We’re walking you through how to make the crispiest Air Fryer French Fries, with four delicious flavor variations to try!
Table of Contents
- This recipe is…
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Air Fryer French Fries Recipe Ingredients
- Recipe Variations and Modifications
- How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer
- Tips For Perfect Crispy French Fries
- How to Serve
- How to Store and Reheat
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Favorite Potato Recipes
- Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
This recipe is…
You never know when that craving for perfectly golden and crispy French fries is gonna hit! That’s why it’s key to have a recipe that delivers the same crunchy fix as your go-to fast food chain that you can make at home.
But for years, the closest you could get in home kitchens was an oven-baked French fry that left a lot to be desired in the crispy-crunchy department. Then came the appliance that changed the game: the air fryer.
The uber-popular air fryer delivers the crispy and golden French fry of your dreams in just 20 minutes. While any air fryer will do for this recipe, we used the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with the accompanying air fryer lid. We LOVE this handy appliance (read our review here), which was an upgrade from our 6-quart Duo model. It has officially converted us to air fryer superfans!
Once you’ve seen how easy it is to make these crispy fries at home, be sure to try some of our other favorite Air Fryer snacks, like the Blooming Onion, Crispy Chickpeas, and Buffalo Wings. You can even sate that sweet tooth with air fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy, crunchy French fries in air fryer are ready in half the time of oven-baked
- Potatoes plus three pantry staples (olive oil, salt, and pepper) are everything you need
- Homemade French fries in air fryer are healthier than deep-fried fast food versions
- Goes with pretty much anything!
- Who doesn’t love a golden, crispy French fry?
Air Fryer French Fries Recipe Ingredients
What do you need for perfectly crispy air fryer french fries? Honestly, not much! Here’s what to add to your next grocery list. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and swaps) below.
- Potatoes – to make these air fryer french fries, you’ll need about a pound of spuds. Any variety of potato will work (including sweet), but russets are our favorite. Why? They have the perfect amount of starch, whereas other varieties, like red potatoes, are waxier. This means you get a fry that’s crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- Olive oil – 2 teaspoons of olive oil is all you need to get a good crisp on these fries. Not much, right? That’s the beauty of air frying!
- Sea salt – we’ll season the French fries with salt before they go in the air fryer…because the only thing better than a crispy fry is a salty, crispy fry (am I right?)
- Other seasonings (optional) – I finish my air fryer French fries off with a bit of simple cracked black pepper. But we’ve got four other flavor variations below to choose from if you want to take your fries up a level.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Modifications
These simple fries seasoned with just salt and pepper are great on their own…but they’re also a delicious blank canvas for seasoning mixes. Here are some of our favorite combinations: just sprinkle or toss them on the potatoes once they’re finished cooking.
- Chili Powder + Lime – about 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder and a squeeze of fresh lime juice will give your french fries a deliciously Mexican-inspired spin! They’re especially good with some chipotle lime mayo.
- Everything Bagel Blend – with poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, dried garlic + onion, and salt, it’s easy to see why this blend would be a definite french fry winner. Just sprinkle on one teaspoon before cooking.
- Ranch – combine 1/4 teaspoon each of dried dill, parsley, chives, garlic powder, coarse salt, and black pepper, plus one tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Truffle Oil + Parmesan – if you’re craving a fancier restaurant-style fry, this is it! Once your fries are done, simply toss with 1/2 teaspoon truffle oil (this is powerful stuff!) and about 1/3 cup of freshly grated parmesan.
How to Make French Fries in the Air Fryer
It is SO easy to cook up these homemade French fries in the air fryer! Here’s how to make them:
Step 1: toss the sliced potatoes with olive oil and salt.
Step 2: place the air fryer basket in your Instant Pot Duo Crisp, inside of the metal insert, then place the fries in the basket in as even a layer as possible (this is important – the less overlap between the fries, the crispier they will be!)
Step 3: place the air fryer lid on the Instant Pot, then set the temperature to 380°F for 20 minutes. At the halfway mark (about 10 minutes in), give the french fries a good toss.
Step 4: after 20 minutes, remove the fries from the pot and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce (this ranch + this honey mustard are two of my faves)
Tips For Perfect Crispy French Fries
These are our best tips for getting perfectly crispy air fryer french fries every single time:
- Layer your fries like a lattice: we got the crispiest fries when we layered the sliced potatoes in the air fryer like a lattice (alternating directions with each layer – think: like the lines on a # sign)If you’re having any trouble with the fries sticking, these perforated parchment paper liners are GREAT.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer! Air fryers work by circulating air all around your food, and when an air fryer is overcrowded, it can’t do that, resulting in a not-so-crispy (and maybe even a little bit mushy) end product.
