Crunchy Baked Fries

4.64 from 25 votes
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Crunchy Baked Fries Recipe – delicious restaurant style French fries – straight from the oven – for a delicious golden brown and crispy baked French fry recipe that is sure to become your family’s favorite. 

Crunchy Baked Fries in brown paper on a tray

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Baked Fries

We LOVE fries in this house. Sweet Potato, Potato- fried or breaded- we just love fries! The problem is, we know high fat fries aren’t the best for us.

This recipe for Crunchy Baked Fries gives you the crispy, crunchy texture of fried fries, but with a little heart healthy olive oil and sea salt for a lightened up version.

These fries use a dash of heart healthy olive oil and are baked at a high temperature to help cut down on some of the unneeded fat of fries- and they are so good, you won’t even notice they are baked.

While we don’t eat them often, these are gone in a few minutes when we do- and the best part- they are totally easy!

I get a ton of questions and comments on my posts, so I try to provide as much information as possible for my readers.

If you’re looking to bypass all the helpful tips, please click on the “skip to recipe” button in the top left corner, or scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find the recipe for these crunchy baked fries!

The best homemade french fry recipe ever picture

How to Bake French Fries

To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:

  • Russet potatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:

  • Prep. Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes into fries. I don’t worry too much about the size of fry I am making- some are bigger, and some are smaller. That’s fine! Next, place your spuds in a nice cool water bath. Completely submerge the fries in water.
  • Soak. Let fries sit one hour. This helps to remove excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the oven. After an hour, drain the water, and pat fries dry with a paper towel.
  • Bake. Toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out onto a baking sheet which has been generously sprayed with cooking spray (two if the sheet is too crowded- fries should not be super packed on the sheet). Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes- until fries start to get soft. You might want to stir the fries at this point to prevent excessive sticking and to flip the fries to the other side.
  • Crisp. Turn the oven to 450 and continue baking until crisp (about 20-30 minutes). If you get in a hurry, turn on the broiler to crisp up the fries- but watch them closely, and stir them a few times to be sure all sides get some good crunch!

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Crunchy Baked Fries

These easy tips and tricks will help to ensure the best crunchy baked french fries, every time!

Cut With a Mandoline. Cut potatoes with a mandoline for easy, perfect sticks that will crisp up well.

Let Them Soak. Make sure your fries soak for at least one hour – preferably changing the water after 30 minutes to new cold water. Soaking in water helps remove some of the starch, which will help them crisp up better!

Pat Dry. Make sure your fries are VERY dry after their little bath. Pat them with paper towels or a clean dish towel to be sure there is no residual moisture. Wet fries = soggy fries.

Prep Baking Sheets. Ensure your baking sheets are well greased, or your fries will stick and become a nightmare. Aluminum foil works in many situations, but my fries always stick to foil as well – so be sure to use plenty of cooking spray if you do. If lining your baking sheet, I suggest parchment paper or a silicone mat, and I still use an olive oil based cooking spray for those as well.

Give Them Space. Always cook fries in a single layer. Allowing fries to bake separate from each other will help them get crunchy.

Adjust cook time as needed. I watch my french fries closely while cooking, and make adjustments as needed. Every oven is different, and Iโ€™ve noticed a ton of things impact cook time and even something as small as the humidity in the air can impact cooktime.

Reheating Leftover Fries. This recipe is good as a side for about 6 people. The fries are best eaten hot- but you can add a dash of oil in a pan, as well as some garlic to heat them a second time. Learn more about reheating fries in my post- Turn Leftover Fries into Garlic Truffle Fries. It’s shockingly delicious, and a great way to reheat leftover french fries!

Crispy Baked Fries Seasoning Ideas

These baked french fries are so delicious because they can be made with all sorts of different flavors and seasonings – try some of these easy ideas, or come up with your own!

  • Adding different powders and seasonings will help your fries take on new flavors easily – Try some of these or come up with your own!
  • Add onion powder or garlic powder for a bit more flavor.
  • Add herbs de provence salt for a rustic French twist on your baked fries.
  • Cajun seasoning sprinkled over the fries gives a spicy Five Guys like french fry flavor.
  • Brush fries in the final 15 minutes of baking time with butter, diced garlic, and finely diced parsley for a sinfully rich garlic butter fries recipe.

If you love this easy baked french fry recipe, be sure to check out some of my other favorite easy recipes!

Also try my favorites like The Best Air Fryer French Fries Recipe, Easy Fogo De Chao Brazilian Cheese Bread Copycat Recipe, Easy Baked Sweet Potato Chips, Paleo Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Fries, Cheesy Sausage Potatoes and Cabbage, One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet, The Best Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Recipe, The Best Baked Garlic Pork Tenderloin, and Easy Baked Pork Chops Recipe.

fries in a paper bag with sauce

If you love the best easy crunchy baked fries recipe as much as I do, please give it a five star review and help me share on facebook and pinterest!

picture of fries wrapped in paper with dipping sauce

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4.64 from 25 votes

Crunchy Baked Fries

By: Courtney
Servings: 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Crunchy baked fries with a side of dipping sauce.
Crunchy baked French fries offer a delightful blend of golden-crisp exteriors and tender interiors, seasoned to perfection with a subtle hint of earthy potato goodness.

Ingredients 

  • 3 large russet potatoes
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions 

  • Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes into fries. I don't worry too much about the size of fry I am making- some are bigger, and some are smaller. That's fine!
  • Next, place your spuds in a nice cool water bath. Completely submerge the fries in water.
  • Let fries sit one hour. This helps to remove excess starch and will help the fries crisp up more in the oven.
  • After an hour, drain the water, and pat fries dry with a paper towel.
  • Toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper.
  • Spread out onto a baking sheet which has been generously sprayed with cooking spray (two if the sheet is too crowded- fries should not be super packed on the sheet).
  • Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes- until fries start to get soft.
  • You might want to stir the fries at this point to prevent excessive sticking and to flip the fries to the other side.
  • Turn the oven to 450 and continue baking until crisp (about 20-30 minutes).
  • If you get in a hurry, turn on the broiler to crisp up the fries- but watch them closely, and stir them a few times to be sure all sides get some good crunch!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 70mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Potatoes
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcsdesigns or tag #sweetcsdesigns!

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet Cโ€™s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

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4.64 from 25 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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42 Comments

  1. Lauras gluten free kitchen says:

    I love making homemade fries i just love my wedges. i like min thick but also nice and thin. I haven’t made skinny fries before cause am always afraid of them becoming to hard. I will try these though as they sound so simple and yummy. Thanks for the recipe

  2. Nedra says:

    Great idea! About the olive oil carcinogen thing, I like to use coconut oil for high heat, I find it actually helps make things crispier too so it would be great for this recipe.

  3. Terri Jones Smith says:

    I love doing my fries like this, awesome and healthy recipe.

  4. Stacy says:

    Why I do not own a mandolin is a mystery to me when I am making home made fries a few times a week. lol I am going to get one and try out your method as well. I love making fries for the boys and typically do them in a pan with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. I’d love to try baking them.

  5. Emily V says:

    This was Delicious!!! made them and they turned out wonderful! with just salt, pepper and olive oil- just like the recipe!

  6. Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says:

    Aughhh! Looks delicious! I’ve always wanted to make baked fries at home, and never get around to it. I see these and I slap my head and go Aughhh!… I need to do this NOW! ๐Ÿ™‚ Pinned!