These oven baked kale chips are a snap to make with simple ingredients and create a totally addictive and healthy snack!
Despite their decidedly NOT subtle green color, these crispy kale chips are surprisingly delicious and kid friendly! My kids BEG for them (but no other veggies, alas).
Kale chips: the world’s most addictive snack…REALLY!
I have been obsessively noshing on these for the past two months. And my veggie averse kids have been right by side the whole way!
Confession: I am not a huge fan of dark greens (insert screeches of horror here!) I am so in to being healthy, I should like all those dark leafy greens, right?!
But alas my taste-buds from days of old still hang on in a couple of areas. The exception are these baked kale chips, and my sauteed kale recipe (that is one of my most popular recipes…go figure!)
Are kale chips good for picky kids?
Unfortunately, my kids are about as veggie averse as they come!!
I know how good greens are for me, but my kids could give a rip!
I get a huge high getting any sort of dark leafy green into my kids…but usually it is snuck in somewhere.
And let be honest here: kale chips are not subtle. They’re the opposite of subtle. There is no sneaking happening here…it is a big, green leaf right before your eyes. Your kids just might shirk away from the horrible dark green monster staring them in the face.
But one taste, and it is over…these are SO SO SO darn good. You really won’t believe it until you taste them. So even if your gag reflux starts just THINKING about dark greens…you have got to try these! I can eat an entire head of kale all to myself, happily, and so can all my picky kids. I also want to try these cheesy kale chips…yum!
Crunchy and delicate, one bite and you will be hooked too.
I only waited so long to share with you because taking a pretty picture of kale….well…it was difficult!
Crunch away…any nutritionist would tell you to eat as much of this addictive snack as you want!
How to make kale chips in the oven:
- First, a PSA: Have a glass of water handy for swishing you teeth or you will greet people with Grinch-worthy green flecks all over your teeth!
- Second, once you have settled on your dressing for your kale leaves, you get to spread them out on a baking sheet.
- It’s important you do not overlap the pieces or they will not crisp properly, kind of like my oven baked sweet potato fries!
- Place them in a 285 degree oven, it usually takes about 20 minutes…depending on your oven, depending how thick your leaves are, and depending on how much dressing you tossed your kale leaves with! If they are crispy to the touch, they’re ready!
- You can cook these at higher temperatures, but they go from being done to burnt in seconds instead of minutes…so it is much trickier. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!
Oven Baked Kale Chip Recipe:
If try these addictive kale chips, be sure to come back and leave a comment!
Baked Kale Chips
Ingredients
- 1 head Lacinato kale or Dinosaur, or curly kale
- 4 tablespoons avocado oil apx
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice depending on how sour you like yours
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Optional flavor ideas:
- sesame seeds, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, maple syrup, sesame oil. The options are really limitless. I have used Annie's Asian Sesame Dressing even.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 285 degrees.
- Rinse and dry your kale leaves.
- Using your hands or a knife, remove the thick, coarse stem in the center of each leaf. I just tear the leaves off in chunks away from the thick rib. No exact size necessary, make them as perfect or not perfect as you like.
- In a bowl large enough to accommodate all the leaves, make your dressing by whisking all the ingredients together.
- Place the leaves in the bowl and using your hands, toss and rub the dressing throughout all the leaves making sure they are all thoroughly coated.
- Place in a SINGLE layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat.
- Bake for about 20-22 minutes. Check your leaves, they should be crisp and crunchy, if not, put back in the oven for a few minutes until they are. Just be careful, when they burn, they taste bitter! I have put 2 cookie sheets in at a time to speed the process up with success. This recipe usually fills about 2-3 cookie sheets, depending on your head size. Taste the first batch, and if you'd like to add a wee bit more salt before cooking the next batch, now is the time!
- Store in an airtight container. I recommend eating them within a day.
Nutrition
Calories: 253kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 582mgPotassium: 23mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 9.3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
We loved the the kale chips. Very tasty, healthy, and an awesome replacement for greasy potatoe chips.
indeed they are Bryson!
Oh yum! We love kale chips! I usually toss them with oil and salt, along with whatever spices strike my fancy at the time – like garlic, onion, chili powder. Yum!
Thanks for sharing at Waste Not Want Not Wednesday!
Hi Tessa! We’ve been eating a lot of kale recently and I’m just reminded how lovely kale chips are by seeing this over at Cindy’s page! I really fancy a bowl right now!
Hope all is well! x
I guess I am just drawn to your recipes – the first recipes I click on at Gluten Free Wednesdays are always yours!!! These kale chips look great 🙂
XO,
-Cassidy
We do that don;t we Cassidy!!?? Have you ever made kale chips? My kids beg foe them. I have taken to prepping 3 or 4 large heads and then just keeping them in the fridge so I can throw two cookie sheets full in the oven on a whim…..there is never a crumb left, even when I make 4 sheets worth!
I found this marvelous recipe for a paste coating, “vegan cheese”
http://earthenergyyoga.com/raw-cheesy-garlic-kale-chips-paleo-vegan-dairy-free-gluten-free/
My life is transformed.
Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing it, will be making it soon!
We totally love kale chips. I add smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder to my chips.
Your kale chips look deeelicious! We love kale chips too but I have also left them in too long and gotten that yucky burnt flavor. But when they’re cooked just right …mmmmm! Your pictures are awesome. I’ve tried to take pictures of some I’ve made and they just look like something that nobody would want to eat…they certainly are not an attractive food! ha!
Yes, pictures of kale are tough!! It was one the dishes that I learned something new on, for sure…the food photography is tricky as an amateur!
this sounds great. I have never made kale chips but I always wanted to try it.
I’m with you on the dark leafy greens thing…yuck! But your argument is very convincing! I’ll have to give them a try!
at least once madge, get the freshest kale you can find, the older it is, the stronger the cabbage flavor!
This is one my daughter would probably give me a hassle even getting her to try just a little bitty taste, but my son, on the other hand, would be like you and eat it as it was available ☺ I’ve heard of ‘Kale Chips’ but have never tried it before. You have made it sound pretty simple to whip up a batch, so I’ll grab some kale at the market this weekend and give it a try. Thanks for sharing in our recipe hop ☺
YUM!! Can’t wait to try these. Pinning!!
We love making these chips, however I like to vary the spices. Family favs are garlic, cumin or curry chips.
Yes Karen, I love to play with the spices too! I even made one with a nutritional yeast/sunflower ‘cheese’ sauce…so much fun! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Hi Tessa! Thanks so much for this recipe (I talked to you earlier at the store)…I made kale chips twice today! Obsessed!
Hi There Tessa~
I featured your recipe in my monthly round-up!
http://www.thetastyalternative.com/2011/11/monthly-round-up-november-2011.html
Love Kale Chips!! Also, I would be willing to help test recipes for you 🙂
We love kale chips in this house, especially when sprinkled with sea salt and vinegar before baking 🙂
We love kale, but I haven't tried chips yet (except to sample at Whole Foods). I can't wait to try this out. Thanks for sharing at The Willing Cook-A-Long.
@countrykiddos: I think as long as you like the spice, it will be fantastic! these really are so versatile!
I have some fresh local kale and have been wanting to make these for awhile. I will definitely give your recipe a try. Oh, I was thinking that the South African Smoke spice in the little grinder bottle from Trader Joes would be yummy on these!
Thanks Amber!
Hi There Tessa,
What a fabulous idea! I am going to make these soon and I will let you know how they turn out, or if I find any spice variations of my own. Just love this creativity with food. Well done! Oh, and I voted for you!!!
Be Well,
–Amber