There is something deeply satisfying about a tray of golden, crispy fries coming out of the oven. Especially when you didn't have to deal with hot oil, splattering grease, or a deep fryer taking over your kitchen. These crispy homemade oven baked French fries are ridiculously simple to make, perfectly seasoned with easy ingredients, and disappear in the blink of an eye.
Jump to:
If you love easy homemade sides like these crispy baked French fries, you might also enjoy my easy oven roasted broccoli or my crispy roasted kalettes. Try serving these French fries with my bacon wrapped chicken breast, or with sriracha aioli for dipping. Use these French fries to make my classic Canadian poutine recipe, or fully loaded French fries, too!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- French fries are perfectly crispy without deep frying. The oven does all the work here, giving the fries golden, crunchy edges and a soft, fluffy center.
- Made with simple pantry ingredients. Just potatoes, oil, and a few basic spices.
- Healthier than traditional fries. Baking uses far less oil than deep frying but still gives delicious results.
- Easy to customize. Swap the seasonings and toss these fries in garlic parmesan sauce, Cajun seasoning, or classic salt and pepper.
Summarize and Save This Recipe Using:
Ingredients You'll Need
- Potatoes - Yellow potatoes, like Yukon Gold, make delicious, rich, golden fries that have a creamy texture. While russets produce a crunchier fry. Either type of potato can be used, depending on what you have on hand.
- Avocado Oil - These fries are baked at a high temprature so be sure to use a high smoke point oil.
- Garlic Powder & Paprika - These are the two spices we like to use. They keep things simple and are delicious on homemade French fries. If you like, you can use onion powder, chili powder, or cayenne pepper as well.
- Salt - Do not add the salt until after the fries are done baking. Adding salt before baking causes the fries to expel water instead of it evaporating. If you add salt at the beginning, your fries will be soggy.
A full list of ingredients with exact quantities can be found on the recipe card below.
Customizations & Recipe Variations
- Garlic Parmesan Fries - Toss the baked fries with fresh parmesan and parsley.
- Fully Loaded Fries - Make my signature fully loaded fries, complete with bacon, cheese and sour cream!
- Cajun Fries - Toss the freshly baked fries while they are still hot with a generous dose of homemade Cajun seasoning to make these fries taste like the iconic Five Guys Cajun fries!
- Truffle Fries - Finish the fries with truffle oil and freshly grated parmesan for a fancy, delicious taste.
- Classic Diner Style - Toss the baked fries with salt and pepper.
If you love fries of all shapes and sizes, you have to try my perfect baked sweet potato fries, crispy breaded wedges, or my unique spiralized veggie fries, too!
How To Make Homemade French Fries
Step 1
Wash and cut the potatoes lengthwise into ¼ inch thick sticks. Try to keep the fries a uniform size for even cooking, and leaving the skin on adds texture and extra nutrients.
Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl filled with cold water and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Save This Recipe! 💌
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Step 2
Drain the fries and dry them very well with a kitchen or paper towel.
Dry out the bowl that was used to soak the fries, and toss the dried French fries with avocado oil, garlic powder and paprika. Do not add the salt.
Step 3
Spread the seasoned fries onto two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Ensure the fries are spread in a single layer and not overcrowded.
Step 4
Bake the fries for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through until they are crispy and golden.
After the fries have completed baking, add the salt and any additional toppings.
Serve these French fries with ketchup, roasted garlic aioli or sriracha aioli for dipping. And alongside barbecue beef burgers or club sandwiches!
Expert Tips For Best Results
- Soaking removes excess starch, which prevents the fries from sticking together and helps them crisp up while baking.
- Drying thoroughly is essential. Excess moisture causes steaming instead of crisping in the oven.
- Baking at a high heat helps to create a shell around the fry so the outsides stay crispy and the insides are fluffy and soft.
- Do not overcrowd the baking sheets. Ensure that the fries are spread out in a single layer without being overcrowded. Crowding the pans causes steaming and uneven cooking.
How To Store Leftovers
Store leftover French fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for the best results. Microwaving causes soggy fries (but they will still be delicious!).
FAQ's & Troubleshooting
Soaking the potatoes removes excess starch from the potatoes, which helps the fries crisp up in the oven instead of sticking together.
Fries usually turn out soft if they are overcrowded on the baking sheet, not dried properly, or baked at too low a temperature.
No! Potato skins add texture and flavor, making rustic fries with the skins left on.
Russet or yellow potatoes are best. Russets are high in starch, which creates a crunchier fry, while yellow (like Yukon Golds) make crispy fries with a delicious creamy texture.
Homemade French fries are best made fresh, but they can be reheated in the oven or air fryer to restore most of their crispiness.
What to Serve with Oven Baked French Fries
These crispy homemade French Fries pair perfectly with burgers, sandwiches or wraps. Try serving them alongside juicy homemade burgers or blackened chicken burgers. They're also perfect for dipping into sauces like roasted garlic aioli, spicy mayo or classic ketchup.
Here are some more recipes that these homemade fries will pair perfectly with:
If you made these Crispy Homemade Oven Baked French Fries or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating, a 💬 comment and share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Homemade Oven Baked French Fries
↑ click the stars to rate this recipe ↑
Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
- Large Bowl
- Sharp Knife
- Parchment Paper
- Large Baking Sheets
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs Potatoes Russet or Yukon Gold
- 3 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons Paprika
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Wash the potatoes and cut lengthwise into ¼ inch fry shaped sticks. Place the cut fries into a large bowl filled with enough cold water to completely submerge the fries. Let soak for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- After the fries have soaked, drain the water and use a tea towel or paper towel to thoroughly dry all of the fries. Dry the bowl and place the fries back into it. Toss the fries with avocado oil, garlic powder and paprika. Do not add the salt.
- Spread the seasoned fries onto two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Ensure the fries are spread in a single layer with space in between. Do not overcrowd the pan. Bake fries for 35-40 minutes, flipping once in between.
- After the fries are fully cooked, season with salt to taste and serve.
Save This Recipe! 💌
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Notes
- Potatoes: Yellow (Yukon Gold) or russet potatoes can be used to make these homemade French fries.
- Avocado Oil: Any high-smoke-point oil can be used.
- Salt: It is very important not to add the salt until the end. Adding salt too early draws excess moisture out of the potatoes and will make the fries soggy.
- Soaking and drying the fries are essential steps, do not skip them! Soaking removes excess starch from the potatoes, and drying removes moisture, ensuring your fries will be crispy.
- Do not overcrowd the baking trays. Overcrowding can cause excess steam and uneven cooking, resulting in undercooked or soggy fries.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best results.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
Jessica says
I developed this French fry recipe to be as easy and as "oil-free" as possible! This recipe makes delicious fries that taste so good, with only the essential ingredients. They are easy enough to make for dinner any night of the week!
Kristen says
I’m probably just missing it, but I don’t see where it says what temperature to bake them at. I’m assuming you’re around 400°?
Kristen says
I just found it sorry.