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Air Fryer French Fries Recipe

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

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Air Fryer French Fries

5 from 100 votes
Author: Valentina Ablaev
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: $1-$2
Calories: 121

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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

Read comments/reviewsAdd comment/review

  • Patty H
    December 4, 2023

    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!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 4, 2023

      You’re very welcome, Patty. I’m glad to hear that your husband loved it a lot!

      Reply

  • Vinnie
    November 8, 2023

    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

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 8, 2023

      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.

      Reply

  • Carole
    October 22, 2023

    I am very impressed how you answer everyones post,, good job, dont find that often, I am getting ready to make . got them cut and in cold right now..so I am hoping mine turned out as well as others..i will let you know.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 23, 2023

      I do my best, Carole. Every message, feedback and suggestion counts! I hope you’ll love the recipe.

      Reply

  • Nora
    October 19, 2023

    Made these in my air fryer! Crispy and sooo good! I used a Cajun Spice blend ! Yummy!

    Reply

  • Katusha
    September 25, 2023

    These turned out so good!!! This will definitely be our go to fry recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 25, 2023

      Great to hear that!

      Reply

  • Debra Adams
    August 6, 2023

    Made these for a snack for my husband and I. I only used the oil and salt. These were the best. We ate the whole batch. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 6, 2023

      Hi Debra, happy to hear that the recipe was a huge success! Thanks so much for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • Laurie Courter
    June 12, 2023

    Next time I will cook a little longer but they were really good-served them with Idaho Fry Sauce from allrecipes. Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 12, 2023

      Hi Laurie! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you.

      Reply

  • Carmen
    May 27, 2023

    We have an oven with an air fryer option. I’ve used it only for items that don’t require oil because I made that mistake before and my oven was a mess. Since I don’t know what it’s like with a counter top air fryer, do you think my oven would be a mess again?

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 28, 2023

      Hi Carmen! I generally do not have any issues with oil splatter in my air fryer from this recipe.

      Reply

  • Deann Vance
    May 20, 2023

    My fries did not come out crispy
    They were a little bit chewy
    Do you think I needed to cook them a little longer? I know it’s not the recipe because I have tried others. Any ideas? Thank you. 😊

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 20, 2023

      Hi Deann! It could be that they needed a little longer or were they cut too thick? Also-rinsing and patting them dry before cooking them helps remove the starch and helps them crisp up on the outside. You can toss them back in to re-crisp in the air fryer if they need some additional time.

      Reply

  • Sally
    March 3, 2023

    Fries turned out great! My air fryer doesn’t have a temperature control, one setting only. Twenty minutes was definitely not enough time. It took an extra 10 minutes but SO worth the wait!
    Thank you, no more frozen fries

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 3, 2023

      Hi Sally! I’m glad they turned out. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Kathryn Myers
    June 1, 2022

    My husband and I LOVE your personality and recipes!

    We don’t have an air fryer but do have a Turbo Wave oven that we like to use (faster cooking, less cleanup than an oven, uses less oil for recipes, no waiting to pre-heat). How can we use that to make your French Fries (and any other recipes) you recommend? How do we make any adjustments?
    Keep up the great work!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 1, 2022

      Hi Kathryn, that sounds like a good way to make this recipe too, however, I have to personally test the device to make some recommendations. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

  • Lena Ziegele
    June 1, 2022

    Hi Natasha!

    Do you have a way to convert this recipe to use in the “Convection Toaster Air Fryer Oven” air fryer??

    Thank you!!
    P.S. I would love some healthy wrap recipes… also techiques on how to wrap wraps!! 😆

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 2, 2022

      Hi Lena, I think that will work but I have to personally try it to give some recommendations. I have not tried it yet but if you do an experiment, kindly share with us how it goes.

      Reply

  • Arlene
    March 17, 2022

    Just two of us…can I air fry wings and potatoes together at same temperature?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 17, 2022

      Hi Arlene, I’m not sure if that would work as they have different cooking times.

      Reply

  • Mary
    November 30, 2021

    My organic potatoes were small. Bought them to cook w/sauerkraut. So I sliced them instead. They were the bomb!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 30, 2021

      I’m so happy to hear these were a hit, Mary! Thank you for your lovely review!

      Reply

  • Lana
    November 23, 2021

    Hi Natasha! I just bought Cosori air fryer , the one you have and recommended . How did you get rid of plastic smell? It’s really bothering me, the smell goes into the food. I clean it a few times, but I still smell the plastic.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 23, 2021

      Hi Lana, I haven’t had that experience with a plastic smell. You might run the air fryer for a little bit without food in it to burn off any new machine smells.

      Reply

  • Hiedee
    November 16, 2021

    How do you get your fries to not stick to the air fryer basket?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 17, 2021

      Hi Hiedee, you can grease it by rubbing, or spraying, a little bit of oil on the bottom grates.

      Reply

  • lisa
    July 17, 2021

    We’re looking for advise regarding air fryers, not just for fries, but whole or pieces of chicken, veggies etc.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 17, 2021

      Hi Lisa, Here are our air fryer recipes. You can see we use our air fryer for bacon, pork, chicken wings, etc. We link the air fryer we used within them, but you can also find our favorite kitchen tools in our Amazon Affiliate Shop HERE.

      Reply

  • Woody Ferrell
    July 13, 2021

    Hi Natasha, I pretty much use the same recipe only I add 1/2 tsp raw sugar. They are to die for!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 13, 2021

      That’s great! Thanks for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • courtney
    July 13, 2021

    Delish! These french fries are my new favorite air fryer recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 13, 2021

      Glad to hear that, Courtney! Thanks for your review.

      Reply

  • Natalie
    July 13, 2021

    Would you know why my fries lose their crisp as they cool? When they’re really hot they’re crispy but as they cool they get soft and soggy

    Reply

    • Natasha
      July 13, 2021

      Just like any fries, they will be the most crispy when they are warm and freshly made. Here are some tips that may help: Make sure to let them rest uncovered. Also, rinsing and patting dry before cooking fries helps remove the starch and helps them crisp up on the outside. You can re-crisp fries in the air fryer as well.

      Reply

  • Allison Kaye
    July 13, 2021

    These were super crispy and delicious! I will definitely make them again!

    Reply

  • Melissa
    July 13, 2021

    Great recipe – I love using the air fryer! Homemade french fries are my favorite!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 13, 2021

      Isn’t it the best! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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