Oil-Free Air Fryer French Fries
Oil-free air fryer French fries are so delicious because they come out perfectly crispy and golden without the extra grease, letting the natural potato flavor shine through. They’re also good for you, offering a healthier alternative to traditional fries by cutting down on calories and unhealthy fats.
So how do you make potatoes in an air fryer come out crispy and crunchy with absolutely no oil? Believe it or not, it’s really simple! We even bake our potatoes in an air fryer because they are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I like not needing to heat up my oven, especially in the hot summer months.
These air fryer french fries are one of my favorite recipes, and we actually eat them for dinner as the main course about once a week along with more of our favorite air fryer recipes like these crispy air fryer baked potatoes and air fryer asparagus that is cooked to perfection.
Why cook with an air fryer?
If you’ve never heard of an air fryer, you’ve really been missing out. I absolutely love mine and use it at least once a week.
An air fryer is a terrific kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food at high speed. It is able to produce crispy foods without using any oil which makes them much lower in calories and fat.
Air fryers are small enough to fit on your kitchen counter, and they allow you to make some great foods without needing to heat up the stove which makes them extra awesome during the hot summer months.
How to make oil-free air fryer french fries
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
STEP #1: First, wash and scrub your potatoes. I like to use Russet or Yukon potatoes to make my fries, but you really can use any type you like, even sweet potatoes if you prefer.
STEP #2: Next, slice the potatoes to the thickness you like. I like to leave mine a little thick so that they are fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victorinox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.
STEP #3: Sprinkle with a few spices (or none at all) while they are still damp from being freshly cut. This helps the dry seasonings to stick to them. Some of the spices I like to use are garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, sea salt, and Chipotle powder.
STEP #4: Place in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 400°F and the time to 20 minutes. Unlike many people, I load the basket up with cut fries and pile them on top of each other. Often, I will have 4-5 medium-sized potatoes cut up in my Ninja 5.5 quarts basket.
STEP #5: The trick to getting them crispy on all sides is to cook them for 20 minutes then stop and shake or shuffle the potatoes to reposition them and allow them to cook another 20 minutes. I use a spatula or spoon to help stir them around a bit. Cooking times will really depend on how many potatoes you have in the basket and how thick or thinly they are sliced. Air fryer cooking times will also vary.
My favorite dipping sauces
There are so many great dipping sauce options, but these are some of my favorites and top picks.
Tips for making air fryer french fries
- Slicing Potatoes: The thickness of the potato slices will determine the cooking times
- Seasoning: Sprinkling seasonings on before cooking helps them stick to the potatoes.
- Cooking Tip: Stop and shake the basket halfway through the cooking process to allow it to redistribute and cook on all sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
My favorite potatoes to use are Russett and Yukon because they get soft in the middle and hold their shape well. Though, you really could use any type you prefer.
When I serve these as a main dish, some of the sides I like to make to go with them are corn on the cob and/or a garden salad. We also like to eat them as a side dish with my vegan black bean burgers.
Yes! If you really like crispy potatoes as I do, check out my Crispy Roasted Potatoes and Carrots and these amazing crispy on-the-outside air fryer baked potatoes.
If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!
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Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized potatoes Russet or Yukon work great
- Spices you prefer such as sea salt onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, or chipotle powder
Instructions
- Wash and scrub your potatoes. I like to use Russet or Yukon potatoes to make my fries, but you really can use any type you like, even sweet potatoes if you prefer.
- Next, slice the potatoes to the thickness you prefer.
- I like to leave mine a little thick so that they are fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Sprinkle with a few spices (or none at all) while they are still damp from being freshly cut. This helps the dry seasonings to stick to them.
- Place in the air fryer basket and set the temperature 400°F and the time to 20 minutes.
- I load the basket up with cut fries and pile them on top of each other. The trick to getting them to cook crispy on all sides is to cook them for 20 minutes then stop and shake or shuffle the potatoes to reposition them and allow them to cook another 20 minutes. I use a spatula or spoon to help stir them around a bit.
- Cooking time will really depend on how many potatoes you have in the basket and how thick or thinly they are sliced. Air fryer cooking times might also vary.
Video
Notes
- Russet and Yukon potatoes work best
- The thickness of the potato slices will determine the cooking times
- Sprinkling seasonings on before cooking helps them stick to the potatoes
- Stop and shake the basket halfway through the cooking process to allow it to redistribute and cook on all sides.
- Best Cheese Sauce
- Ranch
- Chipotle Ranch
- ketchup
- mustard
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
I do French fries at 350 to make sure they get soft inside and do the air fryer for 10 minutes, turn and another 10 minutes. Very brown and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My air fryer is a Ninja. Maybe I cut mine small, or maybe I don’t do as many as you do at one time. .
I will be using the Air Fryer in my Breville Oven. There is no basket to shake as I lay them on a tray. Do I still stop the air fryer at 20 minutes and turn them over and then cook them 20 minutes longer or will they be done after the first 20 minutes? I have never made french fries in the Breville oven before.
Hi Diane- I think I would still stir them around a little at the 20-minute mark. It helps to get them crispy all over.