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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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
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:
- 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
4.99 from 132 votes
Author: Valentina Ablaev
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 mins
Cook Time: 18 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
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
- 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
*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
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
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
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
Valentina Ablaev
I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!
Read more posts by Valentina
