These oven baked french fries solve all problems and are the perfect side to pretty much any dinner. Made a handful of ingredients and baked to produce a fried-like crispy exterior while remaining fluffy on the inside. Making homemade french fries has never been easier!

crispy baked french fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper with ketchup.

In This Post

The Best Baked French Fries
You Need These Ingredients
Step by Step: How to Make Perfect Oven French Fries
FAQ About Oven-Baked French Fries
Serve Alongside
Crispy Homemade Baked French Fries

Most doubt that baked french fries can stand a chance next to traditional french fries, but I'm here to tell you otherwise. These crispy baked fries make a regular appearance in my kitchen and over the years I've nailed down the recipe to deliver fries that are flavorful and actually get crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside.

So if you want homemade fries without the mess, try this recipe NOW.

The Best Baked French Fries

Easy and little effort-let the oven do most of the work!
Bursting with flavor from the spices
Family-friendly recipe that the entire family loves
Minimal ingredients
Extra crispy exterior, soft and fluffy inside
Almost no mess (unlike their cousin fried french fries)
Serve alongside your favorite dinner-like buffalo chicken wings

ingredients for baked french fries such as potatoes, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, pepper and olive oil.

You Need These Ingredients

Potatoes: The best potatoes for oven baked french fries are russet or Yukon gold potatoes as they can stand up to the high temperature. If desired, can leave peel the skin off- we prefer to leave it on.
Olive Oil: Any type of oil will work- most often I use olive oil or avocado oil.
Salt: Like pasta, potatoes need to be generously salted to bring out their flavor.
Pepper: You don't need much but just enough to help balance out the salt.
Garlic Powder: Adds extra flavor. Don't use fresh garlic as it'll burn at the high temperature.
Dried Parsley: Adds extra flavor. If you prefer fresh parsley, toss the baked fries with it.

potatoes cut into french fries soaking a bowl of water on a white table.

pre-baked sliced french fries sitting on paper towels on a baking sheet.

Step by Step: How to Make Perfect Oven French Fries

Most think that making baked french fries is difficult but it's easier than you think- much easier than traditional fries too! Before starting you'll want to wash the potatoes and if desired, peel the skin off- we prefer to leave it on.

Take each potato and slice it lengthwise into 4-5 slices. Then, cut each of those into thin sticks about ⅜-inch. You can also use a vegetable chopper making it even easier. (Yumna @ Feel Good Foodie has step by step visuals on this.)
Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl and fill it with water. The potatoes only need 10-15 minutes to soak to draw out the excess starch which is the perfect amount of time to begin preheating the oven.
Remove the potatoes from the bowl of water and pat dry with paper towels. You want to make sure they are very dry.
Toss the potatoes in a large bowl and coat with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley.
Spread the potatoes on two baking sheets giving them enough room between each. Bake at 425°F for 25 minutes, then flip the potatoes and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown. Remember, the thickness of the potatoes determine the cooking time. The thinner the potatoes, the less time; the thicker the potatoes, the more time.

french fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper before baking.

baked french fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

FAQ About Oven-Baked French Fries

Why Do You Soak Fries in Water Before Baking? Soaking the fries for at least 15 minutes removes the excess starch from the potatoes- this helps create crispy french fries.
Why Don't My Fries Get Crispy in the Oven? This could be a couple reasons like the french fries weren't fully dried after soaking, not enough space between the fries on the baking sheet, or not a high enough temperature when baking (should be at least 425°F.)
Can I Use Sweet Potatoes to Make Oven Baked Fries? Absolutely! I do this often- follow the recipe exactly as written in the recipe card below except swap out for sweet potatoes.

Serve Alongside