Homemade French Fries are crispy, golden, and surprisingly easy to make at home—no frozen bag needed! With just a few simple ingredients, you can make restaurant-style fries that are budget-friendly and perfect for busy weeknights, snacks, or game day.
We love making these when we’re out of frozen fries, and honestly—they turn out even better. Once you try them, you’ll see how simple and affordable homemade fries really are.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe!
The other day I wanted french fries to go with my Copycat In-N-Out Burger Recipe and we were out of frozen fries. I had a new bag of Russet potatoes so I just made some homemade fries in oil.
They were super easy and so much better than the frozen french fries I had intended to cook.
- Made with just 3 simple ingredients
- Budget-friendly side dish
- No deep fryer required
- Easy to make ahead and freeze
- Family-tested and kid-approved
These homemade french fries are delicious and you might also like our onion rings, Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe, and our fried pickles.
Recipe Snapshot
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (+ soak time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Method: Deep fried, baked, or air fryer
- Difficulty: Easy
- Budget Tip: One of the cheapest side dishes using pantry staples
- Serves: 4
Ingredients
- Russet Potatoes – Best for crispy texture and very affordable
- Vegetable Oil for Frying – Use what you already have (canola oil works too)
- Salt – Adjust to taste. You can also use sea salt.
How to Make Homemade French Fries
Step 1 – Peel and cut the potatoes into evenly sized slices so they cook evenly.
Step 2 – Place the cut potatoes in bowl with cold water and soak for at least 30 minutes of soaking time. This helps remove starch and makes the fries crispier.
Step 3 – Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, aim for medium-high heat. Place fries in a single layer in the hot oil and cook for 8–10 minutes until golden brown. Work in batches if needed.
Step 4 – Remove fries with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain to remove moisture. Sprinkle with salt and serve warm.
Tips for Perfect Homemade French Fries
- Double fry for extra crispiness
- Soak the potatoes (don’t skip—this makes them crispy)
- Dry completely before frying
- Don’t overcrowd the pan
- Fry in batches if needed
- Cut fries in even slices so fries cook evenly. You can also use a french fry cutter.
Variations to Try
- Garlic fries (garlic powder or minced garlic) for amazing flavor
- Seasoning salt instead of plain salt
- Cheese fries (add cheese, bacon, green onion)
- Onion Powder for delicious flavor
Other Cooking Methods
Baked French Fries (Healthier Option)
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- Toss fries with oil (about ¼ cup)
- Spread on baking sheet
- Bake 25 minutes, flipping halfway
Air Fryer French Fries
- Cook in batches for best results
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F
- Lightly coat fries with oil
- Cook for 15 minutes, shaking halfway
What to Serve with Homemade French Fries
They are the perfect side for Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Caesar Wrap, Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps, Quick and Easy BBQ Sloppy Joes Recipe and Easy Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe.
We also love to serve with these Dipping Sauces such as Easy Homemade Ketchup Recipe, Homemade BBQ Sauce, Arby’s Sauce Recipe and Homemade Ranch Dressing.
Storage, Freezer, & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days
- Freeze (after cooking) – Let fries cool completely, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months
- Freeze (before cooking – best for meal prep) – Cut potatoes then blanch for 2–3 minutes, cool and freeze in a freezer safe container. Then cook straight from frozen when ready
- Reheat for best results – We recommend to reheat in the air fryer for crispiest results. But you can also reheat in the oven or the skillet. If you reheat in the microwave, it makes fries soft instead of crispy.
FAQs
Soaking removes excess starch, which helps the fries cook up crispy instead of soft. Even 30 minutes makes a big difference.
Russet Potatoes are the most commonly used for deep fried french fries. They result in crispy fries inside and out. If you like the inside to be less crispy, try using Yukon Gold potatoes.
You need to use 2 large russet potatoes per person. If you are using smaller potatoes, adjust the total accordingly.
They may not have soaked long enough or the oil wasn’t hot enough.
Yes. Store cut potatoes in water in the fridge up to 24 hours.
Homemade french fries are one of the easiest and most affordable side dishes you can make. Whether you fry, bake, or air fry them, they turn out crispy and delicious every time.
Once you see how simple they are, you may never go back to frozen fries again. Please leave us a comment or a star review to let us know how they turned out!
More Easy Potato Recipes
Homemade French Fries
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Russet Potatoes ($2.40)
- Vegetable Oil for Frying ($1.00)
- 1 tsp Salt ($0.02)
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Peel 3 lbs russet potatoes and cut them into evenly sized strips. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl, cover with cold water, and soak for at least 30 minutes.
- Fill a large saucepan or deep pot with vegetable oil so the oil is at least 3 inches deep. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
- Place the fries in the oil in a single layer and cook for 8-10 minutes until the fries are a golden brown color. You may have to cook in batches depending on the size of the sauce pan used for frying.
- Move the fries to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Sprinkle the hot fries with 1 tsp salt and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.
Easy recipe to follow.