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While a bag of frozen French fries can be convenient to reheat, it’s hard to beat homemade French fries in the air fryer! They’re made with less oil and won’t heat up your whole kitchen like the oven does.

air fryer fries on white plate with ketchup

To make crispy, relatively healthy French fries, you need only a potato, a drizzle of olive oil, and your favorite seasonings. You prepare them exactly like you would oven-baked French fries, but the air fryer cooks them faster.

Bonus: Make your own healthy ketchup as a dipping sauce.

How to Make French Fries in Air Fryer

Step 1:

The key to getting ultra-crispy french fries is to soak the cut potatoes in water for 10 minutes, to help remove some of their starch content. This helps the centers get tender, and the outsides get crispy!

sliced potatoes soaking in water

The air fryer does an exceptional job of helping the process along, though, so if you don’t have time to soak your sliced potatoes, it’s not a deal-breaker when you use the air fryer. They really do get crispy regardless!

I tested them both ways, just to be sure. (On busy weeknights, I always skip the soaking process.)

Step 2:

If you soaked the fries, be sure to dry them well, then toss with a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite seasonings. I use garlic powder and salt to keep things easy.

seasoned fries in air fryer basket

Step 3:

Arrange the seasoned potato slices in a single layer in the air fryer. Don’t try to make more fit, or they will end up soggy!

Cook the fries at 375ºF for 10 minutes, then shake the basket to help them cook evenly. Return the basket to the air fryer to cook for 5 more minutes, or until the fries are golden and crisp.

I usually have to cook these in two batches, but you can throw them all in together at the end to ensure that the fries are piping hot when you serve them.

Reheating Tip

Anytime you need to re-heat French fries, add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 350ºF for 3 to 4 minutes. That should be sufficient to get them heated through again! There is no need to arrange them in a single layer for reheating.

air fryer fries on black plate

Air Fryer Fries FAQ

What makes them healthier?

Air-fried fries are made with significantly less oil than the deep-fried version, so they are lower in fat and calories than the traditional variety. In theory, you can even make them with no oil at all, but I think using a little oil helps with texture and mouthfeel. If you think oven-roasted potatoes are healthy, these are the same thing— just crispier!

Can I use sweet potatoes instead?

If you would rather use sweet potatoes for fries, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Sweet Potato French Fries tutorial. They require a slightly different cooking method to become crispy.

Which air fryer is best?

I’ve tested 9 air fryers in my kitchen over the past few years. You can read my air fryer review or watch the YouTube video I made to see which one you prefer!

Looking for more air fryer recipes? Try air fryer potatoes, baked potatoes, or air fryer chicken.

air fryer fries on white plate with ketchup

Air Fryer French Fries

4.77 from 21 votes
Here's how to make Air Fryer French Fries in just 15 minutes! They turn out perfectly crispy every time, using less oil than the deep-fried variety.
prep15 mins cook15 mins total30 mins
Servings:4

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes , scrubbed
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF, then slice the potatoes into french fry shapes, about 1/4-inch thick. Place the raw potato slices in a bowl of warm water and let them rest for 10 minutes.
    sliced potatoes soaking in water
  • Drain the potatoes, pat dry, and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle them with the olive oil, then season with the salt and garlic powder. Toss well to coat the potatoes.
    fries in towel and seasoned in bowl
  • Arrange the seasoned potato slices on the bottom of your air fryer basket, in a single layer, if possible. (I have to do this in 2 batches with my basket-style air fryer.) The more separated the potatoes, the crispier they will be.
  • Cook the fries at 375ºF for 10 minutes, then shake the basket to help them cook evenly. Return the basket to the air fryer to cook for 5 more minutes, or until the fries are golden and crisp.
    golden french fries in air fryer basket
  • Serve warm right away, as the fries will get softer as they cool. If you ever need to reheat the fries, most air fryers have a 4-minute "reheat" button that will help them crisp up again!
    finished air fryer french fries

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is per 4 oz. of potatoes, but this is just an estimate and not a guarantee
I like using Yukon Gold potatoes best for french fries, as they have a “creamier” middle. Russet potatoes are drier in texture. If you want to make sweet potato fries, see my Air Fryer Sweet Potato French Fries tutorial instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin C: 9.7mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2.8mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: air fryer
Keyword: air fryer french fries, air fryer fries

If you try these Air Fryer French Fries, please leave a comment below and let me know how you like them!

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. As a Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC), I love to make healthier food using simple ingredients. I test these recipes multiple times in my kitchen to make sure they will turn out perfectly for you.

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Comments

  1. Thank you for the air fryer chip recipe for vortex air fryer . Which setting do I use air fryer or roast ?

    1. Oh, I forgot to mention, small batches of presoaked-dried Yukon gold for about 13 mins turned out perfectly for us. (Ninja air fryer)

  2. These turned out perfectly!!!! Better than restaurant. Soo good. My 10 month old baby had her first “French fry” from this recipe (minus salt for her)!