Hi Everyone! I hope that you guys had an awesome 4th of July holiday yesterday!
It was so gloomy here yesterday, but the beach was still packed with people!

Today’s recipe is something that I am obsessed with: Kale Chips! I eat them all the time and they are always a staple in my pantry, but for some reason, I completely neglected to post a recipe on my blog! I make them so often, that I’m surprised this wasn’t my very first post haha If you don’t like the bitter taste of raw kale, you should give Kale Chips a chance, because they taste totally different when baked!


Kale Chips are really easy to make and are so affordable! I’ll start you guys off with a very basic Kale Chip recipe so you can experiment with your favorite spices and perfect the baking process before I get into some more advanced “cheesy vegan” options in future posts. If you are someone who craves crunchy cracks, these will be your new best friend. This is the perfect guiltless snack made from only 3 ingredients that are so healthy you could eat the entire batch!

It’s time to get to know this leafy green, so all hail the KALE!

  • One cup of kale has only 36 calories and zero grams of fat.
  • One cup contains nearly 20% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which promotes regular digestion.
  • Kale is contains carotenoids and flavonoids, two powerful antioxidants that protect our cells from free radicals.
  • Contains anti-inflammatory properties
  • Provides a high dose of vitamin K (providing 1327% of the RDA in one cup), which strengthens the composition of our bones.
  • Contains over 192% of the RDA of vitamin A in one cup, which is an effective antioxidant, that helps boost immunity, and helps maintains healthy bones and teeth.
  • Contains Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to lower blood pressure, and ensures a healthy immune system.

Baking kale chips or any vegetables for that matter reduces some of the nutritional properties of the whole food,  so it is suggested that you use a dehydrator to preserves the nutrients and enzymes that help with energy and digestion. If you have a dehydrator, you could use this recipe and dehydrate at 115° for 8-12 hours. Don’t be afraid of losing some of the nutritional value during baking if you only have access to an oven… Kale Chips are obviously a much healthier option than greasy potato chips!

Kale Chips
Serves 3-4

1 bunch curly kale
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ground sea salt or seasoning salt to taste (one of my favorites is Lawry’s)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse and dry kale leaves. Remove kale leaves from stems. Place the leaves in a mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Massage the kale until the olive oil is evenly coated onto the kale. Place kale directly onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt or seasoning. Don’t worry about perfectly spacing out the Kale chips on the baking sheet, they can slightly overlap because they will shrink dramatically in size. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until crisp, moving the chips around and flipping them half way to ensure that they are evenly baked.
Note: Kale chips shrink after they are baked, so let the leaves be bigger than you would like them to be before baking. Below is a photograph of the kale chips before and after the baking process.


If you want a full nutrient rich dose of kale, try it raw in a green smoothie!

| 55 Comments

55 Comments on Kale Chips

  1. Lauren
    July 5, 2012 at 1:46 pm (12 years ago)

    Love your blog! I’m about to do the juice fast next week. Then I’m going to slowly incorporate healthy eating into my diet while working out. I haven’t found a cardio exercise I like, but, I’m not giving up. I do like running when the humidity isn’t too bad (it’s always bad in these parts!) Thanks for all your words! They have been encouraging me to get off my butt! And, I can’t wait to try out these great foods! Kale chips, interesting!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 5, 2012 at 2:03 pm (12 years ago)

      Hi Lauren! I am so happy that you found my blog! I’m so glad that you are not giving up on finding an exercise that you love! Have you ever tried Zumba, Cardio Barre, or spinning? Group classes always have great music, high energy, and are a great way to meet friends! After your cleanse, try introducing some whole raw foods for a few days before going straight into cooked dished to avoid tummy troubles 🙂 Health & Happiness xo

      Reply
  2. Jenny
    July 5, 2012 at 5:12 pm (12 years ago)

    I just made these two days ago!!! My second ever time cooking with kale, the first being a few hours before that. Both my husband and I loved these. Here is the first recipe I tried…so good: http://blogalacart.com/2012/06/massaged-kale-salad/

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 5, 2012 at 5:43 pm (12 years ago)

      Ohhh my gosh how cute is your blog?! I just sat at my computer all goggly eyed! I need to try that recipe next! xo

      Reply
      • Jenny
        July 5, 2012 at 5:48 pm (12 years ago)

        not my blog…i wish. just another one that i follow.

