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    Home » Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

    Published: Oct 21, 2022 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. · 57 Comments

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    The easiest fries you’ll ever make! These Air Fryer Frozen French Fries are super crispy and ready in under 15 minutes, you’ll never cook them any other way!

    a basket of frozen french fries cooked in the air fryer

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    Air Fryer French Fries

    Have you jumped into the Air Fryer craze? Well, first it was the Instant Pot. I was skeptical of it at first, but once I dove in…I now own two Instant Pot’s and am obsessed. Then, it was the air fryer. Again, I was skeptical at first, but just got mine a few days ago and already LOVE it!

    I had been hearing a lot of people talk about their love for the air fryer. Making things like chicken tenders, French fries, veggies, wings, and more! I was intrigued, but still not sold.

    Well, then Costco did me in. You’re probably wondering….how did COSTCO sway me?? Well, I made the mistake of browsing the middle area of Costco. Do you know how dangerous that is?? There are all sorts of good stuff in that area. If you’ve ever been, you know where I am talking about! The seasonal items, the clothes, toys, books, COOKBOOKS, and more!

    I typically can show great restraint in that store (well, kind of), and I try to avoid the middle section. Well, this time I didn’t. I had my hubby with me (also dangerous) and before I knew it, we finished shopping for groceries and ended up browsing for pool toys. That quickly led to buying swimsuits for the kids, and then somehow I was looking through cookbooks. The one that grabbed my attention was the air fryer book. I think it was because I was hungry and there were donuts on the cover. Smart publisher they are! I bought the book immediately, only problem, I didn’t own an air fryer. Definitely frivolous, right?!

    Once we got home and unpacked our groceries, I sat down to browse the cookbook. I immediately tagged the ones I liked and realized the whole dang book was tagged! After showing my hubby, he too found several to try and jumped on board the air fryer train.

    We ordered ours off Amazon after reading through tons of reviews. Ours is a beast, 6.3 quart, because we have a family of 5. When I first unboxed it, I immediately thought it was too big, no where I was going to be able to store it, and already was thinking it would end up returned.

    The first night, I tried chicken tenders. I breaded the chicken tenders I had bought previously, laid them in the baking tray, set the timer and about 12 minutes, later, crispy chicken tenders came out that used no oil! Amazing!

    The second night, I tossed an entire bag of frozen French fries into the pan and set the timer once more. 15 minutes later, out came the most perfectly cooked fries ever. My kids said they were even better than McDonald’s. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. It cut my cook time down from 30 minutes in oven, to 15! Way crispier too! Say goodbye to the guilt of indulging in french fries! When you are craving that salty, crispy hot fresh french fry, air frying is the only way to go. They taste just like they’ve been fried in oil, but they are not!

    Since the chicken tenders I made were from the recipe book that came with it, I can’t call it my own! See picture below for recipe! As for the fries, not quite a recipe, but more like a method. Nonetheless, I have included it below because its perfection at its finest!

    Why make fries in the Air Fryer

    • Perfectly crispy every time! Plus they taste like deep-fried french fries, only healthier
    • Cook more evenly than in the oven. Long gone are the days where some fries are crispy, and others are still soggy
    • Done in only 15 minutes
    • No additional oil needed! Meaning, go ahead and pile your plate with fries!

    country chicken tenders recipe

    Ingredients for Air Fryer Fries

    As you can guess, there are not too many ingredients to this simple recipe. Pick your favorite brand and type of frozen french fries and you’re set.

    Frozen French Fries: Choose your favorite: straight cut, steak fries, curly, shoestring, waffle, sweet potato, crinkle cut. Your cook time will vary depending on the fry you pick, but all will be perfectly crisp and delicious.

    Optional Seasonings: if you’re feeling adventurous, you can add more salt, onion powder, garlic powder, all-purpose seasoning, and/or any seasoning desired.

    How to make Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

    Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.

