"Cheesy" Air Fryer Kale Chips

Name: "Cheesy" Air fryer kale chips
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 cups kale, roughly chopped and de-stemmed; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1/4 cup nutritional yeast; Salt; Pepper

By: Sammi Haber Brondo | NYC Dietitian

If you’ve ever had those pre-packaged kale chips before, you know just how strangely good that kale chips are. This homemade version is even better though - less than 10 minute to make and saves money, too. Win win.

Let’s be honest: kale is pretty hit or miss. Either you love it, or you have no idea what to do with it. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle. I know some ways to make it good, but it’s for sure not my green of choice in salads.

If you’re not a huge kale fan (and spoiler: it’s okay if you aren’t. You don’t need to eat kale in order to be healthy), some good ways to eat it are: sautéing it with a pasta dish, massaging it well and making it into a kale caesar salad, and these kale chips. Duh.

I had a huge bag of kale that I had no idea what to do with, which is what inspired these chips. That, and I finally figured out how to use my air fryer, so it seemed like the perfect combination.

These crispy, no-fail kale chips are made with just a few simple ingredients: kale, olive oil and nutritional yeast. The end result is super crunchy, cheesy and salty. Seriously, just so good.

I’ve been loving having some with lunches as a fun way to add a little more veg to my meals. Fair warning though, the kale cooks down a LOT in the air fryer, so make sure to make a lot!

De-Stem Kale

To save some time in the prep, try buying a chopped and de-stemmed bag of kale. Or, if you’re doing it yourself, don’t worry too much about the de-stemming. The stems separate from the leaves when the kale cooks, so it’s easy to remove (or you can eat it - it softens up a lot in the air fryer!). I don’t recommend leaving it though - the texture is tough and takes away from the actual kale chips.

Drizzle & Season

In a large bowl, drizzle olive oil on kale. Use your hands to spread olive oil and make sure all of the kale is covered.

Add nutritional yeast, salt and pepper and mix to disperse evenly.

Air Fry for 6-8 Minutes

Place kale in the air fryer on 360 F and air fry for 6-8 minutes, until crispy but not burned.

Everything else you need to know!

Olive oil: This is my personal oil of choice, but if you have it at home, avocado oil would also work well. Don’t skip the oil either - you’ll get a chip that’s a little too dry and bland.
Nutritional yeast: I personally love nutritional yeast - it has such a delicious cheesy taste and adds nutrients like protein and B vitamins. Plus, it makes these kale chips vegan and dairy free if that’s your thing! If it’s not though, or if you don’t have any, swap nutritional yeast for grated parmesan. You may need to add a bit less as parm has a stronger and saltier flavor.
Optional seasonings: If you’re not feeling the cheesy flavor or want to try a different flavor, there are so many ways to mix these up! Try using sea salt and garlic for a garlic chip, everything but the bagel seasoning, garlic and parmesan, or even lemon pepper.
Storage: Store kale chips in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. If they lose any of their crispness, pop them back in the air fryer for a few.

Did you try this recipe?

I hope you love these Air Fryer Kale Chips! If you make it be sure to leave a comment below, mention @Veggiesandchocolate or tag #Veggiesandchocolate so I know how you liked it. I can’t wait to see your creations!