        Reply
        • Catherine
          July 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm (12 years ago)

          Oops! Haha thought that was your blog! Well you know how to find some pretty blogs 🙂

          Reply
  3. Alexis
    July 5, 2012 at 6:30 pm (12 years ago)

    I want to try to make kale chips! This makes it seem so easy 🙂 Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 5, 2012 at 6:59 pm (12 years ago)

      You will love them! xo

      Reply
  4. Catie
    July 6, 2012 at 4:50 am (12 years ago)

    Hi! I want to email you with a question but can’t seem to find your email address on the website. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 6, 2012 at 9:23 am (12 years ago)

      Hi Catie! I receive a lot of emails per day so I am no longer accepting personal emails, but you are welcome to ask questions in a comment or via Facebook or Twitter! Health & Happiness xo

      Reply
  5. Elizabeth Rosemond
    July 6, 2012 at 7:16 am (12 years ago)

    I LOVE KALE CHIPS!! Seriously. I’m a crunchy, salty snack kind of girl (chips, fries, popcorn) and kale chips have saved my life. The folks at my product market think I’m crazy – I buy 5 or so bunches of kale at a time 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 6, 2012 at 9:21 am (12 years ago)

      Hahaha I buy so much Kale sometimes too!

      Reply
  6. Sheran
    July 6, 2012 at 1:31 pm (12 years ago)

    1st of all, I just found your blog last night and I love it! Your such a great inspiration. Anyway, I’ve never tried kale chips but have been wanting to for quite a while. One question, if I dehydrate them would I still coat in olive oil and seasoning the same as I would baking in the oven? Thanks for sharing your recipe and for all your great advice. 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 6, 2012 at 2:23 pm (12 years ago)

      That is a great question Sheran. I do not have my own dehydrator and have only made a different “cheesy vegan” recipe That did not include oil) with one so I am not sure if I would still use oil or not! I’ll let you know if I find out 🙂

      Reply
  7. Haley
    July 6, 2012 at 10:42 pm (12 years ago)

    The problem I have with Kale chips is I love them too much. Whenever I make them I just want to eat the whole batch at once. They usually only last a couple days haha.

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 6, 2012 at 11:55 pm (12 years ago)

      hahah me too! Good thing they’re so healthy!

      Reply
  8. Alexa
    July 7, 2012 at 12:12 pm (12 years ago)

    Hi Catherine!

    I just baked a batch of these kale chips (I also sprinkled a little garlic powder on them before baking) and they are DELICIOUS! I was a little skeptical at first, but I thought these were worth a try and I was not disappointed! Thanks for posting the recipe and your notes.

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 7, 2012 at 1:14 pm (12 years ago)

      That’s great Alexa! I’m so happy you gave them a try and loved them! I love that you are open to trying new things 🙂 Health & Happiness xo

      Reply
  9. Clarisa
    July 7, 2012 at 7:06 pm (12 years ago)

    So I just made these tonight and they are sooo good! I think I have a new favorite snack! I also love that I only spent 50 cents on the kale. I found your blog on Pinterest and am so excited about it! Next I’m going to try your chickpea cookie dough dip. I can’t wait to read more of your posts!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 7, 2012 at 7:07 pm (12 years ago)

      Isn’t that great?! I love how cheap kale is! I can’t wait for you to try some other recipes

      Reply
  10. Shawna
    July 8, 2012 at 4:02 pm (12 years ago)

    Hey I love your blog! Quick question–I made these and they came out delicious! However, when i went to store them they became softer and chewy…not like the crunchy goodness that came out of the oven before. How should I store these?

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 8, 2012 at 6:09 pm (12 years ago)

      Hi Shawna! So glad you loved the Kale Chips! They don’t store very well (they usually get eaten in one day at my house!), but yu could try something extremely airtight, like a ziplock with air removed. If they are a bit soggy the next day, you can always throw them in the oven for a couple of minutes to get their crunch back!

