Crispy and crunchy homemade air fryer French fries. With just a few basic ingredients you can have Air Fryer fries ready without the mess and grease of classic fried ones. You’ll be enjoying them dunked in ketchup or Homemade Ranch in no time!
The air fryer is the fastest way to satisfy a craving. We love it for making Air Fryer Chicken Wings, crispy Air Fryer Bacon, and of course, fries.
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We love potatoes! Maybe it’s the fact that I live in Idaho (also known as potato land) and grew up eating potatoes. We love everything from classic Baked Potatoes to Creamy Potato Soup and even Potato Salad! We love coming up with creative ways to use spuds.
These Air Fryer fries are a favorite in our home, especially with our kids because they don’t have to wait long to fulfill a craving! It’s the perfect after-school snack.
The Crispiest Air Fryer French Fries
The air fryer method for making homemade French fries is the easiest for cooking fries. Not only is it easy to make, but they are also much healthier than deep frying in oil.
Both the prep and cooking for this recipe are so simple. Thinly sliced potatoes lightly tossed in oil and seasoning, then cooked until crispy and crunchy. All you need is a Juicy Burger or classic BLT Sandwich to go with these.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Fries
The ingredients needed for homemade fries are so simple and you most likely already have them in your kitchen.
- Potatoes – For this recipe, we use russet potatoes (Idaho potatoes) you can also use Yukon gold potatoes which give a creamier center.
- Oil – This recipe calls for olive oil but you can use vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Seasoning – We season the fries with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, but you can use any of your go-to spices for variety.
Pro Tip: Leaving the potato skins on for fries has several benefits including more flavor, a great crispy texture, added fiber and nutrients, and best of all, it SAVES TIME!
How to Make French Fries in Air Fryer
- Scrub Potatoes: We just wash them and keep the skins on, but you can peel if you prefer.
- Cut Potatoes: Clean the potatoes and cut into about ¼” inch strands, making sure all the strands are the same size for even cooking. Rinse the fries under cold water and pat dry.
- Season: Add the fries into a bowl and drizzle with oil and toss, season and toss again. Evenly spread the fries into the air fryer basket.
- Air Fry: Cook the fries until crispy and golden, tossing halfway.
Pro Tip: Season the potatoes just before air frying them. If you add salt too early, it will draw moisture out of the potatoes and cause they won’t be as crispy when air fried.
Common Questions
That is totally fine, you can bake fries in the oven like we did our oven-baked potato wedges recipe.
Add the fries back into the air fryer and cook until reheated and re-crisped.
You do not have to preheat the air fryer for this fries recipe.
Yes, just clean and cut the fries and keep them completely submerged in cold water in the refrigerator until ready to make. Drain and pat dry before cooking the fries.
We used our basket-style air fryer because it’s easier to shake and toss the fries, but this will also work in a toaster oven-style air fryer.
Serve with
If you love fries, you understand that the dipping sauce is half the fun! When serving fries, we love to pair it with a variety of dips. Here are some family-approved favorites:
- Buttermilk Ranch (my son’s favorite)
- Avocado Ranch
- Ketchup (my daughter’s fave)
- Jalapeno Ranch
- Onion ring dipping sauce
- Fry Sauce (doubles as burger sauce!)
Remember your Air Fryer the next time you are craving French fries. This is the quickest way to make them and they turn out extra crispy.
More Potato Recipes
- Roasted Potatoes
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Smashed Potatoes Recipe
- Air Fryer Potatoes
- Baked French Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
- 1 lb russet potatoes, (2 large or 3 medium potatoes)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp paprika
Instructions
- Scrub and clean the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into even ¼-inch thick strips.
- Rinse the fries in cold water and thoroughly pat dry.
- Add the fries into a large bowl and drizzle with the oil and toss. Sprinkle seasonings over the fries and toss again.
- Transfer the fries into the air fryer basket* and cook at 380 for 10 minutes. Toss the French fries and cook for an additional 6-10 minutes until the fries are golden and crispy. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Valentina Ablaev
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I have been baking a lot recently and I have never found such an easy and delicious recipe! Make this with your kids!
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m so glad you loved this recipe!
So easy and delicious to make! I have been baking a lot recently and I have never found such an easy and delicious recipe! Make this with your kids!
Easy to make…minimal ingredients…..this recipe is a keeper.
Hi Natasha, since football season is approaching, I would love to see you make Texas Cheese Fries 😊
Can vegetable oil be used instead of olive oil?
Hi Stacey! That would be fine.
Thank you. My 13 year old and I just followed your recipe! Can’t wait 🙂
I left a comment a few minutes ago and it magically disappeared.
Reported this website as a potential scam as Valentina Ablaev is not Natasha.
Would love a response.
Thanks for reaching out! I have A couple of friends who are bloggers that occasionally guest post their best recipes on our blog. The Author box at the bottom of the post is how you can tell if it is a guest post recipe. Several of her recipes have become reader favorites on our blog and I know her recipes to be really good. Thank you for the feedback and for checking in on that.
Makes sense. I got wary as I love Natasha’s recipes and hard work as a mother, wife and food artist.
Thank you for replying as I thought it was a scam when I didn’t get an answer the first time. Sorry for any trouble I may have caused.
Why on Natasha’s kitchen is this woman Valentina Ablaev showing up as the recipe author.
Is this a real Natasha Kitchen site or a scam using Natasha?
I will report this.
Thanks for reaching out
I have A couple of friends who are bloggers that occasionally guest post their best recipes on our blog. The Author box at the bottom of the post is how you can tell if it is a guest post recipe. Several of her recipes have become reader favorites on our blog and I know her recipes to be really good. Thank you for the feedback and for checking in on that.
I love this so much! but what tiep of sause is that do you have a recipe for that
Hi Henery! It’s ketchup, but see the section above titled “Serve With” for some other ideas and recipes (the red font words are links you can click on).
😋 I thought these tasted just like 5 guys fries! And they’re definitely healthier.
Great recipe; I suggest doubling the seasoning and adding about 1.5 tbsps of cornstarch prior to oil.
First time using the fryer, thanks for easy n simple instructions, Carolyn
Brand new to air fryers! I have a 6-qt I received as a gift. This recipe for fries is so, so good! This will be my go-to, thank you!
I’m so glad you got an air fryer, JM! That’s so great! I hope you love it!
We thought it was good but we had to cook them a few minutes longer.our dog Misty was begging for them. If the dog approves then it’s good to eat.
Thank you for sharing, Linda!
Great recipe and instructions! The other recipe, don’t let fries touch each other, well that would take like 10 batches for one dinner, this recipe is clear and concise!
Hi! Thank you for this recipe! Does this recipe lead to fries that are crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside?
Hi Grant! Yes, we love the crisp on these and they are soft inside.
Again, you never steer me wrong. These were delicious. You continue to be my go to for air fryer recipes.
Thank you, Linda! So glad you’re enjoying it.
These were fries were excellent! My husband raved about them. We used Old Bag seasoning on them to replicate fries that are popular in Philadelphia.
Thank you for another great recipe!
You’re very welcome, Patty. I’m glad to hear that your husband loved it a lot!
Hi Natasha, Enjoy your Enthusiastic Cooking shows, and my Family just got an air fryer so I’m wondering about Blanching the Taters in boiling water or par-boiling before air frying, Your thoughts?
Vinnie
Hi Vinnie! There is not need to do that, just air fryer directly after prepping/cutting. Make sure all the strands are the same size for even cooking. Rinse the fries under cold water and pat dry, this will help them crisp up.