Nacho Mama’s Kale Chips

Kale chips in a bowl

There’s no nacho cheese in these “nacho” kale chips. But boy do they satisfy! Gluten-free, dairy-free, nutrient-dense, and full of crunch!

One of the toughest habits for me to break in adopting a cleaner diet was my one-bag-of-chips-a-day habit. Chips were my go-to comfort food. When I felt moody or stressed, that’s what I’d reach for. Tough day at the office? Bag of sriracha kettle chips. Kids acting up at school drop off? Sour cream and onion. Client meeting not go well? Cool ranch Doritos. I could find a flavor for every mood and every excuse.

Getting Control of my Chip Addiction

What I didn’t understand was that the more chips I ate, the more I wanted to eat. I didn’t realize how addictive the salt, sugar and fat in highly palatable foods can be. Before I knew it, even though I wanted to quit chips for good, I found again and again that I just couldn’t. I felt ashamed at what I assumed was a lack of willpower. I had no idea that all the salt in those chips was flooding my brain with powerful happy neurotransmitters. Did you know – salt can be as addictive as nicotine and alcohol?!

For me, cleaning up my diet for the long haul – not just a week or two – means learning new ways to satisfy the cravings that just aren’t going to go away. I’m not just going to stop wanting crunchy, salty foods. But I can find healthier ways to satisfy that craving.

Nacho kale chips in a food dehydrator
Kale Chips in the Dehydrator, ready to be eaten

The Crunch That’s Good for You

These nacho kale chips do exactly that. They are crunchy and light, enough salt to satisfy but way lower in sodium than anything you’d buy in the store. They get their tang from freshly squeezed lemon juice. And of course because they are made from nutrient-rich kale instead of starch-filled potatoes, they contain Fiber, Protein, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese. Go vitamins!

Pro Tips: I’ve found kale chips come out best when you a) use sturdy, dense kale and b) when you cook them in a food dehydrator. Although it is possible to cook them in the oven on the lowest setting, they are easy to scorch and have to be watched constantly.

Nacho kale chips in jars
Jarred Nacho Kale Chips, ready to go into the pantry

I hope you enjoy them! I try to keep some in the pantry at all times. But my kids try and make them disappear immediately.

This recipe was inspired by a similar one I found in The Vegeterranean Diet by Julieanna Heaver. Her recipes are vegan and oil free. I recommend checking out her book!

Nacho Mama’s Kale Chips

Zesty, sassy kale chips! Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time1 d
Total Time1 d
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crunchy, kale, nacho, snack, umami
Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low Glycemic, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 8
Calories: 43kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Food dehydrator
  • 1 Food processor or blender

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest (zest of 1 lemon)
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 Tbsp tahini
  • 2 tsp tamari
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 8 cups kale (2 bunches)

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients except the kale in a food processor or blender. This makes the dressing.
    Nacho kale chip dressing ingredients in food processor
  • Destem the kale and tear it into bite sized pieces. Place in a large mixing bowl.
    Torn kale in a bowl
  • Pour the dressing over the kale pieces. Mix thoroughly using tongs. Thoroughly coat all surfaces of the kale with the dressing.
  • Spread the dressed kale in a single layer in a food dehydrator. Dehydrate on medium heat for 24 hours. Kale chips should be crunchy when done. Remove with a spatula.
    Nacho kale chips in a food dehydrator
  • You can store these in a glass jar or other food container, if you like.
    Nacho kale chips in jars

Notes

If you don’t happen to have a food dehydrator, you can make these kale chips in the oven. Set your oven to 200*, or whatever its lowest setting is if it doesn’t go down to 200*. Spread the kale in a single layer over a baking sheet. You may have to work in several batches. Bake until crispy, checking every 5-10 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 282mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 6695IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 1mg
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