Name: Air Fryer French Fries
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1lb russet potatoes (about 2-3 medium or large potatoes); 1 tbsp oil; Flakey sea salt

Make drool worthy french fries at home in your air fryer! Serve these Air Fryer French Fries with all of your favorite dipping sauces.

This recipe was originally shared on Savory Experiments where I am a contributor.

Air fried french fries served with dipping sauces

Make crispy homemade french fries in your air fryer!

I LOVE french fries. Like really really love them. One of my favorite restaurant meals is to get a salad plus a side of fries. It’s like the best of both worlds.

I used to make oven baked french fries all the time, but now that I have tried french fries in the air fryer I am never going back. They are delicious, crispy and you can make them super quick.

You will need to do a few special things to make the perfect air fried french fries so be sure to read the tips and tricks below. Once you have your crispy fries, dip them in any kind of sauce you like and top them with any of your favorite toppings!

Above view of air fryer french fries served with parmesan cheese, fresh herbs and dipping sauces

Kitchen Tools

Sharp knife and cutting board
Large mixing bowl
Colander or fine mesh strainer
Measuring spoons
Air fryer

tips and tricks

Here are some expert tips for making the perfect french fries in air fryer.

Cut potatoes into uniform sized fries – this allows the fries to cook evenly in the air fryer. I do this by first trimming the ends so I have more of a rectangle shape. Then, I cut my rectangle into planks and finally into sticks or fry shape.
Rinse potatoes until the water runs clean OR soak – rinsing excess starch off the potatoes allows the outside to cook up extra crispy. If you have extra time you can soak them in cold water in the fridge for an hour and then rinse them for an even crispier exterior.
Coat in oil, but do not leave puddles – I toss the cut and rinsed fries in just a little oil using tongs. You want each fry to be coated without puddles of oil in the bottom of the bowl. Alternatively you can use a spray oil.
Air fry in batches – when you are ready to air fry your french fries it is essential that you leave space between each fry and allow the air to circulate. This means you may need to cook them in batches instead of all at once.

Above view of ingredients for french fries in air fryer

Recipe Ingredients

Potatoes – I prefer a russet potato for this recipe because they get crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. You can also use golden potatoes or even sweet potatoes for this recipe.
Oil – I usually use avocado oil or olive oil, but you could even use melted refined coconut oil or melted ghee.
Sea Salt – Flakey Maldon sea salt is my favorite for air fryer french fries.

topping options

My favorite way to serve these fries is with freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh parsley and LOTS of salt. You can make these truffle parmesan fries by tossing them in some truffle salt and then topping them with lots of parmesan cheese and a drizzle of truffle infused oil.

Make loaded cheese fries by grating cheddar cheese all over the fries and air fry them again until the cheese is melted. Top them with sour cream, pickled jalapeños, chopped bacon and green onion.

Toss the crispy air fryer french fries in smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, a bit of sugar and salt for a salty spicy combo. I also like to toss these in a ranch dressing powder for deliciously seasoned fries.

Dipping sauce Options

French fries made in the air fryer are the perfect vehicle for all your favorite dipping sauces. I mean I know I only make baked chicken tenders as an excuse to eat lots of honey mustard sauce and fries are the same way.

Here are some of my favorite dipping sauces to serve with these air fried french fries:

Above view of step by step tasks for cutting air fryer french fries

How to make perfect air fryer french fries

Step 1: Cut potatoes into even fries and rinse

To begin, wash the exterior of your potatoes. You can peel them, but I prefer to leave the skin on.

Cut into evenly sized fries. I do this by trimming the sides so I am left with a rectangle and then I cut that into fries.

Rinse the potatoes to rinse off any excess surface starch. Rinse until the water runs clear.

Step 2: toss fries in oil and air fry

Then, toss the fries in oil until they are evenly coated, but not drenched in the oil. Preheat air fryer to 400F and arrange fries in a single layer on the air fryer tray with space between them.

You may need to air fry these french fries in multiple batches in order to have enough space in your air fryer basket. Air fryer at 400F for 8 minutes. Flip and air fry for an additional 8 minutes.

Step 3: season with salt and serve with your favorite toppings

Then, remove the fries from the air fryer and immediately toss with flakey sea salt. If you need to cook in batches, do not salt immediately. Cook the fries in batches and then reheat them all together before tossing with salt.

Finally, top with any other toppings you like and serve!

Three quarter view of air fryer french fries

Storage and reheating

These air fried french fries are best enjoyed immediately after cooking. If you want to make them ahead of time you can prepare them, do not salt, and then, store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the air fryer at 400F for 5 minutes and toss with salt and serve.

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Recipe