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Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Air fryer frozen french fries are the perfect side dish to any meal. French fries cooked in the air fryer are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Frozen French fries take about fifteen minutes to cook in the air fryer and the air fryer is perfect for cooking smaller batches without heating up the kitchen. Served with a delicious dipping sauce they are just as good as fast food.

A plate of air fried French fries with a small dish of spicy dip.

If you love french fries, you will love cooking them in the air fryer.  Frozen fries cooked in the air fryer take about half the cook time as using the oven and air frying gets them evenly crispy.

Air fryer fries are just as good as fast food and because they are so quick, you can enjoy them any time. We love them with a dish of spicy chipotle dip, or curry mayo!

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One of the best appliances for cooking frozen foods is the air fryer.

When cooked in the air fryer, the food turns out crispy on the outside, without the need for added oil, and usually cooks in about half the time it takes in the oven.

Frozen french fries are especially delicious cooked in the air fryer. They are crisp and delicious while staying soft and fluffy on the inside. And unlike cooking in the oven, which results in one side being hard and crunchy, the air fryer helps cook them evenly, just like they’ve been cooked in a deep fryer, but without the added fat.

You can cook any variety of frozen french fries in the air fryer, so choose your favorite. Curly fries, waffle fries, steak fries, crinkle-cut fries, and straight-cut fries are all equally tasty.

If you prefer shoestring fries, you will likely want to start with less time, as the thinner fries will cook a bit quicker.

Why We Love French Fries in the Air Fryer

  • You only need a bag of frozen french fries and some simple seasoning.
  • They make a delicious side dish to almost any meal.
  • They take less than 20 minutes from start to finish.
  • All you need to do is open the bag and dump them in the air fryer.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Fries

For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

You only need two ingredients when making frozen french fries in the air fryer.

  • Frozen french fries – Choose your favorite brand and cut; we like crinkle cut, straight cut, shoestring, and waffle fries.  The timing in these instructions should work for most types of french fries. Thin, shoestring-style fries may only require half the time.
  • Seasoning – You can use anything you like. Salt, pepper, seasoning salt, cajun seasoning, and even garlic salt all work well.
A plate of fries and a small dish of spicy dip with two French fries dipped.

How to Make Frozen French Fries in Air Fryer

Making frozen french fries in the air fryer is super easy.

Preheat the air fryer to 380° for 5 minutes.

Next, add the french fries to the air fryer basket in a shallow layer. A bit of overlap is ok, but do not stuff the basket.

Set the air fryer to 15 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through.

After 15 minutes, check the fries; if you want them a bit crispier, you can add 1-2 minutes as needed. The cooking time may vary a bit depending on the french fry cut.

Once the french fries are done, season and serve as desired.

Pro Tip: Even though most air fryers advertise with baskets stuffed with french fries, you don’t want to overfill the basket. A shallow layer will ensure more even cooking and a quicker cooking time without leaving any soggy potatoes.

Cooked frozen French fries in an air fryer basket.

French Fry Dipping Sauces

While french fries with ketchup are just fine, we love french fries with dip.

There are so many delicious dips you can serve with your crispy fries. Mayo based dips are super easy to make and come together in minutes. There are endless flavor combinations to try.

We love spicy condiments, such as Spicy Sriracha Mayo, or Peri-Peri Mayo, but there are plenty of dips that are milder if you don’t like heat.

For a milder dip with lots of flavor, try Honey Mustard Mayo, Dill Mayo, or Creamy Cilantro Dip.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Frozen Fries

  • Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
  • Shake the basket a few times during the cooking process to ensure even cooking.
Do you need to add oil to the air fryer frozen french fries?

You do not need to add any oil or cooking spray to the fries or basket when cooking frozen french fries in the air fryer.

Should I defrost frozen fries before air frying?

No. You will cook the french fries from frozen.

French fries in small metal baskets with sides of dip.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Printable Recipe

French fries in a small basket with a dish of dip.

Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

The air fryer is the best way to cook frozen french fries. When cooked in the air fryer, french fries come out extra crispy on the outside, while soft and fluffy on the inside.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Save Recipe Rate
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 295kcal
Author: Deanna

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frozen french fries
  • salt, pepper, or seasonings to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer at 380°F for 5 minutes.
  • Place the french fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer. A bit of overlap is ok, but you don't want to fill the basket to the top.
  • Place the basket in the air fryer, set it to 380°F and cook the fries for 15-17 minutes or until crisp. Shake the basket at the halfway mark. The time will vary depending on the thickness of the fries and the brand.
  • Once the fries are the desired crispness, remove them from the basket, season, and serve.

Nutrition

Estimated Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Amount per Serving
Calories
295
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Sodium
 
556
mg
24
%
Carbohydrates
 
34
g
11
%
Fiber
 
5
g
21
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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