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    Home » Snacks & Sides

    How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer

    Updated: Mar 11, 2022 by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    crispy French fries in an air fryer basket

    Skip the frozen fries and learn How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer instead! This foolproof method will give you healthy, tasty, and crispy fries in just 20 minutes. Seasoned with a homemade seasoning blend, the fries make for a great appetizer, side dish, or snack.

    a plate of crispy air fryer French fries with ketchup

    Learning How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer is the quickest, easiest, and all-around best way to make homemade french fries! All you need are 3 simple ingredients and 20 minutes. In no time, you’ll have an appetizer, snack, or side dish that’s so popular, you won’t be able to keep them on the table!

    Everyone loves french fries, but that love grows deeper when they’re made with fluffy Russet potatoes, a little oil, and flavor enhancers. I used my homemade french fry seasoning to take these naturally delicious french fries from good to great. You can do the same or even mix up the flavors using the other fun seasoning ideas I’ve included.  

    Jump to:
    • Air fryer french fry ingredients
    • How to make homemade french fries in the air fryer
    • Tips for success
    • More fun ways to season homemade fries
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Looking for more savory vegan snacks?
    • How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer

    Air fryer french fry ingredients

    • Russet potatoes - I find Russet potatoes to be the best when making homemade french fries because they cook quickly, don’t absorb too much oil, and turn out crispy on the outside with a fluffy inside.
    • Oil - Olive oil, grapeseed, vegetable oil, or avocado oil are my go-to's.  
    • French fry seasoning - This bold blend of spices is easy to put together and takes the fries up a notch! Feel free to skip the homemade french fry seasoning if you prefer just salt and pepper.
    sliced potatoes and seasoning ingredients on counter prepped for air fryer French fries

    How to make homemade french fries in the air fryer

    These homemade air fryer french fries come together quickly and make for a fun snack or easy side dish! They can be made in just 4 simple steps:

    1. Prep the potatoes: Slice your potatoes into sticks and rinse under cold water. Pat them dry with paper towels.
    1. Season the fries: Transfer the rinsed fries to a large bowl. Toss them together with oil and half of the french fry seasoning.
    1. Air fry: Place the seasoned fries into the air fryer basket and cook until crisped to your liking. Don’t forget to shake the basket periodically to ensure an even fry. 
    1. Garnish and enjoy: Once the fries have finished frying, move them to a serving platter and sprinkle them with the remaining seasoning. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces and enjoy! For full ingredients and instructions see printable recipe card below.
    step by step photos how to make air fryer French fries
    crispy cooked French fries in an air fryer basket
    fries on a plate with ketchup

    Baking instructions

    Don’t have an air fryer? These crispy and salty homemade french fries can easily be made in the oven:

    1. Prepare and season the potatoes: Just like in the air fryer version, slice, rinse, dry, oil, and season the Russet potatoes.
    1. Bake: Spread the seasoned fries evenly over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in a 425°F oven for 20-25 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Don’t forget to flip the fries halfway through the baking time!
    1. Serve and enjoy: Allow the baked fries to cool slightly before tossing them with the remaining seasoning. Serve warm and enjoy! 

    Tips for success

    • Be sure to slice your potatoes into thin strips that are no wider than ¼-inch. This will ensure an even fry and the perfect texture.
    • Add the additional seasoning immediately after cooking! If you wait too long, your homemade spice blend won’t stick to the potatoes.
    • I use a 5.8 qt capacity air fryer. If your fryer is smaller, you’ll likely need to cook your fries in two separate batches.
    • Take the time to weigh your potatoes. This recipe only calls for enough oil and seasoning to properly coat one pound of potatoes and also if you overload your fryer the fries won't be as crispy.

    More fun ways to season homemade fries

    Think of homemade fries as a blank canvas. I love pairing them with my classic french fry seasoning, but you can get pretty creative with other flavors:

    • Make parmesan garlic fries by seasoning your potatoes with vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast and a bit of minced garlic.
    • Season your fries with a blend of Cajun-style seasonings like paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, oregano, red chili flakes, and cayenne.
    • Create Italian herb fries by tossing your potatoes in a mixture of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, thyme, and garlic powder. 

