Vegan Cheesy Baked Kale Chips

Just because I’m posting this Vegan Baked Cheesy Kale Chips recipe today doesn’t mean I just discovered kale chips, or just got on the “kale chip” wagon.

No, no, no!  🙂  I’m a big fan of kale chips and have been making them on a regular basis for a long time – over 5 years!

In fact, “Cheezy Raw Kale Chips” was one of the first recipes I posted on my website way back in 2012.

Since then, I’ve created some unique and interesting varieties of raw kale chips like these:

• Kale Chips with Spicy Peanut Sauce
• Lemon Dill Kale Chips
• Habanero Kale Chips
• Raw Vegan Sour Cream and Onion Kale Chips
• Jalapeno Kale Chips

Although they are delicious, they are all “raw” and made with my dehydrator (which I l.o.v.e. by the way!)

But as I was about to make a batch of kale chips to snack on, it just dawned on me that not everyone has a dehydrator ~or~ might not want to pay $5.00 – $6.00 for a small bag of kale chips at Whole Foods.

So I decided to share a baked version for my readers that do not own a dehydrator – yet! 😉

They aren’t considered “raw” since they are baked over 115 degrees, but are just as good as the dehydrator version and take much less time to make.

Store-bought chip snacks are highly processed and have long ingredient lists with horrible ingredients like these:

 

S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) Dorito Tortilla Chips:

Ingredients:  Whole Corn, Vegetable Oil (Contains One or More of the Following:  Corn Oil, Soybean Oil and/or Sunflower Oil), Salt, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Maltodextrin, Wheat Flour, Whey, Monosodium Glutamate, Buttermilk Solids, Romano Cheese From Cow’s Milk (Part-Skim Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey Protein Concentrate, Onion Powder, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil and Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Corn Flour, Disodium Phosphate Lactose, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Dextrose, Tomato Powder, Spices, Lactic Acid, Artificial Color (Including Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40), Citric Acid, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Red Bell Peppers and Green Bell Pepper Powder, Sodium Caseinate, Disodium Guanylate, Nonfat Milk Solids, Whey Protein Isolate and Corn Syrup Solids. (source)

FoodFacts.com Rating: “F”

 

Even thought they aren’t an “apple to apple” comparison to kale chips (especially in taste), they are still basically a bag of GMO’s, food coloring with MSG (monosodium glutamate) and artificial flavorings added in. And they’re not vegan or gluten-free.

Kale chips are a healthy alternative to store-bought, S.A.D. chips and can replace an unhealthy chip when you want a salty, crispy snack.

And, this recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and paleo-friendly.

Want more healthy snack recipes?  Check out Garlic and Shallot Fingerling Potatoes, Gluten-Free Vegan Thyme and Garlic Crackers, Roasted Chickpeas with Chipotle and Lime or my Clean Eating Cookbook with an entire chapter of 20 healthy, clean eating snack and side dish recipes just like this one that you will love!

 

5 Fast Facts About Kale:*

• high in iron
• excellent for detoxification
• contains powerful anti-oxidants
• high in calcium
• contains anti-inflammatory benefits

5 Fast Facts About Avocado Oil:*

• healthier cooking with smoke point of 500 degrees
• may help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome
• helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels
• provides protection from cardiovascular disease
• good source of vitamin E

5 Fast Facts About Nutritional Yeast:*

• vegan source of vitamin B12
• contains 18 amino acids and is a complete protein
• boosts immune system
• excellent anti-oxidant
• contains 15 minerals

5 Fast Facts About Himalayan Pink Salt:*

• contains 84 minerals
• unrefined, unprocessed, raw
• promotes stable pH balance in cells
• controls water levels in the body
• aids digestion and facilitates better nutrient absorption

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

 

 

Tip #1:  I like to use “curly kale” to make my kale chips, but feel free to use your favorite variety.  Just make sure to “de-stem” them and remove the thick middle stem and break the kale into bite sized pieces.

Tip #2:  I like to use 100% pure avocado oil when baking anything in the oven, but feel free to use organic extra virgin olive oil if you don’t have any avocado oil.  Either will work fine.  I buy both of mine from Thrive Market and have them delivered straight to my door.

 

 

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