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GET IT NOW- Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer French Fries
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make French Fries In The Air Fryer
- How Long To Cook Fries In The Air Fryer?
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Air Fryer French Fries
- More Easy Potato Recipes
- Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Air Fryer French Fries (Crispy & Easy) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
These homemade air fryer french fries have the perfect texture with just a few simple ingredients. Air fryer recipes are some of my favorites, because they’re not only super tasty, but also incredibly quick and easy to make! (Time is such a problem these days.) I often make air fryer sweet potatoes, classic steak fries, or jicama fries, but there’s nothing like homemade fries from regular potatoes. Once you try these, you can skip the drive through for good!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer French Fries
- Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside
- Savory, garlicky flavor
- Only 3 simple ingredients (plus salt and pepper)
- Cook fast in the air fryer
- Better for you than traditional frying
- Satisfying snack or side dish
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for making homemade french fries in the air fryer, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Potatoes – I used russet potatoes for this french fry recipe, but you can use Yukon gold potatoes, red potatoes, or any potatoes you prefer. Wash them well. You can decide if you want to peel them or leave the skin on — I prefer it on. You can even use sweet potatoes, but I have a separate recipe for air fried sweet potato fries if that’s what you’re using.
- Olive Oil – This adds flavor, helps the seasonings stick, and helps the fries get crispy. Avocado oil would also work.
- Seasonings – I kept it simple with just garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper, but see other seasoning ideas below if you want to get fancy.
More Seasoning Ideas:
If you want to change it up, you can use the seasonings from my garlic parmesan fries, or simply use a tablespoon of any of these seasoning mixes below. (If the mix you use contains salt, omit the added salt in the recipe.)
- Ranch seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- Taco seasoning (Can you say taco chili cheese fries?!)
- Italian seasoning
How To Make French Fries In The Air Fryer
This section shows how to make fries in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Cut. Use a sharp knife to slice the potatoes lengthwise into matchsticks, about a quarter inch thick.
- Soak. Place the raw potato fries in a large bowl of cold water and soak for at least 20 minutes. Drain and pat dry with a paper towel. When ready to cook, preheat your air fryer.
FYI: Soaking removes the excess starch and makes the fries more crispy.
You can skip this step if you’re in a rush, but the fries taste better if you do it. If you won’t be cooking them right away, you can soak overnight in the fridge.
- Season. In a large bowl, drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper. Toss to coat.
- Arrange. Place the fries into the air fryer basket in a single, even layer, without overlapping.
TIP: Don’t crowd the basket.
To ensure each fry gets crispy and cooks evenly, make sure each one is touching the bottom and there should be a small amount of space between them. Work in batches if they don’t all fit.
- Air fry. Cook french fries in the air fryer, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- Optional step: Once the batches are all finished, place all the fries back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes, to reheat and crisp up again.
How Long To Cook Fries In The Air Fryer?
Air fryer fries cut 1/4 inch thick need to cook for 12-15 minutes for optimal crispiness. Thicker fries will take a bit longer.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Meal prep: You can store the cut potatoes submerged in water for up to 24 hours. This will prevent them from turning brown and maintains their freshness until you’re ready to cook them.
- Freeze: Let the fries cool completely, arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze until solid, and then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll stay good for up to 6 months in the freezer.
How To Reheat Fries In The Air Fryer:
Reheating fries in the air fryer is hands down the best way to do it! Simply preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F, place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and heat for 2-3 minutes, until they are crispy and hot.
What To Serve With Air Fryer French Fries
Not sure what to serve with these air fryer french fries? Here are some of my favorite ideas:
- Dips – You can’t have fries without ketchup, right?! Make my sugar free ketchup for a healthier twist (shown in the photos), or try my personal favorites, ranch dressing or honey mustard sauce.
- Burgers – Learn my secret to the juiciest burgers, or try lighter turkey burgers.
- Kid Favorites – Pair these homemade air fryer fries with crispy chicken nuggets, easy bacon-wrapped hot dogs, or sweet coconut chicken for a delicious and kid-approved meal.
- Fish – Want a fish and chips night?! Serve these fries alongside some tender baked cod or crunchy gluten-free fish sticks.
