No-Fail Baked Kale Chips Recipe (Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30) (2024)

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Last Updated on February 15, 2024

Baked kale chips might become your new favorite snack! Not on the kale bandwagon yet? This incredibly simple, surprisingly delicious no-fail baked kale chips recipe might have you jumping on board, stat.

Kale has been a hot superfood for some time now, and if you haven’t found a way to incorporate it into your diet yet, you need to try baked kale chips.

They’re easy to make and very addictive, helping with salty-crunchy cravings while allowing you to get a green veggie rather than demolishing a bag of much more caloric chips.

Why Make Baked Kale Chips?

Baked kale chips are a great choice for gut health and your immune system, and kale is also a member of the crucifer family, which can play a role in cancer prevention.

Kids like baked kale chips, too. Well, some kids. Mine have yet to see the light. (More for me — hooray!)

Since I’m all about shortcuts to a healthy lifestyle, this baked kale chips recipe will probably be the simplest you’ll find, no fussing over blotting the kale or any unnecessary steps.

Bonus: The oven stayson a very short time, using less energy than many other recipes and keeping the heat out of your kitchen in summer. This also preventsyou from burning your baked kale chips, which is really easy to do when you leave the oven on and don’t keep a close eye on them.

Save money and time making healthy food while shrinking the footprint of your cooking? No fail baked kale chips are a win-win-win!

If you love to save money on healthy food, check out one of my absolute favorite places to get real food pantry staples for less, Vitacost. They often have sales that knock an additional 15-20% off their already terrific prices.

No-Fail Baked Kale Chips Recipe (Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30) (2)

Some of the items I buy regularly from Vitacost:

and much more! Check them out and you might become a devoted customer as well.

If you have broccoli or cauliflower leaves, you can add them to your kale and make mixed chips.

Find more than 40 additional ways to make the most of your food with root-to-stem recipes here.

Get more savvy tips to help you live greener and healthier every day by following HealthyGreenSavvy on Facebook and Pinterest, where you’ll find easy health hacks, eco-living essentials, and simple healthy recipes shared daily.

Baked Kale Chips Recipe

No-Fail Baked Kale Chips Recipe (Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30) (3)

No-Fail Baked Kale Chips Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This no fail method for perfectly crispy kale chips will be your go-to for this crunch, delicious, and super-healthy snack.

Ingredients

  • Large bunch kale
  • About 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt

Instructions

  1. Wash your kale and give it a good shake to remove excess water. No need to bother patting dry, but feel free to spin in a salad spinner to get more water off if you're so inclined. I never seem to be.
  2. Tear up kale into 2-inch pieces and spread in a single layer on cookie sheets. Discard stems, unless you'd like to try stirfrying them.
  3. Drizzle or spray with olive oil, shake a little salt on and mix the whole lot up well with your hands. Massaging kale is actually kind of enjoyable.
  4. Put your oiled kale in the oven and set to 300 degrees (no need to preheat).
  5. Turn it off about 5 minutes after it hits that temperature.
  6. Check after 10 minutes. Your kalelikely will need a little mixing up.
  7. Leave kaletill the heat dissipates; I often leave it in the cooling oven overnight and check in the morning. You can turn the heat back on again briefly if need be
  8. Kale chips are done when they're crispy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
  9. Allow to cool, then put in an airtight container right away to keep your baked kale chips fresh. (If there’s any left, as it's really easy to chow an entire tray of these things, which is totally ok.)

Notes

If your baked kale chips get soggy before you finish them, you can returnthem tothe oven, turn it on briefly, cut the power, and let them recrisp. The oven doesn't need to get very hot for thisto work.

When kale is coming in great quantities at the farm, I make batch after batch of baked kale chips and generally eat through most of each week’s allotment before the next one comes in. I started growing some of my own so I can put up extra for winter.

All my kale gets turned into baked kale chips, but this collection of healthy kale recipes can give you great ideas for using any you have left.

If you have other green leafy veggies around, you can try making them into chips as well. Edible broccoli leaves and leaves from cauliflower work also, and apparently even dandelion greens make a tasty chip also!

Do you love crunchy, salty snacks, too? Make sure to try these incredibly easy & super-healthy zucchini chips and spiced roasted chickpeas.

Kale chips are an affordable way to get some extra healthy into your diet. Want more tips for making the healthiest food fit your budget? Grab The Savvy Guide to Eating Healthy on a Budget here.

Pin to save this baked kale chips recipe for later!

