These oven baked kale chips are sure to become your family’s favorite new salty snack that is also good for you! All you need are 6 simple ingredients and 25 minutes to make these delicious and nutritious veggie chips.
Post originally published November 2014; updated April 2024.
I know everyone was talking about oven-baked kale chips ages ago, but it’s still one of our favorite healthy snack options. Bite sized pieces of kale seasoned with your favorite spices and baked til crispy – they never last long in our house! Plus, they are diet an allergen friendly since they are vegan, gluten free, and low carb.
These kale chips are one of those healthy foods you can bring to a party and not feel completely ridiculous for being the health nerd who brought kale. Because kale in chip form like this doesn’t feel like chewy, dense kale anymore, it feels like a satisfying, salty snack. (Which also happens to be packed with good for you nutrients!)
Ingredients for Baked Kale Chips
- Olive Oil: a heart healthy oil that helps make these baked kale chips crisp up in the oven.
- Kale: any variety of kale can be used – either curly kale or dinosaur kale (ie. lacinato kale or tuscan kale). The key is to make sure to choose fresh kale leaves that aren’t wilted and to cut them into bite-sized pieces for better snacking.
- Seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika): we love this combination of spices for this kale chips recipe, but you can swap them out for your favorite dry seasonings. Honestly, there are endless options for different seasonings that you can try – everything from nutritional yeast, ranch seasoning, and everything bagel seasoning to taco seasoning, and more!
- Salt: to give it a more potato chip-like experience, you’ve go to add some salt! We prefer the larger size of sea salt or Maldon salt.
How to Make Kale Chips Baked in the Oven
- Prepare the Kale: Remove the woody stems from the kale leaves and chop into 1″-2″ smaller pieces. Spin kale in a salad spinner to remove excess moisture or pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Transfer kale leaves to a large mixing bowl.
- Season: Toss with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder. Using your hands, gently massage oil into leaves. Spread the seasoned kale leaves in a single layer onto a large baking sheet or two. (Make sure leaves don’t overlap.)
- Bake: Bake the kale chips for 20-25 minutes or until kale leaves have darkened and dried. Let sit on the stovetop for 5 minutes to cool to room temperature before serving or storing.
- Store: store the crispy kale chips in an airtight container or ziploc bag for 2-3 days.
Tips for Making Crispy Baked Kale Chips
- Make sure to dry your kale well: moisture is the enemy of crispiness! Make sure your washed kale leaves are dried well before making your kale chips. We like to spin our kale in a lettuce spinner to make sure they are dried extra well for this kale chip recipe.
- Choose fresh kale leaves: fresher kale leaves will make more crispy chips. If your kale is starting to wilt, use in a stir fry or some other dish instead.
- Avoid adding too much oil: the first few times I made homemade kale chips, they didn’t turn out crispy like I wanted. (No one likes soggy kale chips!) I realized that using just a little olive oil was key – the less oil, the better.
Recipe FAQs
Are kale chips good for you?
Yes! Kale is loaded with fiber which helps lower cholesterol and support a healthy gut. It also has more than 100% of your daily needs for vitamins like A, C, and K in just 1 serving. Kale is also rich in an antioxidant compound called sulforaphane. This antioxidant may partially explain why those who eat more cruciferous vegetables like kale have a lower risk of cancer.
How long do kale chips last?
These kale chips usually last 2-3 days when stored in an air-tight container or ziplock bag. After that, they start to lose their crispiness.
Can you make these in the air fryer?
Yes! Instead of baking them, add the prepped kale to the basket of your air fryer in a single layer (you may need to work in batches). Air fry them for 4-5 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit or until crispy.
More Healthy Homemade Snack Recipes
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Oven Baked Kale Chips
These oven baked kale chips are sure to become your family’s favorite new salty snack that is also good for you! All you need are 5-ingredients and 25 minutes to make these delicious and nutritious veggie chips.
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Instructions
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Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Remove stems from the kale leaves and chop into 1″-2″ pieces. Spin kale in a salad spinner to remove excess moisture or pat dry with paper towels. Transfer kale leaves to a large bowl.
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Toss with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder. Using your hands, gently massage oil into leaves.
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Spread kale leaves in a single layer onto a baking sheet or two. (Make sure leaves don’t overlap.)
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Bake for 20-25 minutes or until kale leaves have darkened and dried. Let sit on the stovetop for 5 minutes to cool before serving.
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Store extra chips in an airtight container or ziploc bag.
Notes
Store baked kale chips in a ziplock bag or airtight container on the counter for up to 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Cup | Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 20mg | Fiber: 1.3g