Make perfectly crispy air fryer french fries with just 3 ingredients. They’re crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside and taste just like your favorite restaurant fries only with way less oil!
Normally I’m a sweet potato fries kind of gal, but sometimes I get a craving for the real deal. Crispy, crunchy and salty — there’s just something about classic french fries that hits the spot every time. And guess what? You don’t need a deep fryer or a trip to your favorite restaurant to satisfy your fry craving… you just need to make french fries in an air fryer!
We’ve been obsessed with our air fryer recently and use it at least once a day to reheat leftovers or make dinner. Lately, we’ve been making this air fryer filet mignon and air fryer date glazed salmon (my kids are obsessed with this one!) a lot for dinner paired alongside a veggie of choice like sautéed broccolini, an oven baked potato or these air fryer french fries.
They’re quick, healthier than traditional fries and insanely satisfying. Trust me, this is the best air fryer french fries recipe. You’ll be grabbing them straight out of the air fryer before they even hit your plate!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy and delicious – Achieve perfectly crispy fries without deep frying. The air fryer works magic here!
- Healthier alternative – Made with minimal oil, these fries are lighter than your favorite drive-thru or restaurant fries. Plus, they taste fresher!
- Simple ingredients – All you need are potatoes, oil and salt to make homemade french fries. Can’t get much easier than that!
- Quick and easy – These fries are ready in less than 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute cravings.
- Customizable and versatile – Season them however you like! Add garlic powder, paprika or fresh herbs for extra flavor. They’re great as a snack for adults and kids, but also make for the perfect side dish to serve alongside these turkey burgers or baked chicken nuggets.
Ingredients Needed
- russet potatoes – the classic choice for french fries! Russets are starchy, which helps them crisp up perfectly. Make sure to wash, scrub, and dry them before cutting.
- avocado oil or olive oil – adds just enough moisture to get those fries golden and crispy. Plus, it keeps things heart-healthy!
- sea salt – a simple seasoning that brings out the natural potato flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount to your liking.
Variations
- Seasonings: Sprinkle on garlic powder, paprika, smoked paprika or even a pinch of cayenne for a little heat.
- Parmesan fries: Toss the fries with grated parmesan and parsley after cooking for a cheesy, herby twist. Or, try my vegan parmesan cheese made with hemp!
- Truffle fries: Drizzle with truffle oil and top with grated Parmesan for a fancy upgrade.
- Spicy fries: Add chili powder, cumin, or a dash of hot sauce to the oil before coating the potatoes.
- Sweet potato fries: Swap russets for sweet potatoes! If you’re a fan of sweet potato fries, I highly recommend trying my air fryer sweet potato fries recipe instead.
How to Make Air Fryer Fries
Step 1: Wash, scrub and dry potatoes. Cut potatoes lengthwise into french fry shapes, about ¼ inch thick.
Step 2: Place the fries in a large bowl and pat dry with a paper towel.
Step 3: Add fries to the air fryer in a single layer and cook on 400°F for 12 minutes, tossing once halfway through.
Step 4: Serve fries immediately with ketchup or dipping sauce of choice, if using.
Brittany’s Tips!
- Pat dry before cooking: After cutting your potatoes be sure to pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This will help to ensure they get extra crispy!
- Spread them out: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The fries need their space to crisp up properly. If you pile them on top of each other, you’ll end up with steamed potatoes instead of golden fries. Trust me, batch cooking is your best friend here.
- Shake it up: Toss the fries halfway through cooking to make sure every piece gets crispy and golden. Think of it as giving them a little spa treatment in hot air.
- Go wild with toppings: Sure, salt is great, but why stop there? Garlic powder, paprika, or even a sprinkle of nutritional yeast can take your fries to the next level. Get creative!
How to Serve French Fries
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftover fries (which, let’s be honest, doesn’t happen often), let them cool completely and transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for a few minutes to restore their crispiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll want to air fry your fries at 400°F for about 12 minutes, tossing once halfway. You’ll know the fries are done when they’re crisp and golden around the edges. You may need to cook in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. You don’t want to overcrowd your air fryer basket.
Crispiness comes down to a few factors: make sure your fries are evenly cut, pat them dry before adding oil and don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cooking in batches might be necessary to get that golden, crunchy texture.
Some recipes call for soaking the potatoes in cold water before cooking them to help remove some of the starch and make them more crispy, but I’ve found that this step isn’t necessary. I tested it and it didn’t make that much of a difference in their crispiness, so I prefer to skip the extra step!
If you want to cook frozen french fries in an air fryer you can cook them at the same temperature (400°F). Just keep in mind that you might need to cook them for a few additional minutes depending on the brand of fries and your air fryer. Many bags of frozen fries include air fryer instructions, so be sure to check that out.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Be sure to check out the full collection of air fryer recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below.
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Wash, scrub and dry potatoes. Cut it lengthwise into french fry shapes, about ¼ inch thick. Try to make all the fries about the same size so that they cook evenly.
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Place the fries in a large bowl and pat dry with a paper towel.
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Coat the fries in the oil and salt.
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Add fries to the air fryer in a single layer and cook on 400°F for 12 minutes, tossing once halfway through. You may need to cook these in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
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Serve fries immediately with ketchup or dipping sauce of choice, if using.
- Storing leftovers: If you have leftover fries, let them cool completely and transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for a few minutes to restore their crispiness.
Serving: 1/4 recipe | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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