Baked Kale Chips

If you’re doing Whole30 or just looking for more ways to eat whole foods and fruits and vegetables, you gotta try these baked kale chips. Kale chips have been popular for more than a decade, but their addictive crunchy texture doesn’t get old! They are a low calorie, low carb and low fat snack that are also loaded with lots of nutrients. I pair mine with a vegan dipping sauce, so it makes for great party food!

How to make kale chips

Start with a fresh bunch of kale. Look for curly sturdy leaves at the store that will hold up after washing, drying and baking.

Next, use kitchen shears or your hands to cut the kale into bite-sized pieces. And then wash and dry the kale leaves thoroughly. It helps to use a salad spinner to make sure there’s no moisture left on the kale leaves. You can also lay them out on a kitchen towel to dry them.

Using your hands, massage the kale leaves with a just a tablespoon of olive oil so that each leaf has just enough oil but is not drenched in it. You’d be surprised how little olive oil you actually need.

Then it’s baking time. Watch them closely in the oven and turn then halfway through to make sure they are crispy and not burnt. You want the leaves to become dark green but not brown. If any leaves are brown, they will have a bitter taste.

How to make the dipping sauce

While the kale chips are in the oven, you can make the dipping sauce. It only needs 4 ingredients: almond milk, tahini, lemon juice and cumin (or you can substitute another herb or spice). Just whisk them together in a small bowl until well blended.

If you have any of the dipping sauce leftover, it makes for a great salad dressing as is or thinned out a bit with milk or water.

When they come out of the oven, sprinkle some salt on them, crushed red pepper or even parmesan cheese or other herbs. And just like that it’s dipping time!

Tips to make the best kale chips

1. Buy the kale on the day you plan to bake it, or the day before at the earliest. This way it guarantees that you have fresh and crisp kale that won’t wilt after you wash it and bake it.
2. Make sure the kale leaves are thoroughly dried. In fact, it might even help to wash and dry the kale the day before to make sure there’s no moisture left on the leaves. This will help when it comes time to baking so they don’t wilt.
3. Don’t use too much oil. It’s easy to think that adding oil will add to the crispy factor. But becauses we’re dealing with a leafy green, too much oil can actually backfire in this situation because it adds too much moisture to the kale. Depending on how large the the kale bunch is, you can use more or less than a tablespoon. But just use enough to barely coat the leaves.
4. Add salt after baking. Usually adding salt before baking helps with the best flavor. But in the case of these baked kale chips, the salt dissolves and can also lead to too much moisture on the leaves. So salt immediately after they come out of the oven. The kale chips will be salty without being  sad and wilted!

I love these baked kale chips as a healthy snack to have at parties, get togethers or even for your mid-day munchies! They are a great snack for anyone looking to add more vegetables to their diet. They’re especially great if you’re vegan, doing Whole 30 or trying a ketogenic (keto) diet. I found that even my kids enjoyed them because they have a salty flavor and crunchy texture that is so great for snacking!

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Baked Kale Chips recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

For more healthy snacks, check out:

• Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
• Simple Guacamole
• Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Best Hummus

5 from 4 votes

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Baked Kale Chips

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

12 mins

Total Time

17 mins

 

Baked kale chips are a great healthy Whole30 substitute for potato chips with less calories, less carbs and less fat. Pair them with my vegan dipping sauce!

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Low Calorie, Low-carb, Low-Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 108 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 head kale
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Sea salt for sprinkling

Dipping Sauce

• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Using a knife or kitchen shears, carefully remove the ribs from the kale and cut into bite sized pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry the kale with a salad spinner.
3. To make the dipping sauce, whisk all the ingredients together and set aside.
4. Lay kale on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil.
5. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt as soon as you remove from the oven.
6. For the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the almond milk, tahini, lemon juice, cumin and some salt and pepper until combined. Serve with the kale chips.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container on the countertop for 1 day. You can also store them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days but they will soften in the fridge.

Make Ahead Tips: You can make the dipping sauce in advance and store it for up to 14 days. Then it's ready for dipping when you make the kale chips.

Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However you can add any seasoning to the kale chips after they bake. You can also add any seasoning or spices to the dipping sauce.

Nutrition: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.  This information should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. The nutrition value is for one serving with the dip, but this is likely more dip than you'll need for the amount of kale.

Nutrition Facts

Baked Kale Chips

Amount Per Serving

Calories 108 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Sodium 29mg 1%

Potassium 121mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates 4g 1%

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 28.5%

Vitamin C 23.1%

Calcium 5.6%

Iron 4.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.