Keto French Fries
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Turn the humble rutabaga into my crispy, golden keto French fries. There’s NO almond flour or coconut flour needed, and you can make them in the oven or air fryer! 2 grams of net carbs.
I was a picky eater growing up (shocking, I know), and there were many times when French fries were the ONLY thing I’d eat willingly.
Those days are long gone, but I still love French fries. While OG fries may not be keto-friendly, I’ve recently begun making low-carb fries with my favorite root vegetables (hello, jicama fries!), and my rutabaga fries have been a huge hit. I tested these fries multiple times to make sure they looked AND tasted like actual fries.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- No alternative flours needed. Most keto fry recipes don’t have any veggies in them, instead relying on a formulation of flours and thickeners. They make LOOK like fries, but the taste is totally off.
- Just 3 key ingredients. Just rutabagas, oil, and seasonings.
- Air fryer or oven instructions. I usually make them in the oven, but I break out the air fryer when I need instant gratification.
- They’re actually healthy. Rutabagas are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, making them the perfect quick, gluten-free side dish.
Ingredients needed
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
- Rutabagas. They’ll need to be washed, peeled, and sliced into ⅛-inch thick slices. If you can’t find rutabagas, make turnip fries instead. They’re similar in texture with a slightly milder flavor.
- Olive oil. Gives the fries flavor and a golden brown color.
- Rosemary. Optional, but it adds a complementary flavor. I prefer fresh rosemary, but dried can be used in a pinch.
- Salt and black pepper. To taste.
How to make keto French fries
Step 1- Prep. Slice the rutabagas into thin, 1/8-inch slices.
Step 2- Season. Place them in a mixing bowl. Toss to coat in olive oil and seasonings.
Step 3- Bake. Transfer the seasoned rutabaga fries to the lined sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes, tossing every 5 minutes.
Step 4- Serve. Remove the fries from the oven and serve immediately.
Can I make these in the air fryer?
Yes, and it’s almost identical to my air fryer French fries recipe. For air fryer keto fries, prepare them as instructed. When you’re ready to cook, add them to a single layer in an air fryer basket and air fry for 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
Pro recipe tips and tested variations
- Soak them first. I don’t always do this, but when I want to guarantee extra crispy fries, I’ll soak the sliced rutabagas for at least 30 minutes, pat them dry, then add the seasoning.
- Swap the spices. Experiment with whatever ingredients you have in your spice pantry. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or Parmesan cheese are great options.
- Check them often, and rotate the fries every 5 minutes or so to ensure they cook evenly and become extra crispy.
- Make your favorite dipping sauce. Fries are really just vessels for dipping sauce, so whip up some keto honey mustard, sugar-free ketchup, or keto ranch dressing to dip them in.
Frequently asked questions
No- potatoes are too high in carbs to fit a keto diet. A medium potato can have over 30 grams of net carbs, which is more than most people’s daily limit. That’s why I use rutabaga to mimic the crispy texture of fries without carbs.
To re-crispy them, pop them back in the oven or air fryer for 3-5 minutes. The microwave will soften them, so I don’t recommend it.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“This recipe was great. I have never used rutabagas, even though I grew up in the country in the Midwest. I changed a few things, though, to make them taste nothing like rutabagas. I cut them up into thin slices and soaked them in salt water for about 1 hour. Then I drained them and put them in a bowl with your suggestion of oil and salt. I then put them in the oven for the specified time of approximately 20 minutes. I then let them sit for about 10 minutes before deep-frying them in oil on the stove in a cast-iron skillet until done. Turned out better than McDonald’s fries!” – Brittany
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover keto French fries should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days.
To freeze: Place uncooked fries in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to six months. You can cook them from frozen, but increase the bake time to 25-30 minutes.
More savory low carb sides
- Bacon-wrapped asparagus
- Keto mashed potatoes
- Keto cheese bread
- Zucchini fries
- Keto mac and cheese
- Keto coleslaw
Keto French Fries
Video
Ingredients
- 2 large rutabagas washed and patted dry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon rosemary fresh or dried
- 1 teaspoon salt to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice your rutabagas into thin, 1/8-inch slices. Place them in a mixing bowl. Add your olive oil and mix well. Add the Rosemary, salt, and pepper, and mix until the rutabaga is well coated in it.
- Transfer the seasoned rutabaga fries to the lined sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing every 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Air fryer option: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Prep the fries as instructed, then place them in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 12 minutes, shaking several times throughout.
- Leftovers: Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or the freezer for 6 months.
- Reheating: Either in the oven or the air fryer. Do not microwave or else they will be limp and soggy.