More Easy Potato Recipes
So many ways to make potatoes! Here are some of my other favorite potato recipes:
Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Air Fryer – I love the non-stick and dishwasher-safe basket. It makes cleaning up a breeze.
Air Fryer French Fries (Crispy & Easy)
Homemade air fryer french fries are crispy on the outside, soft inside, and so easy! All you need is oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Slice the potatoes lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick matchsticks with a knife.
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Add cold water to a large bowl. Add the fries and soak in the water for at least 20 minutes, or overnight if you like. Drain and pat dry.
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Preheat the air fryer to 385 degrees F (196 degrees C) for 2 minutes.
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Add the fries, olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper to a large bowl. Toss to coat.
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Place the fries into the air fryer in a single layer. You will have to work in batches to avoid overcrowding.
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Cook french fries in the air fryer for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
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Optional: Once the batches are all finished, place all the fries back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes, to reheat and crisp up again.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Air Fryer French Fries
17 Comments
Jessica
0I just got my first air fryer (Wonder Oven) and this was my FIRST recipe! I think I should have given them maybe an extra minute or so, but other wise SO tasty and crispy! and SO simple!
Wholesome Yum D
0I love that this was your first air fryer recipe, Jessica! So happy it turned out tasty and crispy! It’s such a great one to start with. Can’t wait to hear what you try next!
Cynthia Crisp
0I preheat the russet potatoes at 375 for 20 minutes then I turn the air fryer on and cook them for another 20 minutes and it seemed to cook the potatoes evenly with that nice crispy exterior the only other thing I did is I used avocado oil instead of olive oil they turned out great.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you for sharing, Cynthia! I’m glad to hear they turned out well.
Steven
0I have made several attempts at French fries in the air fryer. Thank you, Maya, for this recipe, because I have used it a few times now and it makes very tasty French fries! All previous recipes I tried in the air fryer ended up soggy from too much oil, but not this one. Both the texture and the taste were excellent. A tip to your readers: here is an excellent kitchen tool to make your own fries from potatoes. This French Fry cutter is easy to use. I don’t bother peeling the potatoes just put them in the French Fry cutter one at a time, pull down on the handle, and have beautiful potato sticks ready to air fry. I was holding on to my deep fryer for French fries, but Maya, this recipe of yours is probably putting my messy deep fryer out of business! Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Steven! I’m honored that my recipe has been your favorite. And thanks for sharing that french fry cutter, I am very tempted to get it! Cutting the fries is my least favorite part, lol.
Margie
0I tried the air fryer french fries and they worked out wonderful. My husband enjoyed them very much as did I.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0So glad to hear that, Margie! Enjoy!
Anne Poulton
0I have been making French fries this way for years. I have one of the “original” air fryers (before they became a thing) and it stirs and turns the fries as they cook. No need to turn half way through or cook in batches. Just perfect fries every time. I also have a newer air fryer that I use for other things but the old one makes fries so much easier.
Connie
0I love this recipe! It is so easy and so good. I also have this air fryer. I have owned several air fryers over the years, including the Ninja air fryer oven. This is by far superior to them all, mainly because it takes very little time to clean because nothing sticks to the basket!
Haley Risch
0Thanks for the recipe. Thanks for the Horrible gack all over the page, reminding me that cooking, recipes, nutrition need a wiki, not corporate tripe. Thanks & happy cooking! If I make it to Scotland, I’ll try haggis. Maybe I can learn to like tripe.
Henry J Peloquin Sr
0Nice and crispy per instructions
Gordon Dearmond
0I have been doing them this way for several years now. One thing I do that I do not see here is to spread all the fries on a tea towel and then use another to dry them well before coating with oil and seasoning. Viva the air fryer!
Lizzy
0I have never taken the time to soak potatoes before making fries until this recipe and wow, does it make a difference! These were some of the best homemade fries I’ve ever made. Love the air fryer!
Giangi Townsend
0I had no idea you could make French fries in the air-frier, a true game changer for me as I dreaded using the hot pan filled with oil to make fries. You sure made my life easier. They were amazing. Thank you!
Pat
0My son has a soy allergy and it’s in everything… including frozen fries! I love how this recipe is so simple and uses real ingredients I can pronounce haha
Lee
0These were so crispy and delicious! I love that I did not have to fry them! The air fryer might be my new way to make fries!