    1. Place frozen French fries in air fryer basket.
    2. Spread evenly over basket.
    3. Air fry French fries at 400 degrees for 16 minutes.
    4. About halfway through, shake basket around and toss fries to help them evenly cook. At this point, you can add a few minutes or deduct depending on desired crispness.
    5. Serve with your favorite dip. My go-to fav dipping sauce is Chick Fil A Sauce and Alabama White BBQ Sauce. Also try my Southern Comeback Sauce

    Seasoning Options

    Although frozen fries come partially cooked, seasoned, and oiled, you can definitely add some seasonings to make them even tastier. Here are some great options to try…

    • Salt/Pepper- add a little, or add a lot, adjust to taste
    • Cajun Seasoning- this is a fav of mine since its both savory and adds a kick
    • Garlic/Onion Powder- adjust to taste, use both or one
    • All-Purpose Seasoning- I use an all-purpose seasoning on just about everything, my go-to is Chupacabra

     

    frozen french fries cooked in the air fryer

    FAQ’s

    Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

    Nope! You don’t have to preheat the air fryer for this recipe.

    How do I make fries crispy in the air fryer?

    Make sure your fries are not crowded. Since you’ll be shaking the basket halfway through, you don’t have to place them in a single layer but make sure they have a bit of space between or around them.

    Do I need to add oil for air fryer frozen french fries?

    Nope! For this recipe, no oil is added. Many brands already use oil and salt on their fries.

    Do I need to defrost frozen french fries beforehand?

    Nope, in fact, I recommend keeping them in the freezer until ready to cook. This helps keep them perfectly crisp!

    Storage

    Once cooked, air fryer frozen french fries will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator. Wrap fries in parchment paper and store in an airtight container, but do not over-pack it. This helps the fries from getting soggy.

    When reheating, place them back in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 375 degrees F. They’ll never be quite as crunchy as when they’re first cooked, but should still be tasty!

    What fries to use

    There are several types of fries available and so they all cook a bit differently. These are good suggestions for starting times, adjust accordingly.

    • Crinkle-Cut/Waffle Fries: 10 minutes
    • Sweet Potato Fries: 15 minutes
    • Lattice Cut Fries:  12 minutes
    • Shoestring Fries: 10 minutes

    More Air Fryer Recipes to try

    I love using my air fryer as much as possible because it makes the best main dishes, side dishes and more. Here are some tried and true air fryer recipes to try.

    Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks– homemade cheese sticks made perfectly crispy in the air fryer

    Crispy Air Fried Onion Rings– the ultimate onion rings made way healthier

    Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tenders– crispy and delicious chicken tenders made quickly

    Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp– a copycat recipe from Bonefish Grill!

     

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    3.78 from 158 votes

    Air Fryer Frozen French Fries Recipe

    If you're cooking frozen French fries, you must try them in an air fryer! Perfectly crisp, delicious, and effortless! You'll never cook them any other way!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Keyword: air fryer, air fryer frozen french fries, fries
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 197kcal
    Author: The Cookin' Chicks

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb frozen French fries *we love Checker's frozen fries
    • Salt/Pepper (to taste) *or buy the already seasoned fries

    Instructions

    • Place frozen French fries in air fryer basket.
    • Spread evenly over basket.
    • Air fry French fries at 400 degrees for 16 minutes.
    • About halfway through, shake basket around and toss fries to help them evenly cook. At this point, you can add a few minutes or deduct depending on desired crispness.
    • Remove basket and serve warm!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

    Recipe updated 10/21/2022

    More Air Fryer

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      Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp
    • a crunchy snack made from onions.
      Crispy Air Fried Onion Rings
    • a stack of fried donuts on a plate
      Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Donuts
    • Crispy seasoned brussel sprouts from the air fryer.
      Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rose

      February 2, 2021 at 7:10 pm

      i feel so lucky this was the recipe i clicked on because those are the exact fries i purchased and decided to look it up after lol

      Reply
      • Kristin

        February 3, 2021 at 6:54 am

        Yay! Hope you enjoyed! I love those fries, especially when they get super crunchy!!

        Reply
    2. Grammy Gram

      October 26, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      First off, you don’t have to read anything you don’t want to read when pulling up the website! You came looking for a recipe, just hold your finger on the page down button and scroll until you see whatever you came for. Easy as that, no big deal!! Some people! Second, I too, came for the temperature and time which I got after scrolling down, so thank you! I also acquired a Chicken Tender recipe in the process, so thank you for that too.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 26, 2020 at 5:08 pm

        Hope you enjoy the chicken tender recipe and the tasty fries!!