This recipe was great. I have never used rutabagers even growing up in the country in the Midwest. I changed a few things though to make them not even taste like rutabagers. I cut them up in thin slices and soaked them in salt water for about 1hr. Then I drained them and put them in a bowl with your suggestion of oil and salt. I then put them in the oven for your specified time of approximately 20 min. I then let them sit for about 10 min before deep frying them in oil on the stove in a cast iron till done. Turned out better than mcdonald’s fries!
These were delicious and super easy!
I’d never tried these before, turned out great!
The best low carb alternative for French Fries!
I made these and they are good but do not have the same consistency and taste of French fries. I will try again but think that maybe partially cooking them in the microwave or boiling them might help. They were still slightly crunchy even with adding on an additional 5 minutes of cooking time. They also are a little sweeter than a traditional fry. We did enjoy them though so thank you!
These look so good. I make mine with turnips as there are fewer carbs than rutabagas.
Thank you. I would like ideas for meals with meat and veggies, and some recipes for desserts!! I would also like snacks!!
Absolute game changer, just made the fries and now will never go back to potatoes. I follow a keto diet and for my birthday i had one of my favourite meals Roast chicken, homemade coleslaw, avocado salsa and these fabulous fries. great way to live… Thank you
I thought I posted a while back but I don’t see it! You must try this with celery root!!! Mind blowing! And less carbs!!!
I’ve been reading a lot lately about using jicama to make fries but I’ve read you need to boil the fries first. I bought one over the weekend and it’s been sitting on my counter because it seems so labor intensive!
Reading your post today, I absolutely LOVE turnip. It’s one of my favorite veggies but funny it’s typically something my family only had at thanksgiving dinner, mashed.
I only wish I saw this recipe earlier! It’s one less step than the jicama version and the perfect veggie to substitute for the starchy alternative.
I’m seeing a lot more turnip in my future! Guess I’ll be buying one or two this weekend 😉
Can you airfry these?
Yes! Air fryer instructions in the post.
Can you deep fry these? Was going to deep fry some chicken wings for dinner would be awesome to toss these in the fryer after
Yes you can!
Can you fry these as an alternative to roasting?
Yes, and you can also air fry them!
I really like rutabaga and never knew that it was low carb or never thought about using it in place of potatoes for French fries. I am so glad that I found this recipe and I am going to make it real soon.
I always love your recipes and was super excited to try this one. But for some reason mine turned out really soggy and I had to cook them for 30 minutes because they were nowhere near cooked at 17… Any ideas on what I could’ve done wrong?
Hi Ebry! Did you slice them thinly?
So just for clarification is one serving equal to 2 large rutabagas or one serving? At the end it says 1 serving and in the blue box says 4 servings. Thank you in advance.
Hi Ruth! One serving is the entire recipe divided by 4!
Dude. FanTAStic recipe… but I’m about to rock your little meto world right now with two words.
You ready?
Rosemary Salt.
This is going to take your rutabaga fries to the next level.
Take 12-14 sprigs of fresh Rosemary
8-10 sprigs of fresh sage
3-4 cloves of fresh smashed garlic
1 1/4 cups of kosher sea salt
Throw in a blender or a food processor for like a minute and viola, you’ve got the best green salt you will want to try on everything because it makes everything BETTER!!
I learned how to make this from #thatdudecancook on TikTok. Just go to TikTok and start to type in Rosemarysalt, click on the first hashtag that comes up and he pops right up. I wouldn’t have come in here to your comments for that, but I had such reserves about rutabaga fries, but this was bomb and when I saw your seasonings, I said,
“Nah man, I know what I’m putting on these. ROSEMARY SALT!”
And it was so good I nearly cried. Now my favorite food.
Try it, you will be a convert.
You’re welcome!
(P.s. I like to put just a little bit of black or cayenne pepper in my rosemary salt mixture, don’t tell #thatdudecancook, I think he might be scandalized)
I guess if you like everything to taste like a literal pine tree, anyway.
Celeriac is also lovely done this way, even lower in carb
Would have to try that!
I never thought to use rutabaga and am so happy I found your recipie ! They were absolutely delicious and satisfying! I cooked them a little longer to crisp. Thank you!
Hi.. I’m from South Africa.. What veggie can I use for these fries?
Excellent recipes
If anyone is reading from the UK it turns out this exotic sounding plant is just another name for the humble Swede!
The recipe says to cut into 1/8″ slices. However, the body under “The Instructions” says to cut into 1/4″ slices. Which is it? Don’t want to burn them.
Go with 1/8 for the ultimate crispiness!
Fyi, the recipe says “2 hours 17 minutes..” but really it’s only 17!
Ahhh thanks for letting me know!! Will fix it now!
How many ounces or grams per serving?
Not sure, we don’t weigh them 🙂