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.

Homemade air fryer French fries on a black plate with a bowl or ketchup.

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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.

Crispy French fries in an air fryer basket topped with fresh greens.

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.
Sliced russet potatoes with seasonings and oil in bowls

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

  1. Scrub Potatoes: We just wash them and keep the skins on, but you can peel if you prefer.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Air Fry: Cook the fries until crispy and golden, tossing halfway.
Step by step collage how to make air fryer French fries.

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

What if I don’t have an air fryer?

That is totally fine, you can bake fries in the oven like we did our oven-baked potato wedges recipe.

How to reheat the French fries?

Add the fries back into the air fryer and cook until reheated and re-crisped.

Do I have to preheat the air fryer?

You do not have to preheat the air fryer for this fries recipe.

Can I prepare the fries ahead of time?

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.

What kind of air fryer do you use?

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:

Homemade crispy French fries on a baking sheet topped with chopped parsley and parmesan.

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

Air Fryer French Fries

4.99 from 139 votes
Air Fryer Fries in air fryer basket
Crispy and crunchy air fryer French fries loaded with so much flavor. With just a few basic ingredients you can have homemade fries in the air fryer without all the mess and grease of classic fried fries!
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 servings
  • 1 lb russet potatoes, (2 large or 3 medium potatoes)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
  • tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
  • tsp garlic powder
  • 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

*We used a larger 5.8 qt capacity Air Fryer. For a smaller air fryer, cook in 2 batches and once both batches are fully cooked, return them all at once to the air fryer to re-warm for 2 minutes before serving. The second batch may cook a little faster since the basket is preheated.

Nutrition Per Serving

121kcal Calories21g Carbs2g Protein4g Fat1g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat3g Monounsaturated Fat297mg Sodium476mg Potassium2g Fiber1g Sugar32IU Vitamin A6mg Vitamin C15mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer French Fries
Amount per Serving
Calories
121
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Sodium
 
297
mg
13
%
Potassium
 
476
mg
14
%
Carbohydrates
 
21
g
7
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
32
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
6
mg
7
%
Calcium
 
15
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer french fries, air fryer fries
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 121
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.99 from 139 votes (118 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  • Jason
    February 1, 2025

    Good stuff. I can’t wait until there’s another one of these. It’s actually amazing how it tastes.

    Reply

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