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Did you know that the VAST majority of restaurant fries are frozen? So, stop thinking of that bag in your freezer as just frozen fries. I’m going to show you how to make Air Fryer Frozen French Fries that are way better than fast food!
What’s the secret? No secret. Just the right equipment, a little bit of time, and the perfect blend of seasonings. These are the fries you will crave the instant that they’re gone.
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
I have to admit that the ONLY reason I bought my first air fryer was for perfect, easy French fries at a moment’s notice. I love fantastic fries, but deep frying has always felt like a hassle. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I deep fried something.
With the air fryer, you can easily turn fresh potatoes into air fried potatoes. But, when I am craving fries, there’s no potato wedge on the planet that will hit the spot. I want the long, skinny fries that are all crispy gold perfection, salty and packed with flavor. Well, when you make air fryer frozen French fries, that’s what you get!
Tips for Using Frozen Fries:
- You don’t NEED oil. But, a spritz of oil helps seasonings stick to the fries.
- Most bags of frozen fries are 32 oz. Use half (16 oz max) per basket.
- Fries can be piled up in more than a single layer, as long as they are going in all different ways (creating paths for airflow, as pictured here).
Frozen French Fries in the Air Fryer
The best advice I for people who want to learn how to cook frozen French fries in the air fryer is always going to be this: shake the basket. Anyone who has worked the fry station at a fast food chain knows that you don’t skip shaking the fries while they’re frying.
This breaks them apart and ensures that they get evenly fried. And, with an air fryer, it also has the added benefit of helping to spread the seasonings that you use onto each of the fries. So, for the best results, plan on pausing halfway through to (carefully!) take the basket out and shake the fries.
I use the COSORI Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. I’m partial to a square basket air fryer as I find it easier to fit more food into the basket. This is a 5.8QT air fryer, one of the largest machines I’ve found that works effectively.
The machine is a bit retro with simple knob controls. It turns out that I really like the basic settings and ability to set the time and temp like a traditional appliance. I’ve used a few different air fryers with pre-programmed settings and I found I was still tweaking the times.
This air fryer is surprisingly easy to clean and the two-part basket locks together (it’s literally impossible for it to detach the way some do) until you open the latch and then push the button to release it. I simply wipe down the baskets with a sudsy dish scrub brush or sponge, rinse and let them air dry on the counter.
How to Season Your Fries
When it comes to seasoning fries, there are about as many ways to go as you can imagine. The default standard is just oil and salt. And, that simple combination has been selling boxes of fries since long before I was born. But, if you want to know how to season your fries like a pro? You need a spice blend.
Measure together a big batch of spices ahead of time, and you can just sprinkle it onto your fries when you make them. It’s a huge time saver. And, listen, I try not to tell people what to do. But, if you only have room for one blend, make it this french fry seasoning. It’s amazing. Smoky, salty, and it has just a hint of spicy heat.
Nothing else comes close to how good this is for making frozen French fries taste better than fast food. My family fell in love with it two years ago, and I still keep a jar of it labeled in my spice cabinet, always ready to go.
If you want to take your fries right to the top, and then throw them over as far as they’ll go, then repeat after me: custom. dipping. sauce. Yes, ketchup is traditional. And, that’s not a bad option. But, your taste buds deserve so much more!
My favorite will always be this homemade ranch dip (and with hundreds of 5-star reviews, I’m not wrong!). For when I want a little heat, I go with bang bang sauce. But, if you want to dial up the heat, you have to make a cajun dipping sauce. Each of these homemade sauces takes less time than a batch of air fryer frozen French fries, which means they’ll be ready when you are.
Dinner With French Fries
Any time that I start craving French fries, I want to serve them with dinner. So, if I’m taking the time to make some killer fries, then they deserve an entree that’s just as good. Don’t worry, I’ve got some suggestions.
Fries are incredible with grilled steak kabobs. Bonus, you can dip the kabobs in the same sauce you make for the fries. That’s a win-win dipping situation, in my book. For the same reason, consider skipping the burger and go for quesadillas when you’re looking at lunch options.
I also adore this taco quesadilla. I’ve been making it for at least a decade, and it never fails to thrill me.
Perhaps a bit off the beaten path, I also think fries are perfect for this zucchini meatloaf with an irresistible balsamic glaze. Fries are casual, but the meal feels elegant when served with this entree. And, honestly, I’m down for elegant French fries. Just make sure to give me a fancy little dipping cup of my own.
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Ingredients
French Fry Seasoning Mix
- 1½ tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked or plain paprika
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic or garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- 24-36 ounces frozen French fries
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the frozen french fries in a large mixing bowl or on a large sheet pan. (This allows for plenty of space when coating them with oil and spices.)
- Spray the fries lightly with olive oil spray and sprinkle generously with all of the seasonings. Toss with your hands to coat.
- Transfer the seasoned fries to the air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 minutes. Shake the basket well and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes. Serve hot with the dipping sauce of your choice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
