Air Fryer French Fries
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Air fryer French fries that are just as crispy and crunchy as deep-fried ones. My homemade fries are quick and easy to make and satisfy fast food cravings.
I spent an entire semester in culinary school on cooking potatoes, and today, I’m sharing with you all my tips and tricks for making homemade French fries in the air fryer.
While these air fryer fries won’t ever be as crispy as their deep fryer counterpart (it’s scientifically impossible!), they are a healthy and satisfying alternative, and much better than oven-baked fries. Like my air fryer sweet potato fries, these are the kind of fries I feel good about serving my family without compromising on texture or taste.
Why I love this recipe
- Quick and easy. From prep to plate, air fryer fries cook up in less than 15 minutes.
- They use simple Ingredients. This recipe calls for potatoes and a few spices that you’ll likely already have in your pantry!
- It’s family-friendly. I love to prep these fries as part of a takeout fakeout dinner. To round out the meal, I cook up some air fryer hamburgers or air fryer hot dogs.
- No soaking necessary. While some recipes call for soaking the potatoes beforehand, I find this to be an unnecessary step that makes no difference in how crispy the fries turn out.
I often use the air fryer for cooking potatoes, so once you’ve mastered fries, try my air fryer baked potato, air fryer potato wedges, and air fryer potato chips.
Key Ingredients
- Russet potatoes. These are the best kind of potatoes to use for fries because they have the perfect balance of starch and moisture. If you can’t find russet potatoes, Idaho potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes are a fab alternative.
- Olive oil. Because I’m skipping the soaking process, you need some oil or fat to ensure the fries crisp up. I prefer olive oil, but any cooking oil will work.
- Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. To taste.
How to make homemade air fryer French fries
I’ve included step-by-step photos with basic instructions. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep. Peel, then slice the potatoes into thin fries.
Step 2- Season. Add the fries to a large mixing bowl and toss with the olive oil. Add the seasonings and give everything a gentle mix.
Step 3- Air fry. Place the potatoes in the greased air fryer basket. Air fry for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Step 4- Repeat. Cook the remaining fries until done.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“I love this recipe and have been making it this way for quite some time. I sometimes add parmesan cheese, French fry seasoning or steak seasoning instead of Italian Seasoning.” – Wanda
4 common mistakes when making homemade French fries
Even with the best of intentions, a few minor mishaps can be the difference between crispy and fluffy fries versus soggy and limp ones. Here is what to avoid:
- Not cutting the fries evenly. A surefire way to ensure the fries cook evenly is to slice them to the same thickness and size.
- Not soaking properly. While I don’t personally soak my fries, I know some of you will still do it, which is fine! Just remember, once soaked, ALL the moisture must be removed from the potatoes before seasoning them. Even a little bit left over can affect the texture.
- Fries overlapping in the air fryer. This is the #1 reason why some fries are nice and crispy and others are limp and soft. If needed, batch-cook them, as stuffing the air fryer can cause them to cook improperly and become a little soggy.
- Not shaking the air fryer. Shaking the air fryer basket during the cooking process will ensure the fries are crispy on all sides.
Storage instructions
To store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled fries in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to two months.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use frozen French fries instead of fresh ones. The only difference is that the cooking time will increase by 5 minutes.
If your fries aren’t overly crispy, the culprit is overcrowding the air fryer basket. If I’m making these fries for my family, I typically need to cook them in 2-3 batches.
For one single layer of fries sliced into 1/8-inch thickness, I found that 12 minutes is the sweet spot. This is using a Phillips XL Air Fryer. If your fries are thicker or your air fryer is a different brand, they can take up to 15 minutes.
More air fryer recipes
- Air fryer baked potato
- Air fryer baked sweet potato
- Air fryer smashed potatoes
- Air fryer home fries
- Air fryer red potatoes
- Air fryer baby potatoes
If you tried this air fryer French fries recipe, please leave a star rating and comment. It helps others thinking of making this.
Air Fryer French Fries
Video
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes or Yukon gold
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/380F.
- Scrub and clean the potatoes. Slice them into 1/8-inch fries.
- Add them to a mixing bowl, then drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Add a single layer of potatoes into the air fryer basket and air fry for 12 minutes, shaking the basket several times throughout. If the fries aren't golden brown, continue air frying in one-minute increments until done.
- Remove the fries from the air fryer basket. Repeat the process until all the fries are cooked.
Notes
- If you want to soak: Soak the potatoes in ice-cold water for 30 minutes. Pat them dry completely before adding seasoning.
- Oven baked fries: To bake, prep the fries as instructed, then place them on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 200C/400F for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Storage: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Reheating: Preheat your air-fryer and pop them in till they are ready to eat.
Nutrition
Originally updated November 2023, updated and republished July 2025
I read somewhere its more crispier if you put some breadcrums. Do you agree?
love them, thanks
Excellent! Easy, quick, and really versatile.
Had some rosemary infused olive oil left over from another dish, used that instead of “plain” olive oil, so left out the Italian seasoning.
Next time I’ll try adding a drop of truffle oil to the olive oil before drizzling on the potatoes.
Thank you!
These are great!
I’ve been looking for a simple recipe for oven fries, thanks for sharing the formula. I can’t wait to give this one a try.
I love this recipe. I have been making this way for quite some time. I sometimes add parmesan cheese, French fry seasoning or steak seasoning instead of Italian Seasoning.
I’m diabetic and on low carb diet. I don’t eat potatoes. Keep that in mind when emailing me recipes. Thanks. I did you peanut butter cookies yesterday, they’re great. I’ll be using them for the crust of the cheesecake I plan to make tomorrow, will comment on how it turns out.
I have made these and served them with your sugar free ketchup. They are very good. I make your sugar free ketchup all the time and don’t buy from the grocery store any more. Thanks for your recipes.
Have made these air fried potatoes and served them with your sugar free ketchup. They are awesome. I make your sugar free ketchup all the time and don’t buy from the grocery store. My husband also likes it. Thanks
Thank you for recipes. I’m new at using my air fryer. I just got one! I really need help!