Baked Kale Chips Recipe Photo credit: PingPongCat

No-Fail Baked Kale Chips Recipe (Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30) (5)

Susannah

Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and has been a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. Find out more and grab your copy here.

No-Fail Baked Kale Chips Recipe (Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30) (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat kale chips on Whole30? ›

Lucky for us, baked kale chips also happen to be Whole30, low carb, and keto-friendly! To make kale chips, however, there are a few key points to keep in mind: The kale leaves must be SUPER DRY. Bake the kale at 350°F.

Does baking kale chips destroy nutrients? ›

And unlike potato chips, kale retains its nutritional value when made into chips. Kale is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamin A and calcium, as well as B vitamins, vitamin C and potassium. It's fat- and sodium-free, and the minuscule amounts of olive oil and salt used in my recipe barely bump up those amounts.

Is kale still healthy if you bake it? ›

Kale is a nutrient-dense food that's high in several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. While cooking kale makes it less bitter, it also significantly reduces its antioxidant, vitamin C, and mineral content.

How do you dry kale? ›

Dry the kale at 145 F / 63 C for 1 hour. Reduce the heat to 115 F / 46 C and dry for an additional 3 to 4 hours until crispy dry. Transfer to airtight containers, or vacuum seal for longer storage. Enjoy.

Are Terra chips Whole30 approved? ›

While homemade versions of chips made with whole foods are considered Whole30, no store-bought chips of any kind are considered Whole30 compatible — that goes for potato chips, sweet potato chips, Siete chips, plantain chips, terra chips, veggie chips, and any other store-bought chip you can think of.

Are any chips Whole30 approved? ›

Because these are still foods with no brakes, we made a rule change eliminating any store-bought chips for 30 days. We instead encouraged people to make their own at home by baking, pan-frying, air-frying, or roasting your own plantains or potatoes.

What are the cons of kale chips? ›

While kale chips may seem like a healthier option, some commercial brands can be crammed with sodium, sugar, and artificial flavors. This is the kind of processed food that can lead to a higher risk for high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and other cardiac issues.

What are the side effects of kale chips? ›

It is not likely that you would experience adverse effects from consuming kale chips. If the chips are very salty and you over-consume them, you might feel bloated from the excess salt intake. You may also feel some stomach discomfort from the fiber if you eat a lot of them and are not used to eating high-fiber foods.

How healthy are homemade kale chips? ›

Kale Chips are an Excellent Source of B Vitamins

Kale is particularly high in vitamin B6, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 (WHFoods, 2015). For instance, each cup of kale contains 11% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin B6, 7% of your vitamin B2, and 6% of your recommended vitamin B1.

Can you eat too much kale? ›

Consumption of kale in excess can lead to constipation and stomach irritation. Due to the presence of oxalates, kale can increase the risk of kidney stones. Kale contains goitrogens, substances that inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormone. So, its intake can increase the risk of iodine deficiency.

Can I eat kale every day? ›

Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients.

How do you keep kale chips crisp? ›

To keep them crispy, it is important to let them cool completely. Once cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You could also try adding a few grains of raw rice or silica packs (like those found in store-bought kale chips) to the airtight container. & Perfect for snacking!

Is dehydrated kale as healthy as fresh? ›

Dried kale powder is almost as nutritious as fresh kale, it is certainly easier to come by, easier to eat, and can be added to a seemingly unlimited number of dishes. Dried kale still has high levels of many vitamins and minerals including: vitamin A. vitamin K.

Why do we put kale in boiling water for one minute? ›

Blanching kale allows it to hold onto its color, as well as many of its nutrients. Kale that has been boiled too long appears wilted and gray. The nutrients leach into the water, which you can use to make a stock.

Are veggie chips Whole30? ›

For that reason we do not allow commercially-prepared fries or chips, or deep-frying starchy veggies and turning them into fries or chips during your Whole30. (However, if you want to roast some kale until it's crispy, or thinly slice jicama into a scoop for your guacamole, be our guest.)

What is a Whole30 alternative to chips? ›

Onion-and-chive mixed nuts

These chive-and-onion mixed nuts are sure to satisfy your salty cravings and make an excellent Whole30-approved substitute for chips.

Are Simply 7 kale chips healthy? ›

Kale, the main ingredient in simply7 Kale Chips, is a great source of vitamin K. This important vitamin is a powerful antioxidant and key contributor to bone health.

Do kale chips count as a vegetable? ›

Kale Chips are an Excellent Source of B Vitamins

All leafy green vegetables are good ways to get B vitamins, and kale is no exception. Kale is particularly high in vitamin B6, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 (WHFoods, 2015).

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