How to Make Crispy Restaurant-Style Fries at Home Without Deep Fryers or Air Fryers

Sometimes, only fries will do. They’re crispy, salty, and versatile—they go with most things, from burgers to hot dogs to sandwiches, but they’re also delicious on their own. So it’s no surprise that every year, the average American eats nearly 30 pounds of fries. But, if you’re craving a big portion of this potato-based treat, you don’t have to head to your nearest fast-food spot, and you don’t have to own a fryer either. Oven-baked, homemade fries are just as delicious as any other variety—and, when compared with deep-fried options, they’re better for us, too. Check out some of our favorite recipes below.

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Can you make crispy French fries in the oven?

It’s easy to make delicious, crispy fries from home using your oven. The key is to use starchy potatoes like russets or Yukon golds, as they tend to crisp up better than other more waxy varieties. And it also helps to soak the cut potatoes in cold water for about 30 minutes, this helps to remove excess starch, and as a result, the fries become crispier during baking.

After that, dry them off, and toss the wedges with a small amount of oil and seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, or any other spices you like. Bake them in a preheated oven, making sure to spread them evenly on the baking sheet. Once the fries are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the oven and serve immediately!

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The benefits of baked fries

Making fries in the oven is not just tasty, but it’s also better for our health. Deep-fried fries—like the type often sold at fast-food restaurants—absorb a significant amount of oil during cooking, which adds to their fat content. Baking requires much less oil, and this reduces the overall fat content. 

Deep-frying can also generate trans fats. Research suggests that consuming trans fats (a form of unsaturated fat) may significantly increase LDL cholesterol levels, and, in turn, increase the risk of heart disease. Baking fries does not lead to the formation of trans fats, and neither does air-frying, but for this article, we’ve stuck to simple oven-based methods in the list below. 

The best vegan fries (made without an air fryer or deep fryer)

Lauren Toyota

1Supreme Vegan Nacho Fries With Tofu Bacon Crumbles

From Lauren Toyota’s cookbook, Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face, these delicious crispy fries are made with russet potatoes, paprika, and salt.
For extra indulgence, they’re topped with tofu bacon crumbles, creamy nacho cheese sauce, vegan sour cream, diced tomatoes, and chives.
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Francesca Bonadonna

2 Easy Vegan Poutine With Herby Gravy and Mozzarella

Thick, rich, herby, homemade gravy and melty vegan mozzarella cheese (pick your favorite store-bought option!) are both key to this delicious vegan poutine, as well as fries, of course. This recipe from the Plantiful cookbook calls for baked frozen French fries, but you can also make your own if you prefer.
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The Healthful Ideas

3 Vegan Loaded Greek Fries

In this tasty Mediterranean-inspired recipe from The Healthful Ideas blog, crispy Yukon gold potato wedges are seasoned with avocado oil, dried herbs, garlic, and onion powder, and roasted until golden. But the star of the show is, arguably, the topping:
diced red onion, fresh parsley, and creamy vegan feta.
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Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen

4 Vegan Bacon Cheese Fries

If you thought bacon cheese fries were just for meat and dairy lovers, you’ll be pleased to find out that is not the case. This tasty take on the animal-laden classic by Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen features russet potato fries, cashew bacon bits, and vegan squash-based cheese sauce.
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Justine Cooks Vegan

5 Vegan Copycat McDonald’s Fries

McDonald’s fries in the US are made with beef fat, which, of course, means they’re not vegan (and they’re not great for you either!). But you can get the same satisfying taste and texture by following this vegan recipe from Justine Cooks Vegan, and you don’t even have to leave the house.
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Minimalist Baker

6 Vegan Chili Cheese Fries

This flavorful and wholesome recipe comes from The Minimalist Baker and features crispy oven-baked fries topped with lentil chili. It’s finished with a creamy cashew-carrot vegan cheddar cheese sauce and is guaranteed to become your new favorite comfort dish.
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The Korean Vegan

7 Vegan Baked Kimchi Cheese Fries

Kimchi lovers, this flavor-packed, satisfying recipe is for you. The Korean Vegan’s loaded fries recipe features Yukon gold potato wedges topped with caramelized sweet and sour kimchi, and it’s also drizzled with a homemade kimchi cheese sauce.
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Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.