    Frequently asked questions

    Do you have to soak the potatoes before frying?

    It isn’t necessary. Some recipes require you to soak the chopped potatoes in water for 30 minutes prior to frying, but the results are just as delicious if you skip this step.

    At what temperature do you air fry french fries?

    These homemade french fries are best cooked at 380°F in the air fryer.

    Can air fryer french fries be made without oil?

    You can make these air fryer french fries without oil, but I don’t recommend it. They’ll still turn golden brown and the flavor will be good, but they won’t get as crispy and will be dryer.

    Looking for more savory vegan snacks?

    • Air Fryer Breaded Mushrooms
    • Vegan Buffalo “Chicken” Dip
    • Vegan Pinwheels
    • Easy Vegan Cheese Ball

    Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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    a plate of air fryer French fries with ketchup

    How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer


    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 2-4 servings 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Skip the frozen fries and learn How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer instead! This foolproof method will give you healthy, tasty, and crispy fries in just 20 minutes. Seasoned with a homemade seasoning blend, the fries make for a great appetizer, side dish, or snack.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For fries:

    • 1 lb russet potatoes (1 large or 2 medium potatoes - see notes*)
    • 1 tablespoon oil

    • 1 teaspoon french fry seasoning, divided (recipe below)

    Seasoning:

    • 1 tablespoon lawry’s seasoned salt
    • 2 teaspoons garlic salt

    • 2 teaspoons granulated garlic (powder)

    • 2 teaspoons paprika

    • 2 teaspoons onion powder

    • 2 teaspoons italian seasoning

    • 2 teaspoons chili powder

    • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

    • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt


    Instructions

    1. Add seasonings to a jar, seal and shake. Cut the peeled potatoes into 1/4 inch strips and Preheat the air fryer to 380°
    2. Give the fries a quick rinse in cold water and thoroughly pat dry.

    3. Add the fries to a large bowl. Drizzle with the oil and toss together. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of the seasoning over the fries and toss again.

    4. Transfer the fries into the air fryer basket and cook for 18-20 minutes or until crisped to your liking. Shake the basket half way through cooking. Add the fries to a serving platter and immediately toss with the rest of the seasoning, add more to taste if needed.

    5. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce, ranch, fry sauce, ketchup, etc,..

    Step by step photos, FAQ, and more in above post. For oven baked option see notes section*

    Notes

    • Potatoes: I actually weigh the potatoes for the recipe. I find it makes a difference as potatoes vary so much in size. If you overload the air fryer the potatoes won't crisp up properly. 1 pound is what you want and russets are the best choice
    • I use a larger 5.8 qt capacity Air Fryer (Cosori) for this french fry recipe. If using a smaller air fryer you might need to cook in 2 batches. Once both of the batches are fully cooked, return them all to the air fryer together to re-warm for a couple of minutes before serving. 
    • You can soak your chopped potatoes in water for 30 minutes to an hour before baking. But I find a quick rinse in cold water is all that is needed for this french fry recipe because they are cut thin. The middle will just be fluffier, softer “puffy”. Personally, I enjoy them just as much without pre-soaking them, more so even and I find the outside just as crispy or crisper! Peeling helps to crisp the outside layer.
    • Baked option: to oven bake the fries. Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet and cook in a preheated 425* oven for 20-25 minutes or until crisped to your liking. Toss half way through cooking (they don't get quite as crispy as air fryer version)
    • Serves 4 as a side or 2 as a snack
    • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 Minutes
    • Category: Snacks & Sides, Gluten free
    • Method: Air fryer
    • Cuisine: American, Canadian

    Keywords: air fryer french fries, air fried fries,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rhonda

      April 08, 2022 at 11:04 am

      The fries turned out perfect nice and crispy and that seasoning- wow!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        April 08, 2022 at 11:59 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Rita

      March 15, 2022 at 7:14 pm

      Thank you for the tips and love our airfryer

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        March 15, 2022 at 7:24 pm

        you are very welcome!

        Reply

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