Healthy Liv

Easy, Nutritious Recipes to Fuel an Active Lifestyle

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Health & Fitness
  • College
  • Links

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

You are here: Home / Healthy Recipes / Perfectly Crispy Kale Chips

December 18, 2015 24 Comments

Perfectly Crispy Kale Chips

Jump to Recipe

Crunchy, perfectly crispy kale chips seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and chili powderTips for perfectly crispy kale chips!

You might’ve noticed that kale, along with quinoa, sriracha, and sea salt caramel everything, is one of those trends that everyone seems to love these days. I’m pretty sure most of us, myself included, didn’t know what kale was until a few years ago, but now, all of the cool kids are eating it (or at least wearing it on their sweatshirts after Queen Bey started the KALE sweatshirt trend a couple of years ago with those YALE lookalike sweatshirts).

Kale’s popular for good reason, as it’s been called one of the most nutritious foods on the planet and the “king of greens.” One cup of raw kale has 206% of your daily recommended Vitamin A, 684% of your needed Vitamin K, and 134% of your recommended daily Vitamin C, plus lots of other vitamins and minerals. Each cup also has 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber, with just 33 calories.

Tips for perfectly crispy kale chips!With the kale I received in my mystery produce box, I decided to make kale & lentil soup and kale chips. First up: kale chips! I’ve heard people describe these as tasting just like potato chips and while I wouldn’t go that far, I think they ARE a delicious and super healthy snack! Plus, you can feel great about eating a giant bowl of these crispy kale chips. Be forewarned: you will feel like you’re eating crunchy leaves. Because you are. But they’re delicious crunchy leaves, nonetheless. Tips for perfectly crispy kale chips!

A few tips for making crispy kale chips (no soggy or burnt chips allowed!):

1. Wash and dry the kale leaves well. Water left on the leaves will “steam” them during baking and lead to soggy chips. I use a salad spinner to remove most of the water, and then I pat the leaves completely dry with a clean paper towel.

2. Remove the thick, woody stems in the center of the leaves because those stay tough even after baking. I grab the base of the stem with one hand and push along the stem to quickly and easily separate the leaves from the stem.

3. Spread the leaves into a single layer on the baking sheet for even baking. To achieve maximum crispiness, I try to resist the temptation to overcrowd the pan, even if it means using two baking sheets or baking two separate batches.

4. Watch the kale chips closely near the end of their baking time. Since they’re so thin, they can go from perfectly crispy to totally burnt within a couple of minutes.

Tips for perfectly crispy kale chips!

If you try this kale chips recipe, leave a comment or tag me @livbane on Instagramโ€“ I’d love to see!

Tips for perfectly crispy, healthy kale chips!
Print Pin

Perfectly Seasoned Crispy Kale Chips

Crunchy, perfectly crispy kale chips seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and chili powder
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 47kcal
Author: Liv

Ingredients

  • 1/2 bunch curly kale leaves
  • 1/2 tablespoon olive or grapeseed oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Wash and dry kale leaves thoroughly using a salad spinner or paper towels. Remove the thick, woody stem by grabbing the base of the stem with one hand and pushing along it to separate the leaves from the stem. Tear the kale into large pieces.
  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Add the kale and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle spices on top and toss thoroughly to coat.
  • Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes, rotate the pan, and then bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the kale is crispy. Watch the chips during the last few minutes of baking to ensure that they do not burn.
  • Let chips cool for at least 2-3 minutes before eating and serve within several hours of baking for best results.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving` | Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Fiber: 1g

 

Sharing is easy!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
What I Ate Wednesday…Back at Home
Favorite Family Christmas Traditions (A Trip Down Memory Lane)

Comments

  1. Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says

    December 18, 2015 at 7:48 am

    I love kale chips! Thanks for the reminder to make them again!

    Reply
  2. Carol Eiseman says

    December 18, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Best blog yet!

    Reply
  3. Carol Eiseman says

    December 18, 2015 at 9:05 am

    Best blog yet.

    Reply
  4. Emily says

    December 18, 2015 at 10:32 am

    Yummy!!! ๐Ÿ™‚ I need this, because it would be nice to know how to make really good Kale Chips!

    Reply
  5. GiGi Eats says

    December 18, 2015 at 10:40 am

    CRISPY IS DEFINITELY A favorite texture of mine! BRING IT KALE – BRING IT!

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    December 18, 2015 at 10:42 am

    Oh man do I love kale chips when they come out just right. Funny story – at our MPH graduation last week, they did a review of what was popular and in style in 2013 when we started the program, and kale was all the rage and at its prime. That got a laugh out of the nutrition crowd.

