat the leaves dry with paper towels.
  • Don’t crowd the pan. Make sure the kale is arranged in a single layer. If it’s too crowded, it won’t crisp up. Cook in batches if it doesn’t all fit on your largest pan.
  • Massage thoroughly. Massaging the leaves helps to soften the exterior cell walls, stripping away the bitterness. This process leaves the kale leaves with a more delicate taste and even a little sweetness. To massage the kale, toss with a little oil, then pick up handfuls, squeeze, release, and repeat until the leaves begin to soften.
  • Go light on the seasonings. They’ll taste more concentrated after baking, because the chips will shrink a bit. For most seasonings, a good rule of thumb is 1-2 teaspoons of seasoning (not including salt and pepper) per pound of kale.
  • Let them cool. Kale chips will crisp up more as they cool to room temperature.

How To Store Kale Chips?

Store kale chips at room temperature for up to 1 week, either in an airtight container or a paper bag.

You can also freeze them. Arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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More Healthy Crunchy Snacks

If you like crispy snacks, try these other healthy snack recipes that have plenty of crunch:

  • Baking Sheet– I use these baking sheets on a daily basis. They are the best.
  • Knife– An 8″ knife for everyday cutting and slicing.

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Recipe Card

Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!) - Wholesome Yum (14)

5 from 12 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Kale Chips Recipe (10 Flavor Options!)

Learn how to make kale chips in 10 different flavors! This homemade baked kale chips recipe is easy, crispy, and healthy.

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Total: 35 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Recipe Video

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Basic Baked Kale Chips:

Pizza:

Mexican:

Italian:

Asian:

Caribbean:

Nacho Cheese:

Flamin' Hot:

Sour Cream And Onion:

Chili Lime:

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (149 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

  2. Wash kale and dry thoroughly. (Kale chips will take longer to crisp up if you don’t dry the kale well.)

  3. Use a sharp knife to slice around the tough stem of each kale leaf. Discard stem. Roughly chop kale into bite-sized pieces.

  4. Spread the kale leaves out onto the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with oil, massage the kale just until coated in a very thin even layer of oil. Sprinkle with salt, and spices if desired. (I used a blend of cumin and chili powder; see other ideas above.)

  5. Bake kale chips in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, until crispy. They will crisp up more as they cool.

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Related Easy Recipes

  • Sausage And Kale Soup

  • Kale Salad

  • Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

Nutrition facts are for the basic version and do not include seasoning variations.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories86

Fat4.4g

Protein4.9g

Total Carbs10g

Net Carbs5.9g

Fiber4.1g

Sugar2.6g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine:American

Keywords:baked kale chips, how to make kale chips, kale chips, kale chips recipe, kale chips recipes

Calories: 86 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Homemade Kale Chips Recipe

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FAQs

Are kale chips actually healthy? ›

And unlike potato chips, kale retains its nutritional value when made into chips. Kale is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin A and calcium, as well as B vitamins, vitamin C and potassium. It's fat- and sodium-free, and the minuscule amounts of olive oil and salt used in my recipe barely bump up those amounts.

How to make kale chips Jamie Oliver? ›

Rinse and dry the kale leaves before removing most of the centre stalk, leaving long, thin pieces of kale. Toss the kale in the oil, then sprinkle with the sugar, cinnamon and ½ tablespoon of sea salt. Arrange the leaves in a single layer on a couple of baking trays and bake for 5 minutes, until crisp.

Why are my homemade kale chips bitter? ›

Do not use frozen kale. If your kale chips haven't reached that perfectly crispy status, just flip each piece over and put them back in the oven for a few more minutes. Don't turn up the heat. High heat can burn the kale and make it taste bitter.

How do you keep kale chips from getting soggy? ›

To keep them crispy, it is important to let them cool completely. Once cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You could also try adding a few grains of raw rice or silica packs (like those found in store-bought kale chips) to the airtight container. & Perfect for snacking!

What are the cons of kale chips? ›

Kale contains a large amount of fiber, which is great for digestion but can be dangerous if you eat too much. If you overeat on kale chips (or any food) then you may experience bloating, gas, and constipation due to the excessive intake of fiber.

Can you eat too much kale? ›

Consumption of kale in excess can lead to constipation and stomach irritation. Due to the presence of oxalates, kale can increase the risk of kidney stones. Kale contains goitrogens, substances that inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormone. So, its intake can increase the risk of iodine deficiency.

Does making kale chips destroy nutrients? ›

This makes kale chips a great disease-fighting healthy snack. If you're looking for a healthy, crunchy snack alternative, kale chips may be a great option. Try making them at home for even more nutrients with less calories, fat and added ingredients.

How do you keep kale chips crispy? ›

The key to keeping kale chips crispy is to make sure your leaves are totally dry before you prepare them. Use a salad spinner or thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels after washing them. Remove the stems before preparing your chips.

Do kale chips fill you up? ›

Kale chips have fewer calories than unhealthier snack alternatives like potato chips, particularly if they're not fried and are minimally seasoned. Plus, eating kale chips can make you feel more full than less-healthy snacks, which helps you consume fewer calories throughout the day.

Do you need to refrigerate homemade kale chips? ›

Storage. In my opinion, kale chips are crispiest and taste the best immediately after baking. However, if you have leftovers, my recommendation is to store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.

Why are kale chips so expensive? ›

There's the cost of the actual ingredients, the labor costs to produce it, the packaging etc. And for kale chips, I think the two main factors are the food costs and labor costs. The ingredients for most kale chips are a base of raw cashews and nutritional yeast, both of which are pretty pricey.

What kind of kale is best for chips? ›

Any variety of kale – curly or flat – can be made into baked kale chips. Some home cooks prefer to use flat lacinato kale, aka "dinosaur" kale, so named for its leathery appearance, and some like the frilly appearance of curly kale. Try batches of both and see which you like best.

Can I leave kale chips out overnight? ›

Although I prefer to eat my kale chips immediately, made ahead or leftover kale chips should be stored in an airtight container once cooled. Your chips will keep about 2-3 days at room temperature, or up to a week if stored in the fridge.

How do you keep homemade chips crispy? ›

How Do You Keep Homemade Chips Crispy? The key to keeping homemade potato chips crisp is to store them in an airtight container, which protects your chips from outside moisture. Just make sure the chips have thoroughly cooled off for at least 30 minutes at room temperature before sealing them.

Are veggie chips actually healthier? ›

Once the veggies are processed into chips, many of the vitamins and plant chemicals are destroyed. This leaves you with a food that's much higher in calories and fat with fewer nutrients. Clever marketing has made consumers believe “veggie” chips are healthy. Let's not forget that potatoes are a veggie too.

Are Simply 7 kale chips healthy? ›

Kale, the main ingredient in simply7 Kale Chips, is a great source of vitamin K. This important vitamin is a powerful antioxidant and key contributor to bone health.

Which vegetable chips are healthiest? ›

Best: Brad's Crunchy Kale Original

This option just 6 grams of carbs with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. A veggie chip made of kale, we think that is pretty impressive. They also keep sodium levels modest with 210 milligrams of sodium per serving.

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