This homemade Air Fryer French Fries recipe is so delicious, crispy, and crunchy, just like your favorite restaurant, but by using far less oil.
Growing up, whenever we visited McDonald's in India, the first thing we ordered was french fries and an aloo tikki burger. Now, my daughter follows the same tradition — she absolutely loves french fries and often asks me to make them for her evening snack.
So I started making homemade fries. To make it healthier, instead of deep-frying, I air fry the potato fries. If you want to try variations then check out my masala french fries or air fryer sweet potato fries. Don't forget to try my crispy air fryer potato wedges too!
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Why Make French Fries in the Air Fryer
- Done in less than 15 minutes.
- Crispy, crunchy, and tastes the same as that of deep-fried fries.
- Healthy, and uses far less oil than regular fries.
Ingredients for Potato Fries
- Potatoes - Russet potatoes (Idaho potatoes) work best for the fries, but you can also use Yukon gold potatoes. I have peeled the skin in this recipe, but you can also keep the skin on.
- Extra-virgin olive oil - helps to crisp up the fries in the air fryer. You may also use avocado oil or any other oil with a higher smoke point.
- Spices - I used garlic powder and salt for seasoning, you may use any of your favorite go-to spices.
How to Make French Fries in an Air Fryer
Wash, peel, and cut 2 large russet potatoes into ¼-inch thick fries. I have used russet potatoes here, the best variety for making french fries. You may also use a mandolin, which works best to cut evenly-sized fries.
In a large bowl, soak the fries in cold water and let them sit for about 10-15 minutes (remove excess starch in potatoes).
Drain the water well and dab the fries dry with a kitchen towel.
Put the fries in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and salt. Toss them well, so they are all coated with the seasoning.
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Add the seasoned fries to the air fryer basket and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required).
Air fryer them at 380°F (193°C) for 12-15 minutes or until crispy and golden. Toss the fries halfway through. If your fries are not crispy, air fry them slightly longer. Cook time will depend on the thickness of your fries.
Serve French Fries hot and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
How to Make French Fries in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the seasoned fries evenly in a single layer. Bake at 425˚F for 25-30 minutes, tossing occasionally or until crispy and golden.
What to Serve with French Fries?
- Serve homemade french fries with your favorite dipping sauce like tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, sriracha mayo, or sour cream dip. They can be eaten as is if you don't prefer sides.
- You can also pair it with a veggie burger, soup, or chickpea cucumber salad to make a meal.
Pro-Tips To Make Air Fryer French Fries
- Cut fries into the same size: This helps to cook evenly and at the same rate.
- Cook in batches. Make sure to spread the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding, Cook in batches if needed.
- Shake the basket halfway: It's important to shake it halfway through to allow the fries to be cooked evenly.
- Type of Potato: Russet potatoes work best for this recipe. However, you can use other potato varieties, but it will not yield the best results.
- Make sure to dry your fries with paper towels after soaking them in the water, as they help to crisp up the fries without steaming in the air fryer basket.
- Serve crispy potato fries straight after air frying as they lose their crispiness over time.
- The exact cooking time will vary based on the air fryer being used.
Seasoning Variations
This is a recipe for classic fries, but you can add your favorite seasonings.
- Cayenne pepper or Red chili powder - for the extra heat
- Black Pepper - freshly crushed black pepper for heat
- Garlic or onion powder – for the added flavor. You may also add freshly minced garlic.
- Cajun seasoning – zesty, spicy, and savory flavors
- Taco seasoning - for tex-mex flavor
- Cheese - After making the french fries recipe in the air fryer, add shredded cheese over the fries and air fry for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Recipe FAQs
For a classic flavor and texture, High starch and old potatoes like Russet potatoes are best for French fries. This is because they have less moisture in them. Avoid Red skin potatoes, yellow potatoes, or new potatoes.
Soaking, peeling, and cutting fries in cold water helps remove excess starch, prevent fries from sticking, and make them crispy.
If you’d like to make it ahead, then you can cut the potatoes into fries,soak them in the water, and store them in your refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Then, drain and pat dry with a kitchen towel before cooking the fries.
You can add the leftover french fries to the air fryer basket and cook them until they turn crispy.
Suppose you use frozen french fries, then air fry for about 12-15 minutes at 400°F. However, cooking times may differ based on the air fryer used.
No, you need not defrost frozen fries. Instead, just transfer them from the freezer to the air fryer basket.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes cut into ¼-inch thick fries
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into ¼ inch thick fries. I have used russet potatoes here which are the best variety for making french fries. You may also use mandolin which works best to cut evenly sized fries.
- In a large bowl, soak the fries in cold water and let them sit for about 10-15 minutes (removes excess starch in potatoes).Drain the water well and dab fries dry with a kitchen towel.
- Put the fries in a bowl. Add olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt. Toss them well, so they are all coated with the seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Add the seasoned fries to the basket of air fryer and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if required).
- Air fryer them at 380°F (193°C) for 12-15 minutes or until crispy and golden. Toss the fries half way through. If your fries are not crispy then air fry them a bit longer. Cook time will depend on the thickness of your fries.
- Serve French Fries hot and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
Oven Method:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the seasoned fries evenly in a single layer. Bake at 425˚F for 25-30 minutes, tossing occasionally or until crispy and golden.
Notes
Pro-Tips & Notes
- Cut fries into the same size: This helps to cook evenly and at the same rate
- Cook in batches. Make sure to spread the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding, Cook in batches if needed.
- Shake the basket halfway: It's important to shake the basket halfway through to allow the chickpeas to be cooked evenly.
- Russet potatoes work best for this recipe. However, you can use other potato varieties but will not yield your french fries texture and taste.
- Make sure to dry your fries with paper towels after soaking them in the water as they help to crisp up the fries without steaming in the air fryer basket.
- Serve crispy potato fries straight after air frying as they lose their crispiness as the time goes on.
- The exact cooking time will vary based on the air fryer being used.
Seasoning Variations
This is a recipe for classic fries, but you can add your favorite seasonings.- Cayenne pepper or red chili powder - for the extra heat
- Black Pepper - freshly crushed black pepper for heat
- Garlic or onion powder – for the added flavor. You may also add freshly minced garlic.
- Cajun seasoning – zesty, spicy, and savory flavors
- Taco seasoning - for tex-mex flavor
- Cheese - after making french fries in the air fryer, add shredded cheese over the fries and air fry for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Nutrition
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Ramya
I started making air fried recipes for my one year old son. I tired this recipe for the first time in my new air fryer and the fries were crisp and super tasty. How I know, my son ate so many of them 🙂 Ofcourse I tasted them 😉 and I would make this often as this recipe is super easy and yummm as well!!!
Thanks bhavana for this recipe. I am going to try your other recipes as well.
Bhavana Patil
Happy to see such wonderful comment Ramya 😊 Thank you, have a great day 😊