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 18, 2015 at 1:36 pm

      Haha! I’m sure all of the health nuts loved that ๐Ÿ™‚ Congratulations on graduating!

      Reply
  7. Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says

    December 18, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    I definitely want to give kale chips a try. I’ve roasted kale under chicken before and loved the crispness, so I’m sure I’d love this!

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 18, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      Oh yum, your kale and chicken dish sounds delicious!

      Reply
  8. Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says

    December 18, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Thanks for the tips! I love making kale chips but almost half of mine almost always come out soggy :/ Going to try making them your way!

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 18, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      Hope this way works out for you, Liz!

      Reply
  9. Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me says

    December 18, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    I foresee myself sticking these in sandwiches… instead of the usual Fritos. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 18, 2015 at 8:23 pm

      Ooh, I LOVE that idea, Julia! You’re a genius.

      Reply
  10. Charlotte says

    December 18, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    I am not a fan of raw kale and spinach is actually my go-to green as I love its flavour and versatility. However, I don’t mind kale when it is cooked in dishes so I would be willing to give the Kale chips a try (especially if they come out as tasty as your pumpkin bread which was so good my mum had seconds!).

    xx

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 18, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      I’ve been enjoying branching out into other greens, but spinach is my number one favorite, too, mostly because it’s so mild and versatile and I can easily slip it into salads, smoothies, soups, pasta dishes, etc.

      So glad to hear you enjoyed the pumpkin bread recipe ๐Ÿ™‚ I won’t lie and say that the kale chips are as good as pumpkin bread…but they’re good in their own way!

      Reply
  11. Kristina says

    December 18, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    GREAT tips for crispy chips, ha! ๐Ÿ™‚ now I want to make some…

    Reply
  12. Lauren Lalicon says

    December 18, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    I’ll have to try it! What do kale chips taste like if not potato chips? Would you say it’s filling? I’ve been apprehensive about getting into the kale trend because I’ve seen it all over and I thought it might be hyped haha I love roasting broccoli so that’s my favorite green

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 18, 2015 at 11:39 pm

      Kale chips really do taste a lot like crunchy leaves! I realize this sounds like a bad thing…but they’re addictive like potato chips because of the delicious spices!

      I LOVE roasting broccoli, too (especially with ghee!) and I think roasted broccoli beats kale chips. Kale chips do make a great little snack for when I’m in one of those snacky (but not super hungry) moods, or for a light side dish with a bigger meal!

      Reply
      • Tanya L. Settlemyer says

        March 21, 2020 at 9:21 pm

        How do you roast your broccoli? Crispy or wilted and and what seasonings do you like to use?
        I had some phenomenal kale chips once at a craft market, they had almond paste, I think and some really nutty white cheese on them with light seasoning. Was really hoping to find that recipe, because the vendor isn’t there anymore and the 8oz. bag was $5. I know I could make them cheaper. Lol.
        I know this is a really old post so I hope you get this message.
        Have a wonderful day. Thank you

        Tanya

        Reply
        • Liv says

          March 23, 2020 at 3:41 pm

          Hi Tanya! Those kale chips sound delicious!
          For roasted broccoli: I wash and dry my broccoli and cut into small spears, then drizzle with avocado or grapeseed oil and toss with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and often nutritional yeast (it’s so good!). Then bake at 425 degrees for 15-17 mins. Sometimes, I add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or a squeeze of fresh lemon after baking. Hope that helps ๐Ÿ˜€

          Reply
  13. Kat says

    December 21, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    I could literally eat an entire batch of kale chips in one sitting. They are just too addicting! This recipe is flawless and the pictures are incredible love!!

    Reply
  14. Cailee says

    December 21, 2015 at 10:46 pm

    YES! I’ve made kale chips before! So fun! Seriously delicious and nutritious! YUM… plus making them saves so much money because they are ridiculously over priced at the store. All about that ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Liv says

      December 22, 2015 at 3:07 pm

      I agree 100%- storebought kale chips are super expensive and not nearly as good as the homemade ones!

      Reply
  15. Connie says

    May 31, 2022 at 1:49 pm

    If you overcook the kale chips and they are almost burned but still โ€œcrispyโ€ have I killed the nutrition and
    Vitamins?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rating




Hi, Iโ€™m Liv! I originally started blogging to share easy meals I made in my college dorm kitchen. Years later, as an attorney now, my goal is still to share delicious, approachable recipes with simple ingredients. You can most often find me running, eating ice cream, and making a mess in my kitchen. More...

Want new posts in your inbox?

Copyright Healthy Liv © 2023 · Fun WordPress Theme On Genesis Framework · privacy policy