Get your fry fix without breaking out your deep fryer and tons of oil. These Crispy Oven-Baked French Fries make the perfect side dish or snack!
You're going to absolutely love these baked French fries - the perfect amount of crunch, no big appliances or tons of vegetable oil needed, and a hands-off cooking method. While these babies are baking in the oven, you're free to make the main dish!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.46
- Total Cost (about 4 servings): $1.84
- Those Other Guys: $4.99 a serving
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes - Grab some russet potatoes for a sturdier fry. Potatoes are usually pretty dirty, so make sure you wash and scrub the outside with a vegetable brush!
- Vegetable Oil - We're going to toss the unbaked fries in some veggie oil before baking. I usually use avocado oil, but canola or another high-heat oil will work as well.
- Seasoning Mix - The base recipe keeps these simple with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. However, you can season how you like.
Variations and Substitutions
Potato Wedges: For a thicker fry, these air fryer potato wedges are amazing! I also include instructions on how to bake them if you prefer.
Crispy Baked Carrot Fries: Have you ever had carrot fries? They taste just like sweet potato fries, but with more vitamins and nutrients. So good!
Garlic Smashed Potatoes: Smashed potatoes are a great and tasty way to use up potatoes in your pantry. These are made with a savory seasoning blend and oven-roasted.
Sweet Potato Fries: These sweet potato fries are super good with a savory seasoning, or topped with cinnamon and sugar.
How to Make Oven Baked Fries Crispy
Step 1: Start off by soaking your sliced potatoes in water to remove most of the starch.
Step 2: Drain, then dry the potatoes completely with a paper towel.
Step 3: Pour a neutral, high-heat oil onto the potatoes. Toss well until each potato is coated.
Step 4: Add the oiled potatoes to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Be sure to lay them onto the pan in one layer, leaving a bit of room in between.
Step 5: We bake at two separate temperatures for an optimal crunch.
When you're done, add the seasonings to your bowl.
Step 6: Toss the fries until they are well seasoned, and serve hot. It's just that easy!
Recipe Pro Tips
- Soak off that starch. You want to start by washing, slicing, and soaking your potatoes in a big bowl of lukewarm water. Soaking off the starch helps get the final firm, crispy texture we're looking for. Be sure to pat completely dry before baking.
- Use parchment paper. I've found that parchment paper is the best vessel for oven-baked fries. The potatoes will stick pretty badly to a naked sheet pan or aluminum foil; but with parchment paper, they can easily be stirred around and removed.
- Wait to season! Adding salt to the potatoes while they cook causes the potatoes to release some moisture which will affect the crispy texture. Season after the fries are done.
- Change the temperature. This is the biggest tip of all! Start baking the fries at 375°F so they can fully cook on the inside, then crank up the temperature to 425°F for the remainder of the time to get the crispy outside you want!
Recipe FAQs
This recipe doesn't require any corn starch! By manipulating the oven temperature (and ensuring we start with a completely dry potato), we can still get a crispy fry in the oven.
Sure thing! This recipe works with peeled potatoes as well as potatoes where you leave the skin on.
Not at all. Whether you like thin, shoestring fries or thicker French fries, they will cook the same. However, you want to make sure you have a consistent cut throughout the batch.
Other Side Dish Recipes You'll Crave!
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Crispy Oven-Baked French Fries (Whole30!)
Equipment
- Vegetable Brush
- Chef's Knife
- Parchment Paper
- Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 4 count russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Wash potatoes and slice into evenly cut matchstick shapes. I like to leave the skin on for extra fiber, but you can peel the skin if you prefer.
- Add potatoes to a large bowl and cover with room temperature water. Drain, and then add more water and let soak for about 20 minutes to remove the starch.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Drain and completely dry your potatoes, then toss with the vegetable oil.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and a little cooking spray.
- Add the potatoes to the baking sheet, leaving some room in between each fry.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, then turn the oven up to 425°F and continue baking another 15-25 minutes until fries are crispy and done through.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Enjoy!
Blake Tasman says
Make these almost every week for my meal prep! They are a great way to fulfil cravings with a macro-friendly preparation (no frying).
Shani W. says
Agreed! Thank you Blake!