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A quick and easy recipe for crispy, baked kale chips with optional seasonings to customize flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • About 1 large bunch (roughly 8 cups torn) fresh kale (curly kale works best; dinosaur (Lacinato) kale is a great alternative)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil to lightly coat the leaves (extra virgin recommended)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt (fine or flaky, or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional, for a cheesy, savory twist)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. Wash kale thoroughly and dry completely; tear leaves off thick stems into 2–3 inch pieces.
  3. Place the kale in a large bowl and drizzle with 1–2 tablespoons olive oil.
  4. Toss the kale with your hands or tongs to coat each leaf lightly and evenly.
  5. Sprinkle with about ½ teaspoon sea salt and any optional seasonings (garlic powder, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast), then toss again to distribute.
  6. Spread the kale in a single layer on a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet, leaving space between leaves.
  7. Bake for 15–20 minutes, start checking at about 12 minutes and remove when edges are browned and leaves are crunchy.
  8. Remove from the oven and let the chips cool on the baking sheet or a cooling rack until crisp.

Notes

Dry kale completely before baking to prevent sogginess., Use just enough oil to lightly coat the leaves to aid crisping without greasiness., Do not overcrowd baking sheet to avoid steaming; leave space between leaves., Store chips in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days., Avoid refrigeration to prevent chips from becoming limp., If chips lose crunch, reheat in a 275°F (135°C) oven for 3–5 minutes to recrisp., Optional flavor variations include adding cayenne pepper, dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano), lemon or lime zest, or substituting olive oil with avocado or coconut oil., Air frying is possible using a lower temperature and shaking the basket often, but watch carefully.

Nutrition