        Reply
    3. Sandi

      September 26, 2020 at 6:02 am

      5 stars
      Kristin, Loved your backstory. Recipe is on the mark but do find preheating helps. For more info on Air Frying check out Meredith Lawrence – Blue Jean Chef’s site https://bluejeanchef.com/ (Used to be chef on QVC now has her own site). She also has an air fryer cookbook but her site has lots of recipes, starts out with 8 or 9 but you can keep “loading more recipes” and she has a tab dedicated to all kinds of cooking methods including Air Fryer.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        September 26, 2020 at 8:28 am

        Thanks! I use the Cuisinart Toaster Over Air Fryer now and it doesn’t need pre-heating, but defintely came in handy with my previous one! I will need to check out that site for sure! Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
    4. Teddi

      September 4, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      1 star
      Please, enough with the back stories. I shouldn’t have to spend 5 minutes scrolling to find a simple instruction. All you needed to write was pre heat air fryer 400 degrees cook for 16. Shake halfway through. That’s it.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        September 6, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        Okay, but in the back story, I also shared more air fryer recipes (chicken tenders), good cookbooks I have found for the air fryer, etc. I promise, I too don’t like backstory that goes too long, which is why I try to keep my posts shorter than most. In some cases, my excitement gets carried away and I end up sharing more! Sorry 🙁

        Reply
    5. Steph K

      August 29, 2020 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      Perfectly crisp, delicious, and effortless!Very convenient

      Reply
      • Kristin

        August 30, 2020 at 10:16 am

        Yay! Glad you enjoyed!!

        Reply
    6. Kaleb

      August 27, 2020 at 11:23 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing! Just bought my air fryer and looking forward to make some french fries.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        August 28, 2020 at 8:13 am

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Owain

      July 25, 2020 at 3:28 pm

      100% with Joe’s comment above. All anyone wants is the instructions. Too many food blogging sites have to tell a life story about the dish before you get to the instructions. Wish this would change.

      PS thank you for the instructions, they worked out well

      Reply
    8. Diya

      July 20, 2020 at 2:18 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing! Just bought my air fryer and looking forward to make some french fries.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        July 20, 2020 at 9:52 am

        Yay! Hope you enjoy! You’ll fall in love with your air fryer, its a fun kitchen appliance to have!!

        Reply
    9. LaKendra Truss

      July 10, 2020 at 2:53 am

      5 stars
      Perfect !

      Reply
      • Kristin

        July 10, 2020 at 9:27 am

        Glad you enjoyed!!

        Reply
    10. Erika

      July 9, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      5 stars
      Get the air fryer oven. you can put more in at one time. It comes with racks so you can have 4 or 5 racks in at once. I don’t preheat either. And I love the crispy fries in about 15 minutes.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        July 10, 2020 at 9:27 am

        Me too!! Its my fav!!

        Reply
    11. ROBYN

      July 7, 2020 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      Nothing to say. Easy to follow that. thanks for sharing it!

      Reply
      • Kristin

        July 8, 2020 at 7:25 am

        Glad you enjoyed!!

        Reply
    12. Joe

      June 30, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      Came for recipe (mostly temp/time since it really isn’t a recipe), left because I didn’t really want to scroll slowly through your life story looking for it.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        July 1, 2020 at 8:11 am

        LOL, okay? Definitely didn’t write my life story, but sorry to see you go! Hope you got the info before you left! If not, its 400 degrees for about 16 minutes! Enjoy!

        Reply
    13. Cheryl Kime

      April 21, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      Just received my air fryer yesterday. This morning I made French toast sticks. They were really good. Making French fries and chicken strips tonight. Thanks for the tips.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        April 21, 2020 at 3:48 pm

        Oh fun! You’ll start loving it! Can’t wait to hear what you make in it!! Keep me posted!

        Reply
    14. Ted

      January 16, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      1 star
      Super dry.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        January 17, 2020 at 6:19 am

        I typically use the Checkers fries, so if you’re using other brands or types, feel free to cut down the time for a few minutes and see how it looks before putting it in for the full 16 minutes. I prefer super crisp fries, my hubby likes them a bit more tender.