      Reply
    • Catherine
      July 9, 2012 at 12:59 pm (12 years ago)

      Too cute Emillea! I love your chart 🙂

      Reply
  12. Catie
    July 9, 2012 at 11:57 am (12 years ago)

    Hi! At what point during your weight loss journey did you start exercising with the bar method? I know you lost the majority with diet alone but was curious as to what point you added in exercise? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 9, 2012 at 12:58 pm (12 years ago)

      I started making small changes like walking to the grocery store and taking the stairs wherever I could which helped a lot! I started doing the Bar Method after I reached my goal in the fall and wanted to tone up 🙂

      Reply
  13. Jessica
    July 9, 2012 at 8:06 pm (12 years ago)

    Can’t wait to try these!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 9, 2012 at 11:54 pm (12 years ago)

      So quick and easy, you will love them! xo

      Reply
  14. Vanessa
    July 10, 2012 at 10:51 am (12 years ago)

    My brother is a kaleaholic and it was something I had never tried. I found your blog on pinterest and have already tried three recipes! These kale chips were my first attempt with kale and they were delicious! I also loved the greek yogurt pancakes! I made them for my husband and he couldn’t believe how good they were!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 10, 2012 at 1:26 pm (12 years ago)

      Hi Vanessa! Aww love that you have a Kaleaholic brother haha Kale chips are sooo delicious and practically guilt free! So happy that you found my blog and that you and your hubby are enjoying the recipes! xo

      Reply
  15. sarahbee
    July 10, 2012 at 6:10 pm (12 years ago)

    i recently found your blog and it’s an inspiration to me as well as a wonderful source for new recipes!! tried the kale chips tonight and loved them. i’ve already been making healthy choices for the past 6 mos. but i think your blog will help get me out of the food rut i’ve been in for a little while. i know what you do is time consuming– thanks for sharing all of your knowledge with us!!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 10, 2012 at 11:46 pm (12 years ago)

      Aww you are so very welcome Sarahbee! I’m so glad you loved the kale chips and I cannot wait for you to try some more healthy recipes! Health & Happiness xo

      Reply
  16. Caitie
    July 13, 2012 at 12:56 am (12 years ago)

    Hi! I am a big fan of your blog even though I live in Adelaide, Australia! I made these Kale chips and they were so easy and tasty! Congratulations on writing suh an inspiring and useful blog 🙂

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 13, 2012 at 11:37 am (12 years ago)

      Hi from Los Angeles, Caitie! I am so excited to have fans all over the globe 🙂 So glad you loved the kale chips! Such an easy healthy snack! xo

      Reply
  17. Nicole
    July 14, 2012 at 6:38 am (12 years ago)

    Just had to tell you that I’ve ALWAYS HATED kale but I absolutely LOVED these chips! Thank you for posting this- my husband loved them too!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 14, 2012 at 9:58 am (12 years ago)

      YESSS!!! So happy Nicole! Glad you both loved them! Kale tastes SO different in chip form! haha

      Reply
  18. Nichelle
    July 14, 2012 at 1:37 pm (12 years ago)

    I stumbled upon your blog through Pinterest absolutely love it! I have been searching and searching for some vegan help if you will. I am kind of on my own with this none of my family or friends necessarily approve of the lifestyle. I made these kale chips today and I must say they are fabulous! I am trying to lose 50lbs and these will definitely help to satisfy my snacking habits!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 14, 2012 at 3:40 pm (12 years ago)

      So glad you loved the Kale Chips Nichelle! I cannot wait to hear about your success on your weight loss journey! xo

      Reply
  19. Kristen
    July 15, 2012 at 11:09 am (12 years ago)

    How do you store these? I made them yesterday, put in a plastic bag and they turned really chewy? How do you keep them crispy? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 16, 2012 at 10:41 am (12 years ago)

      Hi Kristen, I usually eat my kale chips in one day so I have never tried storing them! You could try placing them in a ziplock bag and remove the air! xo

      Reply
  20. Jules
    July 16, 2012 at 3:37 am (12 years ago)

    I’m making these now – first time cooking with kale! I think I’ve used too much of the stalky bit of the leaves though – we’ll see!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 16, 2012 at 10:11 am (12 years ago)

      You will love them, Jules! xo

      Reply
  21. Juliana
    July 17, 2012 at 2:08 pm (12 years ago)

    I will be honest, I was pretty skeptical at first. kale is not my favorite leafy green (and I love vegtables), but I thought I would give them a try because you had mentioned that the flavor is completely new after baking them.

