These Homemade French Fries are truly the best, crispiest fries you will ever make at home. The secret is my special batter that is packed with flavor and gives these fries a golden brown crispy outside while keeping the inside warm, fluffy and delicious.

Ingredients for Homemade French Fries

• Potatoes – Russet potatoes all the way. These potatoes make the most crispy homemade french fry because they are high in starch and low in moisture. The starch helps the outside to brown evenly on the outside and the low moisture means that it is easier to get them crispy because the water evaporates faster leaving you with a crispy french fry.
• Flour – all-purpose flour is needed in this recipe as part of the batter for the fries.
• Seasoning – the combination of paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper make these french fries perfectly seasoned.
• Parmesan Cheese – you won’t believe how a little parmesan takes these fries to the next level. Trust me on this one!
• Oil – avocado or olive oil works best. The small amount of oil is for pan frying these homemade french fries to get them super crispy – no deep frying needed.

How to Make Super Crispy Homemade French Fries

Step 1: Peel the potatoes with a potato peeler. This is one area that the kids can get involved. Learning to use a potato peeler is a basic cooking skill that is easy for little hands to master.  After the potatoes are peeled, cut them in half lengthwise. If they are very large, you can cut them in half again to create sticks that are half as long.

Step 2: Put them in a bowl of ice water and let them soak for about 10 minutes.  This helps remove starch and make them more crispy.  You don’t have to soak them, you can just give them a good rinse if you don’t have time.

Step 3: Drain the potatoes and transfer to a clean dry towel. Dry each slice removing as much water as you can. The dryer to get them, the more crispy they will be.

Step 4: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese.

Step 5: Add the water to your batter mixture and whisk until smooth.

Step 6: Add your potato sticks to the batter mixture and stir until they are all coated.

Step 7: Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat. In batches, remove potato sticks from the batter bowl with tongs, and place each stick in your heated pan making sure they aren’t touching each other.

Step 8: Cook until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Use a wooden spoon or tongs to flip the fries over. Cook on both sides and then remove to a cooling rack with a paper towel on top of it. Sprinkle with more salt and parmesan cheese to taste.

Can You Make Crispy Homemade French Fries in the Air Fryer or Oven?

Yes! If you don’t want to pan-fry your french fries you can cook them in your air fryer or bake in the oven. Air fryer and oven baking take a bit longer, but both work great. Here is how you adapt this recipe for both methods:

Air-Fry Homemade French Fries

Follow steps 1-4 of this recipe, except omit the flour. Instead of adding the flour and water, you are going to add oil to the bowl of seasonings and then add the potato sticks. Stir so that they are all coated.

Place the fries in your air fryer basket, in a single layer, and cook at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, until they are crispy. Shake the basket halfway through cooking.

Oven Baked Homemade French Fries

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Then follow steps 1-6 of this recipe.

Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Spread the fries in a single layer onto the baking sheet.

Make sure your fries have space between them.  If you have too many fries close together they will steam – not bake and won’t turn out as crispy.  You can typically fit fries from 3 medium size potatoes onto a baking sheet.

Bake at 425 degrees F for 30 minutes. Flip the fries over and bake for another 20 minutes until brown and crispy.

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions For Making Crispy Homemade French Fries

• Can you keep the skin on instead of peeling? Yep! That is up to personal preference.
• Why do you soak potatoes before cooking them for fries? It draws out the starch and makes the potatoes for firm and less likely to stick together.
• How long should I soak potatoes before making fries? At least 10 minutes, but up to 3 hours.
• Can I cut my potatoes before I’m ready to cook them to save time? Cut potatoes will start to turn brown after a bit. You can cut them and store them in water for up to 24 hours before cooking.
• What is the best way to cut potatoes for fries?
  • Place the potato on its side and cut a slice off one edge to make a flat surface.
  • Flip the potato cut side down and cut thin slices.
  • Stack a few slices and then cut them into sticks or ‘fries’

Are Homemade French Fries Healthy?

Potatoes are actually really nutritious, but they often get a bad rap – but look at all of the healthy benefits potatoes offer:

Potatoes are a good source of:

• Potassium: Potassium is a mineral that is part of every body cell. It helps regulate fluids and mineral balance in and out of cells and in doing so, helps maintain normal blood pressure.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant stabilizing free radicals, thus helping prevent cellular damage. It aids in collagen production; assists with iron absorption; and helps heal wounds and keep your gums healthy. Vitamin C may help support the body’s immune system.
• Fiber: Dietary fiber is a complex carbohydrate and is the part of the plant material that cannot be digested and absorbed in the bloodstream.  Soluble fiber may help with weight loss as it makes you feel full longer, and research has shown it also may help lower blood cholesterol.

More French Fry Recipes

• 4 medium russet potatoes
• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper more to taste
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shredded
• 1/2 cup oil avocado or olive

• Peel and rinse potatoes. Slice into sticks – aim for 1/4″ or smaller to get a crispier fry. Transfer sliced potatoes to a large bowl and cover with cold water.

• Let the potatoes soak for at least 10 minutes. You can soak longer, but don’t soak for longer than 24 hours.

• Drain the potatoes and transfer to a clean dry towel. Dry each slice removing as much water as you can. The dryer to get them, the more crispy they will be.

• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese and water. Add the potato sticks to the mixture and stir well to make sure they are all coated.

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat.

• In batches, remove potato sticks from the batter bowl with tongs, and place each stick in your heated pan making sure they aren’t touching each other.

• Cook until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Use a wooden spoon or tongs to flip the fries over. Cook on both sides and then remove to a cooling rack with a paper towel on top of it. Sprinkle with more salt and parmesan cheese to taste.

• Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Serving: 15fries | Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 343mg | Potassium: 477mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 466IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg