My family adores french fries, and I satisfy their cravings with homemade versions such as baked potato wedges, sweet potato fries and these air fryer fries.
There’s nothing better than savory, crispy french fries, especially when paired with a steak or a juicy burger. These air fryer french fries have that same great restaurant style flavor, but with a lot less oil and mess. Best of all, they’re simple to make and always get rave reviews! For more great air fryer ideas, check out my listing of 10 Air Fryer Recipes. Pair your fries with homemade corn dogs or crispy falafel for a fabulous meal.
How do you make air fryer french fries?
First, cut your potatoes into sticks and place them in a bowl of cold water. Soaking the potatoes allows them to release any excess starch, which makes for crispier fries. After the potatoes have soaked, pat them dry with paper towels. Toss the potatoes in vegetable oil and seasonings, then place them in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook the fries until they are golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately with any dipping sauces that you like.
How to cut french fries
In my opinion, the easiest and fastest way to cut french fries is to use a french fry cutter tool. These types of kitchen gadgets come in all different sizes and prices, but you can get a decent fry cutter for not much money. The other option is to cut the potatoes horizontally into even slices, then cut down those slices to make similar sized potato matchsticks. You can cut your potatoes into thick or thin fries, but this recipe assumes you’re using fries that are about 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. Larger fries will take longer to cook.
Tips for the perfect fries
I recommend using Russet potatoes, as they will give you that classic french fry taste and texture. Yukon Gold potatoes will also work, but they are quite different in taste and texture than Russets. It’s up to you whether you peel the potatoes or leave them with the peels on. I typically leave mine unpeeled because it’s less work, and adds a little extra color and texture. Try to slice your fries into similar sized pieces so that they all cook through at the same rate. Be sure to thoroughly dry your potatoes after they come out of the water. Leftover water droplets will cause the potatoes to steam in the air fryer, which can result in softer fries. It’s important to keep the fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If you pile them on top of each other they’ll steam and they won’t crisp up properly. If you can’t fit all the fries into the air fryer at once, you may want to cook them in smaller batches. I serve my air fryer french fries with ketchup, ranch, fry sauce, or choose your own favorite sauce.
How long do you cook frozen french fries in an air fryer?
Frozen french fries may take longer to cook than fresh potatoes as this recipe calls for. If you’re using a bag of frozen fries, they will cook at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes, although it can sometimes take 25 minutes depending on the size of the fries.
Flavor Variations
This recipe makes a basic version of air fryer french fries, but you can spice things up by adding different spices and toppings to the mix!
Garlic Lover’s Fries: Prepare the fries according to recipe instructions. Cook 1 tablespoon of fresh minced garlic in 2 tablespoons of melted butter on the stove over medium heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, plus salt snd pepper to taste. Drizzle the garlic butter mixture over the fries, then sprinkle with parmesan and serve. Taco Fries: Toss the fries in 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning before they go into the air fryer. Add a sprinkling of cheddar cheese during the last 3 minutes, then sprinkle with cilantro and serve. Cajun Fries: Season the fries with 1-2 teaspoons of Cajun spice blend. To make Cajun spice, combine one teaspoon each of garlic powder, paprika and salt and a half teaspoon each of black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, dried oregano and dried thyme. Cheesy Fries: Cook the fries according to the recipe, then add 3/4 of shredded cheese over the fries during the last 3 minutes of the cooking time. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
I make these air fryer french fries at least once a week, my kids go crazy for them! I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine does.
More great ways to enjoy potatoes
Funeral Potatoes Oven Roasted Potatoes Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes Smashed Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Air Fryer French Fries Video