- If you’re using the Instant Pot Duo Crisp (like we are), be sure to press ‘start’ AFTER setting the cook time. This is different than how the IP typically works – you usually set the cook time, and it starts on its own. If you’re having trouble getting your IP air fryer to start, this could be why!
- Place the fries in the bottom of the air fryer basket that comes with the IP Duo Crisp, and *not* in the stainless steel insert.
How to Serve
Serve these tasty spuds hot and crispy from the air fryer with the dipping sauces of your choice (see below for some recipes and ideas).
How to Store and Reheat
The best way to store your fries is in an airtight container in the fridge. We really like storing our fries in a large Ziploc simply because it’s easy, takes up less room, and tends to hold more than a container would. If you’re looking for a reusable container option though, these glass airtight containers are our favorite.
To reheat, simply toss the fries in a bit more olive oil, and throw them back into the air fryer for a quick reheat + crisp (this should only take about 5-7 minutes). Alternatively, after tossing in olive oil, spread the fries out onto a parchment-lined sheet pan and let the fries reheat + crisp in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, an air fryer results in the same crispy, yummy end product as deep-frying, but with a whole lot less oil and mess. How does it do this? Air fryers are basically a super rapid version of a convection oven: the top of an air fryer holds a heating mechanism and fan, and when in use, said fan circulates hot air around the food at a fast speed, resulting in a crispy outside layer. An air fryer also typically has a basket to cook your food in, rather than the typical sheet pan, so air can reach both the top and bottom of the food – meaning it crisps all the way around.
While this largely depends on who you are and what *your* body can tolerate, we say, yes, air fryer French fries are healthy. Potatoes are one of our favorite ways to get in a good starchy carb, and air fryer french fries are essentially sliced potatoes tossed in a bit of olive oil (hello, healthy fat!) and crisped up using circulating air. If you feel good when you eat oven-baked fries, air fryer fries should be no different.
Another great part of french fries? ALL of the options for dipping sauces! Here are some favorites:
Ketchup – we always say it’s a classic for a reason! Whether you go traditional or spicy is up to you.
Ranch – We love our simple 5-ingredient ranch for dipping. You could also take things to the next level with our jalapeno ranch!
BBQ Sauce – A close cousin to ranch, BBQ sauce makes for a super yummy dipping option.
Honey Mustard – To be honest, I’d eat this honey mustard on just about anything, and it is my go-to pick for fries!
Creamy Chili Sauce – This creamy sauce has just a bit of a kick and would pair perfectly with the chili lime seasoned fries.
Thousand Island Dressing – Did you know that most restaurants’ ‘special sauce’ is actually just thousand island dressing? This sauce is easy to whip up and totally addictive.
Cheater Garlic Aioli– If you’re planning on making the truffle fries, this is the perfect sauce for them.
I’m game to serve french fries with *just* about anything, but these are my very favorite main courses to serve alongside them:
Roasted Mayo Chicken – a perfectly cooked, crispy oven-roasted chicken + crispy air fryer french fries…need we say more?!
Beef Sliders – the chipotle lime mayo that tops these juicy burgers is TO DIE FOR – the chili powder + lime air fryer french fries would pair *so* perfectly with these sliders!
Chipotle Brisket – this chipotle brisket is SO easy and delicious, and would be the perfect main dish to serve alongside some crispy fries!
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wings – what are chicken wings without a side of fries?! Air fry your french fries while the chicken wings cook and crisp in the oven…no-fuss at its finest!
Filet Mignon with Herb Butter – our take on steak frites and absolutely perfect for a date night in! The truffle oil + parmesan french fries would be superb here.
More Favorite Potato Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer French Fries, or any other recipe on the Fed & Fit website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
- 1 pound potatoes, sliced into 1/2 inch thick rectangles
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
For the Instant Pot Air Fryer:
- Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Place the air fryer basket in your Instant Pot, then place the fries in the basket in as even a layer as possible. The less overlap between the fries, the crispier they will be.
- Place the air fryer lid on the Instant Pot, then set the temperature to 380 F for 20-22 minutes, tossing halfway through when the Instant Pot beeps.
- Once thoroughly browned and crisp, remove the fries from the pot and enjoy!
For Other Air Fryers:
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 380 F.
- Toss the potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Once your air fryer is pre-heated, add the potatoes to the air fryer basket and set to cook for 15 minutes.
- Toss the potatoes halfway through cooking, then cook until crisp and golden brown, adding a few more minutes if needed, then remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Tried this in my fairly new InstantPot – easy peasy! Sweet potato fries are next. I appreciate you – and all contributors – for helping me avoid trial and error.
Happy New Year 2024!
Happy New Year, Linda! Thank you so much for your kind words! It really means a lot to us! We are so happy you loved it!
“Mom, you ordered McDonald’s fries!” What my kids said when I served these tonight. High praise in this house!
That’s AMAZING! Thank you for sharing this with us!!