Crispy Oven French Fries
These crispy oven-baked French fries are made with russet potatoes, olive oil, and simple seasonings for a golden, crunchy outside and soft, fluffy inside. Soaking the cut potatoes in cold water and drying them thoroughly helps create the best texture, while a light coating of cornstarch adds extra crispiness. They’re baked at 425°F until golden brown, making them an easy and delicious alternative to deep-fried French fries.
Servings 4
Calories 320kcal
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 2½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt plus more after baking
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch — optional but highly recommended for extra crispiness
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes.
- Scrub the potatoes and cut them into fries about ¼–⅜ inch thick. You can leave the skins on.
- Soak them.
- Put the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water for 20–30 minutes. This removes some surface starch and helps them get crispier.
- Dry REALLY well.
- Drain the potatoes and thoroughly dry them with clean kitchen towels or paper towels. The drier they are, the crispier they'll get.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- For an extra-crispy bottom, put your baking sheet in the oven while it preheats.
- Season.
- Toss the dry potatoes with the cornstarch first, coating them very lightly. Then add the olive oil, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper.
- Spread them out.
- Arrange the fries in a single layer on the baking sheet. Don't pile them on top of one another. Two baking sheets are better than overcrowding one.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, then flip the fries.
- Return them to the oven for another 15–25 minutes, until they're deeply golden and crispy.
- Salt immediately after removing them from the oven.
Notes
| Nutrition | Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~320 kcal |
| Total Fat | ~9 g |
| Saturated Fat | ~1.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | ~56 g |
| Dietary Fiber | ~4–5 g |
| Total Sugars | ~2 g |
| Protein | ~6 g |
| Sodium | ~600 mg* |
| Potassium | ~1,150 mg |