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    Home » Starters

    Kale Chips

    Published: Dec 14, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    These crispy and tasty kale chips are great as an appetizer, side dish, and healthy snack idea. They make a colorful, light, and fun addition to a wholesome dinner or an evening with friends.

    Make these flavor-packed chips with any kale, olive oil, and salt, and garnish with grated lemon and red pepper flakes for a zesty and spicy finish.

    Kale chips and lemon and red pepper flakes
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • More Kale Recipes
    • More Green Appetizer Ideas
    • Recipe

    Check out our best vegetable sides recipe collection!

    Kale chips are oven-baked pieces of kale that turn out crisp, thanks to a low baking temperature and a tiny bit of oil to spread the heat evenly.

    You can make kale chips with small pieces of curly kale or dinosaur kale, but you can also make them with whole kale leaves if you want something more grandiose and unique.

    Kale is a wonderful superfood with plenty of nutritional benefits, and kale chips in the oven are a fun and easy way to add this nutritional powerhouse to your diet.

    Combine them with our crispy sweet potato chips for a delicious, wholesome, veggie-packed snack platter.

    Kale chips with grated lemon

    Ingredients

    Ingredients Kale chips

    Kale

    You can use curly kale or dinosaur kale, also called Tuscan kale or lacinato kale. You can make the chips with chopped kale or with whole kale leaves.

    We recommend removing the harder stems of the kale before making kale chips.

    Olive oil

    Extra virgin olive oil helps spread the heat evenly across the kale leaves and makes them crisp and tasty.

    You only need very little oil, don't put too much, or the chips will get soggy. You can substitute other vegetable oils for olive oil, but we think EVO oil tastes the best with kale.

    Salt

    Salt makes kale chips irresistible. We recommend sea salt or kosher salt. Only add a pinch; kale gets salty quickly.

    Garlic

    Garlic is optional. If you like garlic flavor, toss the leaves in some grated garlic or a little garlic powder.

    Lemon zest

    Lemon zest is optional. We like to use it to garnish the kale chips before serving them.

    Red pepper flakes

    Another optional ingredient is red pepper flakes if you like a bit of spice on your chips. You can substitute a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper for the flakes.

    dinosaur kale chips whole on a plate
    Whole-leaf kale chips with dinosaur kale.

    Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 250°F or 120°C. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.

    Wash and dry the kale leaves well, then remove the woody stems.

    removing kale leaves from stems

    Chop leaves into bite-size pieces.

    chopping kale leaves

    Add them to a large bowl and toss with olive oil until the leaves are fully coated. Optionally, you can add some grated garlic or garlic powder.

    Tip: It's essential that the leaves are dried well, or else the water will prevent them from being crisp when you cook them in the oven. We recommend drying them one by one with a clean kitchen towel, paper towels, or a salad spinner.

    Kale in a bowl without stem

    Place the leaves next to each other on the baking trays on a single layer, without overlapping, and with some space between each piece.

    Kale on baking tray

    Bake in the oven at 250°F or 120°C for about 25 to 30 minutes. Then take it out of the oven and let it cool down for 5 minutes. The chips will get crispier as they cool down.

    Note: The kale must cook slowly at a low temperature to get crisp without burning.

    Kale chips after baking

    Arrange them on a serving platter and sprinkle them with sea salt, red pepper flakes, and grated lemon zest.

    Kale chips with grated lemon

    Variations

    Dinosaur Kale Chips

    dinosaur kale chips whole on a plate

    Did you know that you can make kale chips with whole dinosaur kale leaves? We love this variation because the chips look spectacular and get super crisp.

    To make them, you'll need dinosaur kale (aka lacinato kale, Tuscan kale, or cavolo nero) leaves. First, wash and dry them well, then brush them with olive oil.

    Arrange them on baking sheets, then bake them in a preheated oven at 250°F or 120°C for 25 to 30 minutes.

    Take them out of the oven, let them cool down for 5 minutes, then season them with salt, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve as a snack with other finger foods, such as:

    • Eggplant pizza with marinara sauce and melted cheese.
    • Sweet potato chips, healthier than crisps, are made with thin crispy sweet potato discs.
    • Smashed potatoes with chimichurri and tomato salsa.
    • Crostini with tapenade or veggie toppings.
    • eggplant pizza
      Eggplant Pizza
    • sweet potato chips no oil
      Sweet Potato Chips
    • Smashed potatoes garnished
      Smashed Potatoes
    • crostini
      Crostini Recipe

    Serve as a side dish with pasta, a stew, or casserole:

    • Eggplant parmigiana with tender roasted eggplant, parmesan, and a rich tomato sauce.
    • Lentil curry with an easy spice mix and a rich and creamy texture.
    • Pasta e Ceci (chickpea pasta): authentic Italian pasta with fresh herbs, tomato sauce, and nutty chickpeas.
    • Hummus pasta: an easy dinner idea ready in 20 minutes with hummus and sauteed mushrooms.

