Air Fryer French Fries with Seasoned Salt are a healthier alternative to the deep-fried version. You only need a tiny bit of oil to make them super crispy and flavorful.
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Do you want fries with that?
Most people love french fries, but unfortunately, most of the ones in restaurants aren’t very healthy.
And it’s a shame since potatoes are a wonderful staple of a vegan Mediterranean diet.
Besides these fries, I love spuds in recipes such as Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Potatoes with Lemon Herb Sauce, and Greek Lemon Potatoes.
And according to The Benefits of Russet Potatoes, one medium Russet potato baked with the skin on only contains 168 calories, yet has 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. This is 10% of the daily value for protein and 16% of the daily value for fiber.
Yet the typical french fry is loaded with fat and salt.
But fear not!
You can air fry your french fries with a tiny amount of olive oil or avocado oil and enjoy them guilt-free!
What do air fryers do?
An air fryer is a small kitchen appliance that circulates hot air around food making it crispy on the outside. When you turn it on, you can hear a fan circulating the air at high speed.
Foods can be cooked with little to no oil, resulting in healthier options than traditional frying. And cooking times are faster than when using an oven.
It’s also a safe appliance to use and easy to clean. When you want to check your food during the cooking process, you simply pull out the basket while the air fryer is still on.
I generally toss the food about half way though to ensure even cooking, especially when making a recipe like Air Fryer French Fries. This way, each fry gets crispy from being exposed to the hot air.
What can I make in an air fryer?
Besides making Air Fryer French Fries, I use this small appliance to make all sorts of delicious dishes.
It’s perfect for cooking everything from vegetables to tofu. You can also use it for heating up frozen food or leftovers.
Check out some of my favorite air fryer recipes:
- Vegan Potato Tacos with Massaged Kale
- Crispy Air Fryer Tofu with Sticky Orange Sauce
- Cheesy Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Lemon Tofu
- Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
- Asian-Inspired Air Fryer Green Beans
- Small Batch Brownies
That’s right, you can even make dessert in your air fryer!
How to make air fryer french fries
Making these fries with a Russet potato and some cooking oil spray is very easy:
- Cut the potato into wedges. I like to leave the skin on, but you can peel the potato if you prefer.
- Soak the potato slices in a bowl of water for 30 minutes. This will remove excess starch so that your fries get extra crispy. For best results, do not skip this step.
- Dry the potatoes with a kitchen towel.
- Place the potato slices in a bowl and spritz with olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray. Toss well to coat. I like to use my hands.
- Season and toss again.
- Place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook at the highest temperature for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing half way through, until the fries are crispy and browned.
- Enjoy immediately.
Seasoned salt ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients for the seasoned salt, and you probably already have these spices in your pantry:
- Salt
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
Or create your own seasoning blend with your favorite herbs and spices such as curry powder or Italian seasoning.
How many fries can I make at a time?
This recipe for Air Fryer French Fries makes one serving.
If you have an extra-large air fryer, you can make larger quantities at once. However, if you have the standard size like I do, I recommend cooking the potatoes in batches.
I don’t like to crowd mine because it will take longer for the food to cook, and the fries might not get evenly crispy.
Air Fryer French Fries Recipe
This recipe makes more Seasoned Salt than you will need for one Russet potato. But it keeps very well in a sealed jar or plastic bag.
You can use it in other recipes or save it so you’re always ready to make a batch of fries!
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!
Air Fryer French Fries with Seasoned Salt
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Russet potato, (I keep the skin on, but you can peel the potato, if you prefer.)
- 5 sprays olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray, (You may want to use a little more or less depending on the size of your potato)
For the Seasoned Salt:
- 2 Tablespoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Slice the potato into thin strips approximately 1/4 inch thick.
- Place the potato slices in a bowl of water to soak for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the Seasoned Salt by mixing the ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Drain the potato slices and dry well with kitchen towels.
- Place the potato slices in a dry bowl. Spritz with about 5 sprays of cooking oil. Use your hands to toss to coat.
- Add your desired amount of Seasoned Salt to the potato slices and use your hands to toss to coat.
- Place the potato slices in the basket of your air fryer and spread them out as evenly as possible.
- Cook on 390 degrees (or the highest temperature on your model) for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing half way through, until the fries are lightly browned and crispy.
- Serve immediately.
Valerie Mcnease
Love the fries they’re so good and not grease can’t wait to try other things
Amy
Thank you, Valerie!
Mia
Thank you for the air fryer recipes!
I am new to it, so I’m wondering if keeping the potatoes in a bowl of water is necessary, and if so, what it does or why it’s helpful.
Amy
Hi Mia, Soaking the potatoes isn’t necessary, but it does give the fries a better texture by removing some of the starch from the potatoes. If you have the time, I recommend trying it.
Elaine
So basically anything you would put in your oven you can put in a air fryer?
Amy
Pretty much. The air fryer cooks in less time and makes food crispier than a conventional oven. And you can use less oil.
Kim
Thanks so much for the recipe. We just got an air fryer and this was the first thing we tried. Turned out great – followed your instructions exactly. Winner!
Amy
Thank you so much, Kim! Enjoy your new air fryer!
chela lightchild
unbelieveable. the Greatest French Fries ever. Sooo good, I made a second batch right away. We ate just the french fries for dinner.
Amy
Thank you so much! Now I want french fries for dinner!