Baked French Fries are one of my family’s all-time favorites. My kids love oven fries even more than the store bought fries. Plus, oven baked fries are so much better for them.
These oven baked fries are perfect alongside jalapeño cheddar burgers, served up with oven fried chicken, as chili cheese fries, or as loaded cheese fries!
Oven Baked French Fries
Russet potatoes are the gold standard for French fries in general. They especially suitable for baked fries, because the skins are thicker and dryer than the skins of other potatoes, so they crisp up nicely in the oven.
Have you ever tried fries in the oven, and found they lack crispiness? Here are two great tips to avoid that problem forever!
How to Make Oven French Fries Crispy
As deep fried french fries are often double fried (once at a lower temp, once at a higher temp to crisp) I’ve found the same thing works magically for oven fries! You can make oven french fries so good and crispy!
- SOAK: Soak the potatoes in cold water after cutting for at least 30 minutes. This step removes a lot of starch (you will see it in the bowl after you remove them) resulting in a crispier French fry!
- DRY: This is really important. Make sure you dry them well so they don’t steam and get soft when they bake! I spin them in my salad spinner and then dap in a kitchen towel.
- OIL & SEASON: Use parchment paper to keep them from sticking and oil to make them crisp! While these are a version of healthy fries, if you want them to crisp, you will still need to be generous with the oil.
- TWO TEMP COOKING: This easy technique allows the fries to bake perfectly crispy! Simply bake at 375°F for a little bit to cook and then turn up the heat to really crisp them up!
How to Cut Potatoes into Fries
I always leave the skin on because it adds a little bit extra fiber (and personally I like the way it tastes… and it’s easier). If you prefer you can peel the potatoes first!
You can cut french fries by hand or save time using a French Fry cutter. I use a cutter for perfectly even fries.
To Cut into Steak Fries:
- Steak fries are typically thicker than french fries. To make baked steak fries, you’ll want to find potatoes that are a little bit smaller. Steak fries should be cut into small wedges about 3/4″ to 1″ thick.
- You will follow the same cooking method below but for a longer period of time.
How to Bake French Fries
To achieve maximum crispiness in your homemade French fries, I do a 2 temperature cook:
- Be sure to preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Dry the fries thoroughly after soaking and before seasoning.
- Generously oil and season the oven fries. Spread evenly in a single layer on a parchment line pan.
- Cook 20 minutes (25 for thicker fries).
- Turn the heat up to 425°F and continue baking until crisp, about 20 minutes.
How Long to Bake French Fries: Remember, thicker fries will take longer and if your fries are too thin, they’ll just burn without crisping.
The length of time for baked French fries will vary, depending on how thick you cut them and of course personal preference. My family likes them more tender crisp, I like them extra crispy!
How to Reheat Fries
You can easily reheat your leftover oven baked fries, either in the oven, or on the stovetop.
- Stovetop Reheating: Add a tablespoon or two of oil in non-stick pan. Reheat over medium heat for a few minutes and enjoy!
- Oven Reheating: Baked fries can be reheated in the oven. Spread them in a single layer on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes in a preheated 400°F oven.
- Microwave Reheating: This is less ideal as they can come out soft or soggy! 20-40 seconds should be plenty of time.
How to Freeze Oven Baked French Fries
Your leftover oven baked fries can also be frozen for up to four months in a freezer bag. To reheat, just follow the steps above.
Frozen fries are great reheated but also perfect added to soups, stews and casseroles!
What to Serve With Fries
We love fries with anything with gravy in place of our favorite Mashed Potatoes and with our favorite sandwiches and burgers! Here are a few that we love:
- Mushroom Salisbury Steak – serve with fries instead of mashed potatoes
- Meatball Subs
- Barbecue Ribs in the Oven
- Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 4 large baking potatoes
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt or lemon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Wash potatoes leaving skin on (you can peel them if you prefer). Cut potatoes into desired size fries.
- Let potatoes soak in cold water in the sink or in a bowl for at least 30 minutes. Remove from water and dry very well.
- Toss with oil and seasonings. Spread evenly in a single layer on a parchment-lined pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Turn the oven up to 425° and cook fries until golden, about 20-25 minutes more.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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Made these for dinner tonight. I had to cook for an extra 10 minutes but they came out super crispy and delicious. Whole family loved!!
So dry….
They were tasty, but they didn’t crisp in the least. Were very soggy.
Did you use Russet or baking potatoes and dab them very dry before adding oil? If so, they may have needed more cooking time. Hope that helps.
Turned out great. Some ended up a bit soggy (which I am fine with), but overall they tasted delicious.
The only issue with the recipe is the amount. With 4 baking potatoes, my baking sheet was not even close to big enough to hold all of them (I think it’s 17″ x 12″ or so). I think it could only fit about half. So I think 2 baking potatoes would be the right amount, just half the amount of oil and salt.
I am glad you enjoyed them, Chris!
Soaked and completely dried the fries, then oiled and seasoned them. I have cooked them for almost an hour, 20 minutes at a time, and they are still raw.
Single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet, thin fries, not steak fries. I have a new working oven, so I know that is not the problem….
Im sorry to hear that, Francine. Thank you for trying our recipe.
These are by far the best oven fries I’ve ever made. They are soft on the inside and crispy outside. It’s the only recipe I use now. I also use sweet potatoes as well as russet potatoes .
Great call on doing with sweet potatoes as well. Will have to try. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent , simple and easy .. highly recommend..
These fries came out excellent!!
Thanks, Dawn! I am glad they turned out so great for you.
Took about an hour and a half because I needed to cook supper so I soaked them for 22 minutes. Absolutely delicious. Definitely will cook these again.
These did not turn out well for me. They “wilted” almost as soon as I put them on a platter. They were crispy when they came out of the oven but soon became soggy. I’m an experienced cook and followed the recipe. Not sure what went wrong.
So sorry to hear that, Cindy! Thank you for trying our recipe.
Easy, simple recipe that resutls in delicious fries. Thank you
Takes too long in my opinion
I have been using your recipe the past three years. Great oven fries!
this recipe!
Everyone loves these fries! My boys call them boardwalk fries which is a super compliment hear at the New Jersey shore!
Can you share what size potato cutter you use?
Thank you!
I’m so glad everyone loves them Carol! Mine is an old Williams Sonoma one called a “professional multi chopper”, I can’t see any like it but I do think it was a ¼-inch blade. There are many cutters on Amazon and some have a few blade sizes. ¼-inch will make thinner fries, ½-inch are thicker fries. Hope that helps.
it took me more time than you suggested to make them like french fries. I added 30 minutes and they were basically still like roasted potatoes. don’t get me wrong they were good at thr recommend time nut 30 more minutes they were closer to real french fries
This recipe was fantastic. There wasn’t a fry leftover. My whole family enjoyed. I used a salad spinner to help dry the fries and that worked out perfect. Thanks for such a great recipe. I will definitely be making these fries often.
Delicious and super easy.
These French fries are amazing! This is the 2nd time I have made them and I had to make a double batch because they don’t last long. Thank you
thanks for this recipe, I use it a lot!