    Make Ahead & Storage

    Kale chips are best eaten immediately, so we don't recommend making this recipe more than an hour ahead of time.

    Store the kale chips at room temperature in an airtight container in a dry corner of your kitchen for up to 24 hours.

    After that, the kale will start losing its crispiness.

    More Kale Recipes

    If you love cooking with kale, get fresh and green inspiration from these wholesome kale-packed recipes:

    • Tuscan bean soup with white beans, leafy greens, and rustic Italian flavors.
    • Kale pesto pasta with a creamy 5-minute kale pesto and roasted pumpkin.
    • Creamy kale pasta with lemon ricotta sauce, an easy vegetarian or vegan dinner idea
    • Lentil soup: wholesome, earthy, and easy to make, a perfect Sunday dinner idea.
    • Kale pesto with kale and almonds is excellent for bruschetta, sandwiches, and pasta!
    • Easy kale salad with roasted pumpkin, pomegranate seeds, and a tangy, creamy dressing.
    • Savory crepes with mushrooms and kale filling is a wholesome vegetarian dinner idea.
    • Kale soup: a delicious creamy kale and tomato soup with white beans.
    • chickpea crepes with white sauce
      Savory Crepes
    • Tuscan soup with spoon and bread
      Tuscan Soup
    • Lentil soup with veggies and a spoon
      Lentil Soup
    • Kale salad with crumbled feta
      Kale Salad

    More Green Appetizer Ideas

    If you love easy and healthy appetizers, get green inspiration from these wholesome appetizer ideas:

    • Fennel salad with orange wedges and pomegranate seeds.
    • Pear salad with ricotta, orange, and arugula.
    • Quick avocado salad with tomato and a tangy mustard dressing.
    • Avocado spread: perfect as a dip and spread on crostini or bruschetta.
    • Shaved Brussels sprouts salad with a creamy lemon vinaigrette and cranberries.
    • avocado spread
      Avocado Spread
    • avocado salad
      Avocado Salad
    • pear salad with pear, orange and ricotta cheese
      Pear Salad
    • Fennel salad in a bowl
      Fennel and Orange Salad

    For many more side dishes ideas, check out our sides category page.

    Recipe

    Kale chip with red pepper flakes

    Kale Chips

    Author: Nico
    These crispy and tasty kale chips are a great appetizer, side dish, and healthy snack idea. They make a colorful, light, and fun addition to a wholesome dinner or an evening with friends.
    Make these flavor-packed chips with any kale, olive oil, and salt, and garnish with grated lemon and red pepper flakes for a zesty and spicy finish.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 5 votes
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 48 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 - 6 cups dinosaur kale or curly kale
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt or more to taste
    • 1 clove garlic grated or garlic powder (optional)
    • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
    • 1 lemon the grated zest (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 250°F or 120°C. Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
      Wash and dry the kale leaves well, then remove woody stems and chop leaves into bite-size pieces.
      removing kale leaves from stems
    • Add to a bowl and toss with olive oil until fully coated. Optionally, you can add some grated garlic or garlic powder.
      Kale pieces with oil
    • Place the leaves next to each other on the baking trays on a single layer and with some space between each piece.
      Kale on baking tray
    • Bake in the oven at 250°F or 120°C for about 25 to 30 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool down for 5 minutes. The chips will get crispier as they cool.
      Kale chips after baking
    • Arrange on a serving platter and sprinkle with sea salt, red pepper flakes, and grated lemon zest.
      Kale chips with grated lemon

    Notes

    TIP
    It's essential that the leaves are dry, or else the water will prevent them from getting crisp when you cook them in the oven. We recommend drying them one by one with a clean kitchen towel, paper towels, or a salad spinner.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Kale Chips
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 48 Calories from Fat 36
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 4g6%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Potassium 166mg5%
    Carbohydrates 3g1%
    Dietary Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 3304IU66%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 40mg48%
    Vitamin E 1mg7%
    Vitamin K 235µg224%
    Calcium 51mg5%
    Folate 10µg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 16mg4%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked these kale chips, you might also like:

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      40 Easy Meatless Meals
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      40 easy dinners
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      40 Easy Appetizers
    • sweet potato recipes including mains and desserts
      25 Best Sweet Potato Recipes
    « Vegan Brownies
    43 Plant-Based Desserts »

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

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