Baked French Fries
These crispy baked French fries are easy, flavorful, and healthier than traditional deep-fried fries. Simply toss them with oil and your favorite seasoning blend, then bake until golden brown. Serve with ketchup, spicy mayo, or a flavorful aioli for dipping.
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Homemade baked French fries are one of the easiest ways to bring that classic fry-shop flavor into your own kitchen — without the mess of deep frying. When the potatoes are cut evenly, seasoned well, and roasted at high heat, they become golden and crisp on the outside while staying tender inside. They’re simple, dependable, and endlessly customizable with different spices and dipping sauces.
What makes these fries especially appealing is how little oil they require. A light coating is all it takes to achieve great texture, and the oven does the rest. Whether you’re serving them with burgers, sandwiches, roasted chicken, or as a snack with your favorite aioli, these fries deliver familiar comfort with a clean, fresh taste that packaged frozen fries can’t match. Once you learn the cut-and-roast technique, you’ll find yourself making them again and again.
What You’ll Like About This Recipe
Crispy texture without frying. High heat and a light coating of oil help the potatoes crisp beautifully on the sheet pan, giving you the taste and crunch of fried fries with less work and cleanup.
Simple ingredients. Just potatoes, oil, seasoning, and salt — nothing more is needed to create a side dish that tastes fresh and homemade.
Family-friendly and versatile. You can season the fries with Cajun seasoning, Italian herbs, ranch mix, smoked paprika, garlic salt, or any blend you enjoy. They adapt easily to any meal.
Quick to prepare. Once the potatoes are cut, everything goes straight onto the pan. No soaking, no parboiling, no special equipment required.
Perfect for dipping. Their crisp edges and soft centers make these fries ideal for ketchup, aioli, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or your favorite homemade dip.
Ingredient Notes
- Baking potatoes (russet or Idaho): Russets are best for fries because their high starch content and low moisture produce crisp exteriors and fluffy interiors. Choose firm, unblemished potatoes and cut them into even strips for consistent cooking.
- Vegetable oil or cooking spray: A small amount of oil helps the fries brown and crisp at high heat. Spray makes for lighter fries; oil creates slightly richer browning.
- Seasoning blend: Use a favorite spice mix — Cajun, Italian, chili-lime, ranch, seasoned salt, garlic pepper, or homemade fry seasoning. Blends without salt will need added kosher salt.
- Kosher salt: Adds clean flavor and helps draw out a bit of moisture, contributing to better browning. Sprinkle after tossing with seasoning and again after baking if needed.
How to Make It
- Preheat the oven and lightly oil or spray a baking sheet.
- Cut the potatoes into long, even strips and spread them on the sheet pan in a single layer.
- Toss the potatoes with seasoning and salt (if needed), ensuring all strips are lightly coated.
- Bake until golden and crisp, flipping several times for even browning.
- Serve hot with ketchup, aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips
- Cut the fries as evenly as possible — uniform thickness ensures they roast at the same rate and prevents thin pieces from burning before thicker ones finish.
- For extra crispness, pat the raw potato strips dry with paper towels before seasoning. Removing surface moisture helps them brown faster.
- Flip the fries every 8 to 10 minutes. Frequent turning exposes new surfaces to the hot pan and encourages better browning.
- Use a dark, heavy sheet pan if you have one; darker pans absorb heat and help the fries crisp underneath.
- Add a pinch of smoked paprika or garlic powder to deepen the flavor of store-bought seasoning blends.
- If the fries aren’t browning, increase heat slightly or move the pan to a lower rack where the oven tends to run hotter.
- Let the fries rest on the pan for 2 minutes after baking — this helps the exterior set and stay crisp.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Cajun fries. Use Cajun seasoning and add extra cayenne for a bolder, smoky heat.
- Crispy garlic-parmesan fries. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan and minced parsley over the hot fries right after baking for a savory finish.
- Go herby. Finish with fresh parsley, rosemary, or thyme right before serving.
- Try sweet potatoes. Use the same method with sweet potatoes for a different twist.
- Ranch fries. Toss the potatoes with dry ranch seasoning before baking and serve with extra ranch dressing for dipping.
- Serve with different dips. Pair with Buffalo mayo, chipotle mayo, or honey mustard.
- Paprika-roasted fries. Combine smoked paprika, garlic salt, and black pepper for deeply flavored, lightly smoky fries.
How to Serve Baked Fries
- Serve as a side with burgers, sandwiches, or grilled meats.
- Pair with a fresh green salad or coleslaw for a lighter meal.
- Enjoy as a snack with a variety of dipping sauces.
- Top them with cheese, bacon, and sour cream for a loaded fries experience.
- Make ahead by slicing the potatoes earlier and soaking them in water to reduce starch.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in a shallow airtight container for up to 3 days. Fries will soften slightly but can be refreshed easily.
Freeze: Spread leftover fries on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 2 months.
Reheat: Warm in a 425°F oven or air fryer to restore crispness. Avoid microwaving, which softens the fries and causes them to steam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Baked French Fries
Ingredients
- Cooking spray, or 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 medium baking potatoes, russet or Idaho
- 2 to 3 teaspoons seasoning blend
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pan. Heat the oven to 450°F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Alternatively, oil the pan with a neutral vegetable oil.
- Prepare the potatoes. Slice the potatoes into long, narrow strips and arrange them on the baking sheet in a single layer.
- Season the potatoes. Toss the sliced potatoes with 2 to 3 teaspoons of a seasoning blend, such as Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, or a seasoned salt blend. If your seasoning blend does not contain salt, sprinkle with salt.
- Bake. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake the fries for 25 to 35 minutes, turning them every 8 to 10 minutes to ensure even browning.
- Serve. Enjoy the baked fries with ketchup or a flavorful aioli.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
