Air Fryer Fries are an easy and quick side dish or snack. All you need is a couple of potatoes, salt, pepper, oil, and less than 30 minutes of cook time!
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with serving a side of French fries. From casual dinners of breaded chicken tenders to an elegant romantic dinner of filet mignon, fries are a versatile side dish that everyone loves.
And when you make them in the air fryer? Even better! Because they’re faster, easier, and turn out so nice and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
We make these air fryer fries a lot. Perhaps more than I should admit… But we love them, the kids love them, everyone loves them!
And, when we’ve got a crowd over for Game Day or an extended family supper, these air fryer fries always get gobbled up quickly.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
- Fast – After soaking, you can make these fries in 25 minutes. That’s faster than baking, which can take up to 45 minutes.
- Easy – Slice, season, soak, and air fry. So simple! This is a great recipe to get the kids involved.
- Versatile – This recipe gives you your basic salt & pepper fries. But you can easily add more herb and spices depending on your mood and the occasion. Also, you can serve them with a variety of dips, too, for extra fun!
- Crowd-pleaser – From kids to great-grandparents, fries are one of the few foods that most people can agree on. These disappear quickly, so feel free to make a double batch!
Ingredient notes
You just need three ingredients to make these air fryer fries!
- Potatoes – We love using either Russett potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes.
- Oil – Use olive oil, avocado oil, or
- Salt & Pepper – Basic seasonings deliver big flavors.
Step-by-step instructions
You’ll find full measurements and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos and a quick overview of how to make this recipe.
- Peel and slice potatoes into French fry shapes that are about the same size.
- In a large bowl with cold water, soak potatoes so they are submerged in the water for 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch.
- Strain the water out.
- Toss the fries with olive oil.
- Season the fries with salt and pepper.
- Place fries in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 375°F for 20-25 minutes.
Marlynn’s Tip
Tip for the crispiest French fries
After soaking the fries in water and straining out the water, dry them well with paper towels. Try to remove as much of the excess liquid as possible. The drier the potatoes, the crispier the fries!
Recipe FAQs
So many possibilities! Here are some of our favorite seasonings for French fries:
– nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, chopped parsley
– paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, oregano
– turmeric, salt, pepper, chopped parsley
-paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chopped parsley
Store leftover air fryer fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat: reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes, until the fries are crisp again to your liking.
Serving suggestions
These air fryer fries are great when served with ketchup, mustard, a side of vinegar, and lemon. Some of our favorite dipping sauces for French fries include our Buffalo ranch sauce, honey mustard sauce, homemade sweet BBQ sauce, and a basil pesto sauce.
Fries are a delicious side dish option for almost any meal. Some of our faves to serve it with include air fryer popcorn chicken, air fryer steak bites, and BBQ bacon burgers.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
If you want a bougie snack pairing, go for simple air fryer fries with a glass of champagne or other sparkling wine. The bubbles complement the crisp air fried exterior of the fries.
More potato side dish recipes
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Side Dishes
Herby Potatoes
Side Dishes
Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Side Dishes
Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Air Fryer Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 large potatoes
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F for about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, wash and peel the potatoes. Chop potatoes into evenly sized fries, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Place the fries in a large bowl and add cold water, enough to submerse the potatoes. Soak for 30 minutes to remove excess starch.
- After 30 minutes, drain the fries and pat them dry with paper towels. Try to soak up as much excess liquid as possible; the drier the fries, the crispier they can get in the air fryer!
- Place the fries back into the bowl and drizzle with avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil. Toss well to ensure all the fries are coated.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over the fries and toss again to evenly distribute the spices.
- Carefully place the seasoned fries in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket. Take care not to overcrowd the basket. You may need to cook in batches.
- Cook the fries in the air fryer for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. The fries should turn golden brown and crispy.
- Once cooked, remove the fries from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cooking times may vary depending on the model of your air fryer.
- For the best air fryer fries, use a starchy potato like Russet or Yukon Gold.
- Cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces so they cook up evenly.
- paprika
- nutritional yeast for a nutty, cheesy flavor
- chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano for a BBQ flavor
- chopped fresh parsley (sprinkle fresh parsley on after the fries are cooked)
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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