Oven Baked Fries recipe shows you how to make perfectly CRISPY baked french fries. This healthy alternative to traditional fries is equally comforting, crispy, and absolutely divine dunked in the included homemade fry sauce recipe.
THE BEST Crispy Oven Baked Fries Recipe
If there was an olympic medal for french fry consumption, I’d be decorated like a (very gluttonous) Michael Phelps.
French fries don’t stand a chance around me, but I take my voracity for fried potatoes very seriously. Therefore, tackling the best oven fry recipe demanded thorough research and trials.
Unfortunately when I’m cooking at home, I don’t have a fry station (actually that could be trouble). Oven Baked Fries recipe mimics those perfectly, coveted crisp fries, but uses an oven to bake them in a more healthy way.
Are Oven Baked Fries Healthy?
Oven Baked Fries are healthier than traditional deep-fried french fries because they use less oil to cook them in, usually only a couple tablespoons.
Baked fries can also be cooked in more heart-healthy oils, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil. Typically restaurant french fries are soaked in peanut or vegetable oil.
Baking oven fries at home also allows you to control the amount of salt, which restaurants typically go overboard on.
Why Soak French Fries in Water First
Although this is an extra step, it truly achieves the most ultra crispy oven fries. Soaking the potatoes in water draws out the excess starch, which helps for a few reasons.
- It mimics that deep fried, golden coating, but much healthier!
- Soaking in water helps prevent fries from sticking together while baking. In turn, the heat reaches all sides of the potatoes, instead of trapping in heat and steaming.
- Soak potatoes for several hours up to overnight. Then, all the prep work is done when it’s time to prepare the meal! Simply drain the potatoes, blot dry, and throw in the oven.
How to Reheat French Fries
When I make Oven Baked Fries recipe typically there is no man left standing. However, if you have more self-control, follow these steps to reheat fries either in the oven or stovetop (please, no microwave).
- Reheating fries in the oven: Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 425ºF. Once the oven is preheated, remove the baking sheet, carefully spread fries in a single layer and bake 3-5 minutes.
- Reheating fries on the stovetop: Heat a heavy skillet (cast iron works best) on high heat until it’s very hot. Swirl around a small splash of oil and add fries in a single layer. Flip fries every 30 seconds until hot and crispy.
Why Your Life Will be Changed by Fry Sauce
Once upon a time I was oblivious to fry sauce. They were dark times, but, providentially, I was guided to a fry’s true companion.
If you have never tried fry sauce before, I understand your indifference. I was once you, looking at that simple list of ingredients, wondering why people go nuts about it.
It’s all legit. Who knew five simple ingredients can blend together to make a french fry’s soulmate?
Just try it. I bet you have all the ingredients in your kitchen, and the easy recipe is right ⬇️.
What to Serve With Baked French Fries
How To Make Crispy Baked Fries
- Slice russet potatoes lengthwise first, in 1/4″ slices.
- Lay slices flat and cut again into 1/4″ sticks.
- Soak cut fries into a bowl of cold water. Let sit for several hours to overnight in the refrigerator.
- Drain fries and soak up excess water using a flour sack towel.
- Toss fries in olive oil and spread on baking sheets, making sure there is room between the fries for heat to circulate.
Tips For Making Oven Baked Fries
- The best potatoes to use are russets. Peel them or leave the skins on. Either way they are perfect.
- Lay the drained fries on a towel to soak up excess water before baking. Oven Baked Fries recipe is yet another reason why I adore flour sack towels. They are absorbent, lint free, and huge (perfect for drying lettuce, veggies, and draping over rising bread).
- Spray the baking sheets first with cooking spray. This may seem redundant, but cooking spray contains lecithin, which forms a thin layer between the pan, oil, and food to help the fries release easily.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. I use 2-3 baking sheets when making Oven Baked Fries because the more space between the fries, the more heat can circulate around each fry’s surface.
- Rotate the pans between the oven racks during baking for even browning.
- If the oven baked fries do not flip easily, bake them longer. You’ll know when they are crisp and ready to be flipped because they release freely from the pan. My go-to spatula for roasting food is this thin flexible steel one.
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Oven Baked Fries
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes, cut in 1/4" matchsticks
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- salt, for seasoning
Fry Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise, I used light
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Place potato matchsticks in large bowl and cover with water. Soak for at least 2 hours up to overnight in the refrigerator. This draws out the excess starch in the potatoes to make them crispier.
- Preheat oven to 450ºF. Drain the potatoes, rinse, and lay out on lint free absorbent towels, such as flour sack towels. Blot dry as much as possible.
- Spray baking sheets with cooking spray. Divide the potatoes between the baking sheets. Divide and drizzle olive oil over the top of the potatoes. Toss to coat evenly with oil. Spread potatoes on pan so they aren't clumped together. The more space they have, the crisper they will get.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating pans 1/2 through. Remove pans to flip fries. If fries do not release easily, put back in oven and bake until crisp on bottom and freely releases from pan. After fries are flipped, bake for 5-10 minutes more, or until browned and crisp. Season with salt.
Fry sauce
- Combine all ingredients together and serve with fries. Refrigerate leftovers.
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Notes
- The best potatoes to use are russets. Peel them or leave the skins on. Either way they are perfect.
- Lay the drained fries on a towel to soak up excess water before baking. Oven Baked Fries recipe is yet another reason why I adore flour sack towels. They are absorbent, lint free, and huge (perfect for drying lettuce, veggies, and draping over rising bread).
- Spray the baking sheets first with cooking spray. This may seem redundant, but cooking spray contains lecithin, which forms a thin layer between the pan, oil, and food and helps the fries release easily.
- Don't overcrowd the pan. I use 2-3 baking sheets when making Oven Baked Fries because the more space between the fries, the more heat can circulate around each fry's surface.
- Rotate the pans between the oven racks during baking for even browning.
- If the oven baked fries do not flip easily, bake them longer. You'll know when they are crisp and ready to be flipped because they release freely from the pan. My go-to spatula for roasting food is this thin flexible steel one.
- Reheating fries in the oven: Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 425ºF. Once the oven is preheated, remove the baking sheet, carefully spread fries in a single layer and bake 3-5 minutes.
- Reheating fries on the stovetop: Heat a heavy skillet (cast iron works best) on high heat until it's very hot. Swirl around a small splash of oil and add fries in a single layer. Flip fries every 30 seconds until hot and crispy.
Nutrition
❊SHOP THE RECIPE❊
Items used to make this recipe:
Flour Sack Towels My Favorite Baking Sheets Flexible Steel Spatula
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Tina says
My family really enjoyed these fries with the fry sauce- Very easy to make too.. Will definitely make them again.
Melissa says
I’m so glad you liked them. We have these a lot at our house…like probably too much 🤔
Karly says
Can I dip my entire life into this fry sauce? Seriously, it looks that good. Loving this simple and delicious little duo!
Melissa says
Fries are my absolute weakness! I can eat an embarrassing amount…glad you feel it too!