Craving crispy homemade French fries but don’t want to deep fry them? These air fryer seasoned fries are golden, crisp, and totally rave-worthy. Be sure to make an extra batch—everyone will be coming back for seconds. I know because it happens at my house. If you want seasoned fries that taste better than restaurant-style, without heating up the kitchen, this will be your new favorite recipe.

Golden and crispy seasoned fries made in an air fryer.

💡 Tips and Tricks

👉 Why You Should Wash Potatoes Before Peeling Them

If you peel the potatoes before washing them, you expose the inner flesh to dirt, grit, and potential bacteria. A peeled potato is more vulnerable to absorbing anything on the surface—and we don’t want that.

🧽Tips for Washing Potatoes

Russet potatoes hold a surprising amount of dirt, and they don’t come to us clean. Before you peel or cut them, always wash them first. Use a vegetable brush under running water to scrub each potato, focusing on the eyes, rough patches, and dimples where dirt can hide.

🔪Tips For Cutting Fries

The reason that we want to cut the fries as evenly as possible is that they cook more evenly in the air fryer. This means that they will all be done around the same time, without some being overcooked and some undercooked.

I try to cut my fries into ¼-inch strips. Yes, they will vary in length, but the key is to focus on that thickness. If you have a mandoline, it works best. If you’re using a knife, make sure it’s sharp.

🛒 This is the mandoline I finally settled on. I had several mishaps and tried out quite a few before I found one that worked well, and I didn’t hurt myself with it.

💧 Why You Should Soak the Fries

The reason that you need to soak the cut fries in cold water is that it draws out the starch. Drawing out the starch keeps the fries from being soggy. It turns out that the starch acts like a coating, holding in moisture and making the fries steam and become soggy. However, if you soak and then dry the fries, they will crisp up better in the air fryer. This is one of those sciency cooking things that always amazes me.

🛒 What You’ll Need To Make Air Fryer Seasoned Fries

Russet potatoes – These are the perfect potatoes for homemade seasoned fries. They are starchy and crisp up beautifully.

Olive oil – The olive oil serves many purposes in this recipe. It helps the fries crisp up, it helps the seasoning stick to the fries, and it adds a light flavor.

Paprika – It adds a smoky flavor and a pop of color.

Garlic powder – I like garlic powder for this recipe because it adds a punch of flavor and sticks to the potatoes nicely.

Salt – Homemade fries without salt just isn’t right.

Black pepper – This just adds that tiny bit of heat to balance it all out.

Onion powder – This is our final subtle savory kick.

Step-By-Step

Step 1: Wash and peel the potatoes
Start by washing your russet potatoes before you peel them. They can hold a surprising amount of dirt, so use a brush under running water to scrub them clean. I am so picky at this step that I often rinse them one more time before cutting them.

Step 2: Cut the fries evenly
Slice the potatoes into ¼-inch thick fries. Try to keep them as uniform as possible so they cook at the same rate. This is a great time to pull out your mandoline, if you have one.

Write on image: Evenly cut fries. ¼-inch thick.

Step 3: Soak the cut potatoes
Transfer the fries to a large bowl and cover them with cold water. Let them soak for 30 minutes to draw out excess starch. This is an important step. I know that it may be tempting, but don’t skip this soaking process.

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Step 4: Dry the fries thoroughly
Drain the water and use clean kitchen towels or paper towels to pat the fries completely dry. The reason that this is so important is that you want crispy fries. You want to remove as much of the excess starch as possible.

Step 5: Toss with oil and seasoning
Add the dried fries to a large dry bowl. Toss them with olive oil until evenly coated. Then add the seasoning blend—paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and onion powder—and toss again until every fry is coated.

Step 6: Load the air fryer
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray. Add the fries in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the basket. If you’re using a smaller air fryer, cook in batches for best results.

💡Note that there is a small bit of overlapping of the fries in the basket. It is difficult to fully avoid it. The goal is to not have layer upon layer.

Step 7: Air fry to crispy perfection

Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, then shake the basket to flip the fries. Air fry for another 5-10 minutes, checking every couple of minutes towards the end.

💡The fries are done when they’re golden brown, crisp, and sound crunchy when shaken.

Step 8: Cool slightly before serving
Let the fries rest for a couple of minutes after cooking—they’ll continue to crisp up as they cool. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces!

🫙Dipping Sauce Recipes

♻️ How to Reheat Leftover Fries

If you have leftovers, know that they reheat surprisingly well and yep, you can reheat them in the air fryer.

The best way to reheat leftover fries is in the air fryer. We have a full guide her, but here is our favorite way.

Heat the air fryer to 350°F for about 2 minutes.
Carefully arrange the fries in the basket and make sure they’re evenly spread out. Don’t fill the basket till it’s more than half full, or you won’t get crispy fries at the end.
Let the fries heat up for about 3 to 4 minutes.
When you’re halfway through, stop the air-fryer, take the basket out, and give it a shake so that all the fries get an equal chance.
Put the basket back inside and leave them in for another minute or two. Thick fries may take longer to get warmed up thoroughly.