Crispy Oven Fries recipe shows you how to make perfect oven baked french fries. This healthy alternative to traditional french fries is equally comforting, extra crispy, and absolutely divine dunked in the included homemade fry sauce recipe.
BEST Crispy Oven 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). Homemade Oven Baked Fries recipe mimics those perfectly, coveted crisp french fries, but uses an oven to bake them in a more healthy way.
How To Make Crispy Oven Fries
Cut the 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.
Preheat oven to 450ºF. Drain fries and soak up excess water using a flour sack towel.
Spray the baking sheets first with cooking spray. Divide the fries between two sheets and drizzle with olive oil.
Toss the fries in olive oil and spread on baking sheets, making sure there is room between the fries for heat to circulate.
Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven to flip potatoes and then continue baking for 10-15 minutes more.
Season with preferred seasonings, such as salt, pepper, seasoned salt, or garlic powder.
What type of Potatoes Should I Use?
To mimic a traditional french fry taste I believe Russet potatoes, also known as Idaho potatoes, make the best crispy baked fries. They have a high starch content so they stay crispy when baked.
Other potatoes, such as waxy red or new potatoes, contain more moisture so they have a tendency to steam and not have as crispy as an exterior.
Are Baked Fries Healthy?
Baked oven fries are healthier than traditional deep-fried french fries because they use less oil to cook them in, usually only a couple tablespoons.
Homemade 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 and seasonings, which restaurants typically go overboard on.
Why Soak Potatoes in Water First
Although this is an extra step, it truly achieves the most ultra crispy oven fries. Soaking the fries 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 and Make Them Crispy Again
Usually when I make homemade oven fries there isn’t a crumb to be spared. However, if you have more self-control, follow these steps to reheat fries either in the oven, stovetop, or airfryer. (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.
Reheating fries in an Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 350ºF. Spread fries out in the basket, no more than halfway full. Cook the fries 3-4 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Life Changing 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
Of course the most popular side dish for burgers is french fries, but they also pair perfectly with these dishes as well!
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. This 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 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.
Crispy Oven Fries recipe shows you how to make perfect oven baked french fries. This healthy alternative to traditional fries is equally comforting, extra crispy, and absolutely divine dunked in the included homemade fry sauce recipe.
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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Recipe Notes
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 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.
How to Reheat French Fries
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.
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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!