Crispiest Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
These air fryer French fries turn out incredibly crispy with a fraction of the fat of frying. They aren’t greasy. The inside is fluffy and moist, and the outside has the perfect crisp.

🍽️ Recipe Name: Air Fryer French Fries
⏰ Ready In: 12 minutes
⏳ Prep Time: 2 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
👥 Serves: 2–3
🥕Main Ingredients: Frozen French fries, olive oil or cooking spray, salt
🍳 Special Equipment: Air fryer
⭐ Why You’ll Love It: Crispy outside, soft inside, and no greasy mess
Full ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer French Fries
- They only take a few minutes to cook.
- There’s very little fat compared to deep frying.
- There is less mess than frying or baking them in the oven.
- They are fluffy on the inside, and the exterior is perfectly crispy.
- Kids gobble them up, and they are far better for them.
What You Need
- French Fries: Use frozen fries to make these even easier.
- Non-stick Spray: Toss them with a bit of olive oil or non-stick.
- Salt: Finish them with a bit of salt while they’re hot.

How to Make Them
- Add the fries to a bowl. Spray generously with cooking spray or drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Toss to coat.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 minutes.
- Flip the fries and move them around. Continue to air-fry for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown.
Can You Make Them From Scratch?
Yes. Making them from scratch is almost as easy as using frozen fries.
- Cut the potatoes into your desired shape. Use a mandolin to make the job easy. Pro Tip: Make thinner fries. Planks or thick-cut steak fries will need to be parboiled before air frying.
- Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for 20 to 30 minutes. This removes excess starch and helps them crisp up better.
- After soaking, drain them well. Then place them in a single layer between sheets of paper towel. Change the paper towel a few times to remove as much moisture as you can.
- Then you can proceed with the recipe above.

Best Types of Potatoes
Russets are the go-to variety for French fries. You can use other types like Yukon Gold, but russets have been the favorite for decades for a reason. They will have a fluffy interior and the perfect crispiness.
How to Store Leftovers
It’s best to make the amount you need for one meal. Even though they can be stored for 3-4 days in the fridge and reheated in the air fryer, they tend to dry out or get too soggy.
Don’t refreeze.
How to Serve Them
- Serve these crispy fries with burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and wraps.
- Make loaded fries with chili, green onions, cheese, pickled jalapeños or your favorite toppings.
- Serve them alongside crispy chicken tenders or fried chicken for a classic combo.
- Use them as a base for poutine with gravy and cheese curds.
- Serve with ketchup or your favorite sauces, like ranch, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, or this spicy comeback sauce.
If you eat these fries with a burger, try this white chocolate milkshake for a true old-fashioned diner meal.
Variations
Season the fries with various spices or herbs to change the flavor. Some great options are
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- black pepper
- paprika or smoked paprika
- chili powder for a bit of a kick.
- Toss them in parmesan and herbs right after cooking for extra flavor.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Taquitos
- Air Fryer Frozen Corn Dogs
- Home Fries
- Breakfast Sausage
- Tortilla Chips
- Hot Dogs
- Hot Pockets
- Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Helpful Tools

Crispiest Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen French fries
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Add the fries to a bowl. Spray generously with cooking spray or drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Toss to coat.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 minutes. Make them in batches if you're making a lot.
- Flip the fries and move them around. Continue to air-fry for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown.
Notes
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- black pepper
- paprika or smoked paprika
- chili powder for a bit of a kick.
- Toss them in parmesan and herbs right after cooking for extra flavor.














