Homemade Oven Fries

It is incredibly easy to make Oven Fries at home! With a few ingredients and tips, you can whip up low-fat fries that are seasoned perfectly, soft and tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside.

These baked fries are simple, fast, and a healthy side dish that everyone loves. This easy side dish pairs perfectly with Crock-Pot BBQ Chicken, Chicken Burgers, Classic Burgers, or Instant Pot Pulled Pork.

Perfect Oven Fries

It is well past time that I share with you my method of making perfect oven fries.

This simple recipe for baked fries is the perfect side dish to so many entrees. In fact, it is the most requested side dish at my house and has been for decades.

Oven Fries are my go-to side dish for so many reasons. 

• Super economical. Potatoes are affordable, plus they are a pantry staple that has a long shelf life.
• Kid-Friendly. Need I say more, parents? Kids are notoriously picky. These fries are a kids' favorite! And because they are homemade, they are actually GOOD for the kids.
• Healthy. Potatoes have gotten a bad wrap because most of us think of them as deep-fried fries, potato chips, or mashed potatoes slathered in cream in butter--but not all potato recipes are bad for you. Potatoes are full of nutrients and vitamins and if left unpeeled, fiber. While these baked fries feel indulgent, they are low in fat, low in sodium and full of nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin B12.
• Allergy-Friendly. These oven fries are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, corn-free, and vegan-friendly.
• Easy. Oven fries are as simple as cutting your potatoes in wedges and tossing with seasonings then baking. This method for making baked fries does not require any par-boiling or soaking of the potatoes. It is the EASIEST way to prepare oven fries with delicious SUCCESS! Perfect for the busiest of nights!

Key Ingredients

• Potatoes: Russet potatoes make the best potato for oven-baked fries, but you can use this method with Yukon gold potatoes, white potatoes, or red potatoes. Sweet potato fries require a different method to achieve crispiness.
• Oil: I most often opt for canola oil. It is a neutral mild oil. Vegetable oil, avocado oil, and olive oil are other suitable options.
• Seasoning: You can season your fries any way you like. Salt, pepper, or seasoned salt is the classic way to go--but see below for more ideas to dress up these oven fries.

How to Make Oven Fries

• Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray or brush with oil. This helps the potatoes to not stick to your baking dish and allows you to use less oil to toss the potatoes with. It also helps the potatoes to crisp and brown to perfection.
• Scrub and dry potatoes. Because we are leaving the skins on the potatoes, it is really important to make sure that the skin is free from dirt and debris.
• Slice each potato into 8-10 large wedges. Alternatively, you can slice into thinner slices for thin oven fries. Just note the difference in the bake time in the instructions. 
• Place your potato wedges directly onto the greased cooking sheet in a pile in the center of the pan. Drizzle with a bit of oil and seasonings. This helps cut down on the dishes used, but feel free to toss the potatoes with the oil and seasonings in a mixing bowl if desired.
• Toss the potato wedges and spread out evenly onto a rimmed baking sheet. DO NOT forget to spread out the fries well--use 2 trays even. The secret to getting these fries crispy is spreading out the fries and letting them have air circulate around them. If no room, the fries will steam and won't be able to get crispy. Unlike, my recipe for chicken strips, I do not recommend placing these fries on a baking rack to let air circulate. Contact with the pan allows the fries to get really crispy and golden.

• Bake fries, flipping half-way through the baking time.

Seasoning Options

Get creative with your oven fries and add a different seasoning blend to your potatoes to add a little flair to your dinner.

• Seasoned Fries: Use 2-3 teaspoons of seasoned salt in place of salt and pepper.
• Ranch Flavored: In place of salt and pepper, use 2-3 teaspoons dry ranch seasoning mix.
• Cajun Flavored: Add 2-3 teaspoons cajun seasoning to the potato slices and omit the salt and pepper in the recipe.
• Greek Flavored: In place of salt and pepper, season sliced potatoes with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic, and ½ teaspoon dried dill. Grate fresh lemon zest over fries after they have baked.
• Garlic Flavored: Season potato slices with 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons garlic powder.
• Taco Flavored: Use 2-3 teaspoons of taco seasoning in place of salt and pepper.
• Spicy Fries: Season the potatoes wedges with 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
• Old Bay: Toss the potatoes with 2-3 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning. This is what a lot of seafood restaurants do!

Serving Suggestions

Oven Fries are delicious served with so many entrees. You can serve them with ketchup, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, or use them as a base for Chili Fries and top with homemade chili and cheese.

Storage and Reheating

If you happen to have any leftover oven fries--which is a rare thing at my house, store the cooled fries in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat by spreading the fries out onto a sheet pan and baking at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until just warmed through.

You can also freeze leftover fries. To do so, spread the cooled fries out in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Place them into the freezer for an hour, or until the fries are frozen solid. Once frozen solid, transfer the potatoes into a freezer-safe storage bag, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To bake from frozen, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and bake for 15-18 minutes.

What to Serve with Fries

• Homemade Sloppy Joes
• Homemade Chicken Tenders
• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
• Boneless Buffalo Chicken Wings

I would love to hear how you enjoyed this recipe for Easy Baked Fries. Be sure to leave a comment!

This post was originally published in 2015 but has been updated in 2020 with new tips.