You won’t be able to stop eating these Air Fryer Frozen French Fries! Air frying is the best way to cook fries perfectly: crispy exterior and pillowy soft inside. Choose between curly fries, waffle fries, steak fries, crinkle-cut fries, shoestring fries, or sweet potato fries, we have it all covered here!
❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Easy: To make this easy side dish, all you have to do is preheat the air fryer and cook the fries for just 10-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. These are the easiest fries to cook!
- Fast: All of these recipes take just 10-15 minutes, depending on the type of fries. Far less time than homemade fries.
- Healthier: No need for a deep fryer here! I don’t even use any extra oil for these air fryer french fries – there is just no need.
- Amazing texture: Crispy on the outside, soft inside. These are the best frozen french fries!
- Perfect for the family: Nothing beats a crispy hot fresh french fry next to a bowl of ketchup! Everyone loves fries and they are such an easy snack. These crispy fries are perfect for any age, from toddlers to gramps!
🗝️ Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- French fries: Frozen french fries are the kind that you need for this recipe. They cook perfectly in the air fryer straight from frozen so there is no need to thaw them. As well as thin fries (similar thickness to your favorite fast food fries), I’ve also included instructions for different types of fries like curly fries, waffle fries, steak fries, crinkle cut fries, and sweet potato fries.
- Sea salt: If your fries are unseasoned, a generous sprinkle of salt after cooking will make these crispy french fries taste amazing.
- Other seasonings: I seriously can’t get enough of seasoned fries! They’re so moreish. I’ve included some of my favorite seasonings and combinations below to try.
🥣 How to cook frozen french fries in an air fryer
1. Heat the air fryer: Begin by preheating the air fryer to 200°C/400°F.
2. Add to basket: Once the air fryer is heated and the indicator light turns off, add the frozen french fries to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
3. Cook and flip: Cook for 10 minutes, flipping the fries or shaking the basket halfway through.
4. Pro tip: if you like your fries extra crispy, cook for another 2-5 minutes.
5. Season immediately: When the fries are finished cooking, tip them into a large bowl and season them immediately if desired, tossing them gently with tongs or shaking the bowl to get an even coating.
6. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy! See below for some dipping sauce suggestions.
🍟 Cooking times for each type of fry
These are my recommended cooking times for each type of fry. Make sure the air fryer is preheated before adding the fries into the air fryer basket and flip the fries (or shake the basket) halfway through to make sure they cook evenly. Feel free to add 2-5 minutes extra time to make them even crispier.
- Thin fries: 10 minutes
- Thick fries (steak cut): 15 minutes
- Crinkle-cut fries: 12 minutes
- Curly fries: 12 minutes
- Waffle fries: 12 minutes
- Sweet potato fries: 15 minutes
🫙 Storage Instructions
- Fridge: Store any leftover air fryer frozen fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat any leftovers in the air fryer at 200°C/400°F for 5-7 minutes, until heated through and crispy.
- Freeze: It’s not recommended to freeze food twice.
🪄 Recipe Notes & Tips
- Air fryer size: Cook time can vary between different air fryer sizes and brands. When I turn the fries over at the halfway point, I also check to see how they are cooking. If they’re still looking very pale, I add a minute or two to the cooking time to see how they are doing.
- Don’t thaw: For best results, cook this french fries recipe straight from the freezer. Thawing them will make them soggy and less crispy.
- Season after: I always have better results when I season my fries when they’re still hot (right after cooking), no matter the recipe, but especially for air fryer frozen french fries. The seasoning just won’t stick to frozen fries. However, store-bought fries are coated in oil before they’re frozen, so after they’ve cooked the oil is released and they have the perfect oily surface for seasoning. I toss mine in a large mixing bowl and shake the bowl (with a lid) or toss them gently with tongs while they’re still hot.
- Type of fry: Different kinds of fries like thicker fries or waffle fries take a little longer to cook than regular thin fries. Make sure you follow the cooking times for your type of fry and add extra time if needed.
✨ French fry seasonings to try
- Taco seasoning (so good!)
- Cajun seasoning
- Smoky & spicy: 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder.
- A little tangy: 1/4 cup grated parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne.
- Simple: 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
🍽️ What Can I Serve With Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
French fries are great on their own as an easy snack, but they also go with just about anything. Here are a few ideas to try:
Main meals:
- Chicken legs
- Chicken tenders
- Chicken drumsticks
- Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Sausages
- Baked Sausage Links
- Pork loin
- Steak bites
- Steak
- Burgers
- Hot dogs
- Pizza
- Fish sticks
Dipping Sauces:
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- Honey mustard
- Ranch dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Spicy Mayo
- Mayo mixed with ketchup
- Taco truck green sauce
❓ Can you put frozen fries in an air fryer?
The bottom line: YES! This is the best way to cook frozen french fries at home. They are crispy on the outside and velvety soft inside. You can cook any type of frozen fry as well: curly, waffle, steak cut, thin, and sweet potato too!
😋 More air fryer recipes you will love
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Rice Paper Dumplings
- Air Fryer Carrots (with honey butter)
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Air Fryer Pork and Sauerkraut
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Ingredients
- 454 g 1lb Frozen french fries
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
- Additional seasonings see notes below
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the air fryer to 200°C/400°F.
- Once the air fryer is heated and the indicator light turns off, add the frozen french fries to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook for 10 minutes, flipping the fries or shaking the basket halfway through. I find using tongs the easiest way to do this.
- Check the notes below for the cooking times for other kinds of fries. These cooking times are for thin fries.
- Pro tip: if you like your fries extra crispy, cook for another 2-5 minutes.
- When the fries are finished cooking, tip them into a large bowl and season them immediately if desired, tossing them gently with tongs or shaking the bowl to get an even coating.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Notes
Cooking times for each type of fry
- Thin fries: 10 minutes
- Thick fries (steak cut): 15 minutes
- Crinkle-cut fries: 12 minutes
- Curly fries: 12 minutes
- Waffle fries: 12 minutes
- Sweet potato fries: 15 minutes
I love making fries in my air fryer already, but those seasoning mixes you’ve provided are a game-changer!