I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan of kale before I started buying and eating local, but it’s a surprisingly easy and delicious veggie! With only three ingredients, this Kale Chips recipe is super quick to make for a healthy snack.
I made this kale chip recipe as a way to get my kids to try eating more leafy greens like kale. Turns out they’re actually a really easy and delicious way to get more vegetables into your diet and satisfy the craving for crunchy snacks.
Kale chips are great to make when kale is in season, especially if you grow it in your own garden!
Before this year, I don’t remember ever eating kale. I even discussed it with a few of my friends, and they weren’t even sure if they had eaten it before (have you?). I don’t know what it is about the name “kale”, but it just doesn’t sound appealing for some reason. However, things have changed and since I try to buy and eat local foodsI decided to go out on a limb and try it!
Why We Love Oven Baked Kale Chips
I first discovered that kale can be substituted for (and even added to) spinach in some recipes like creamed spinach. Of course I can’t imagine my daughters wanting to eat that. But (drum roll, please) when I received the super easy recipe below, courtesy of my husband’s step-mom, not only did my kids love it, but they loved it and kept asking for more!
I will add that when my daughter first saw this green-looking dish, as any 2-year-old would, she said “I don’t like that” without even trying. He followed the rule of trying at least one bite, and with surprise in his voice he said “I like the kale” and then continued to eat it.
And I have to agree that I was also surprised at how well (and good for you) something named “kale” can be!
Alternative: Air Fryer Kale Chips
Since air fryers are so popular, I thought I’d share this alternative recipe! You can make this recipe in the air fryer instead of the oven.
Set your air fryer to the same temperature (375 degrees fahrenheit) and mix in the oil as normal. The only difference between the oven and air fryer for this recipe is the cooking time: cook kale chips for 3-5 minutes in the air fryer.
Tips for Cooking Perfect Kale Chips
Kale chips are really easy to make but you have to be careful to toss the oil evenly and not overcook them. Here are some tips and tricks to help your kale chips come out perfect every time:
- Choose kale for your chips as fresh as possible so the leaves are firm
- Make sure the kale leaves are completely dry after washing
- Be gentle when you toss the leaves in the oil
- Make sure the kale leaves are coated in oil evenly (this is both to make them crisp and to make sure they don’t stick)
- Give the kale chips plenty of space on the cookie sheet, don’t overlap or crowd
- Watch the chips carefully as they cook
How to Store Chips
Although I prefer to eat my kale chips right away, leftover kale chips should be stored in an airtight container when refrigerated. Your chips will keep for about 2-3 days at room temperature, or up to a week if stored in the refrigerator.
If you find that storing your homemade chips in an airtight container makes them go bad, consider adding something to the container that absorbs moisture like some dry rice. Another idea is to store in a brown paper bag; the bag will help absorb moisture and keep the chips crisp.
More FAQs