    Well I am so glad I trusted you, I just made half a bag and I drizzeled them with 1 Tbsp of a Charddonay Smokey Chipotle dressing I bought in wine country and just a splash of olive oil and pepper, and they are AMAZING! They have the perfect hit of smoke and crunch,I am snacking on them as I type 🙂

    Thank you for the wonderful idea and the constant motivation! Sending happy thoughts your way all the way from Reno, NV.

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 17, 2012 at 2:15 pm (12 years ago)

      Hi Juliana! I loved reading your comment! I get so happy when readers try new recipes and foods for the first time and fall in love with them! So glad you loved the Kale Chips! They are definitely a staple in my kitchen 🙂 xo

      Reply
  22. Mae
    July 25, 2012 at 12:59 pm (12 years ago)

    I am so glad I found your blog! As I am working on changing my eating habits, I found the info on this site really works for me. So Thank You! I was so anxious to try the Kale Chips, so I bought my bunch of Kale (so inexpensive) and followed the easy recipe…LOVED THEM! This is definitely a great alternative to my long lost chips. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      July 25, 2012 at 4:30 pm (12 years ago)

      So happy you loved the Kale Chips Mae! xo

      Reply
  23. Kristin
    August 2, 2012 at 1:56 pm (12 years ago)

    How long will these last after baking them? I want to try them out but I want to also share them with my family over the next couple days. How should I store them? In a container or out in the air? I wouldn’t want them to lose their crunch! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      August 2, 2012 at 6:21 pm (12 years ago)

      Hi Kristin! They don’t keep very well, so my friends and I usually finish the batch in one day!

      Reply
  24. Sawsan
    August 2, 2012 at 9:06 pm (12 years ago)

    Hi Catherine,

    If one did decide to store the chips, would it be best to refridgerate them?

    Reply
    • Catherine
      August 2, 2012 at 9:48 pm (12 years ago)

      I would try storing them in something very airtight. I have tried putting them in tupperware the first time I made kale chips and they were soggy by the next morning but I was able to pop them in my oven for a couple of minutes to revive them 🙂 You could try putting them in a ziplock bag and remove as much air as possible!

      Reply
  25. Kenzie
    August 6, 2012 at 3:24 pm (12 years ago)

    I made my first attempt at baking these today! They came out wonderful and surprisingly delicious! I was very hesitant at first because I never really cooked with kale before but you made this so simple that I had to give it a shot. My 10 year old brother even enjoyed a couple, which was surprising because its like pulling teeth to get him to eat anything remotely healthy. I will most defiantly be making these again! Thanks so much!

    Oh and I must add your blog is so wonderful and your story is very inspirational. I really enjoy it and it really keeps me motivated!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      August 7, 2012 at 3:27 pm (12 years ago)

      Thank you so much Kenzie! I’m so happy you (and even your brother!) enjoyed them 🙂 xo

      Reply
  26. Andie
    January 24, 2013 at 5:16 pm (12 years ago)

    I have been making these the last few weeks! I started adding nutritional yeast to mine! So yummy, you should try it if you haven’t!

    Reply
    • Catherine
      January 24, 2013 at 6:01 pm (12 years ago)

      I LOVE nutritional yeast! So good for you, and gives kale chips that cheesy flavor in vegan form!

      Reply
  27. Tressie
    April 14, 2013 at 2:33 pm (12 years ago)

    Will you be posting variations of this? Unfortunately I’m not very creative in the kitchen, but I’m FANTASTIC at following recipes 😉

    Rock on, girl! You’re doing great work. And your transparency really gives you credibility. Thank you for being you and living out loud!

    -Tressie

    Reply

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