        Reply
    15. ALex

      December 5, 2019 at 3:38 pm

      I have an air fryer and I kinda don’t like it, takes like 30 minutes to make fries & more for frozen fries and there’s barely any space with the middle part rotating and only an on/off button

      Reply
      • Kristin

        December 6, 2019 at 6:52 am

        Oh no! Sorry to hear that! Have you tried roasting veggies in it?? Or chicken tenders? Try to experiment until you find what you like! There are so many fun things you can try!

        Reply
    16. Mark

      December 4, 2019 at 1:13 am

      I have the Emeril 360 air fryer. It only came with about 25 recipes. Tried making bag frozen French fries tonight. They weren’t very crispy. I didnt use oil and didnt preheat. They could have used another 5 minutes maybe.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        December 4, 2019 at 10:15 am

        Did you try flipping them over once through?? It could also depend on what brand/type of fry you use as I use the Checkers frozen French fries. If I go over 16 minutes with those, it is more burned. However, when I do the Ore Ida brand, I typically have to cook for about 20 minutes.

        Reply
    17. Sheila Lawrence

      November 20, 2019 at 6:27 pm

      How long did you cook the baked potato and at what temperature?

      Reply
      • Kristin

        November 21, 2019 at 8:02 am

        These are frozen French fries put into the air fryer. Not the fresh kind from potatoes, 🙂

        Reply
    18. Laura Gibson

      October 19, 2019 at 9:05 am

      Baked potatoes are amazing in the air fryer

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 19, 2019 at 4:55 pm

        Agreed! I just tried diced potatoes and they are great too!

        Reply
    19. Mimi

      October 18, 2019 at 7:55 am

      I am a newbie at this. Bought a Ninji Foodie and spending my time reading recipes. Anyone know how steak comes out when cooked in one of these?

      Reply
      • Kristin

        October 18, 2019 at 11:59 am

        I have tried it a few times and its great! Place the steak inside the air fryer basket, set the temperature to 400 degrees and the cook time for 7 minutes if you prefer medium-rare. Flip the steak about halfway through cooking, remove it from the air fryer, and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing

        Reply
    20. brian

      September 25, 2019 at 1:42 pm

      I rub with olive oils and few drops of truffle oil make taste little better.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        September 25, 2019 at 2:12 pm

        Sounds delicious!

        Reply
    21. Leslie

      September 23, 2019 at 3:35 pm

      Got an Emeril but it only came with a booklet that had like only 25 recipes everything from so appetizers to dessert but only the 25 and no other instructions

      Reply
      • Kristin

        September 23, 2019 at 8:43 pm

        Oh that’s frustrating! Browse through Pinterest too as they have lots of recipes! I am still trying new things so I don’t have many, but mine are slowly increasing as well!

        Reply
    22. Bob

      July 20, 2019 at 6:25 pm

      You said to spread the french fries out in an even layer in the basket. But the picture does not show that it shows groups of french fries like they were just thrown in. So how should I do this?

      Reply
      • Kristin

        July 21, 2019 at 8:14 pm

        Sorry for the confusion, I meant to spread them evenly in your basket. No need for an even layer as you will toss them halfway through to cook evenly. Just distribute them evenly in the basket, but it won’t be one layer, no worries! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    23. debbie maloy

      June 25, 2019 at 10:15 am

      my air-fryer has a rotating basket and I spritz my Checkers fries with a bit of olive oil and they are the best. having them tonight.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        June 25, 2019 at 3:41 pm

        Oh yum! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    24. Verna

      June 25, 2019 at 8:44 am

      It helps if you preheat the air fryer for about 2 minutes, then add the french fries. They come out a little more crispy and cooking time a little less.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        June 25, 2019 at 3:41 pm

        Good idea! I have read about doing that! My user manual specifically said mine didn’t need to preheat, but I may give it a try regardless! Thanks!

        Reply
    25. Regina Danley

      June 13, 2019 at 8:22 am

      I would love to know the name of the air fryer cookbook you bought!
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kristin

        June 13, 2019 at 9:57 am

        Hi!! Here is the one I have and LOVE, https://amzn.to/2KhiN9A

        Reply
    26. NANCY

      May 28, 2019 at 12:50 pm

      I know this is an air popper but most reviews I have read say you have to put a little oil in the cooking tray…..recipe doesn’t say.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        May 29, 2019 at 7:52 am

        Depends on the recipe, but this one doesn’t require any oil added! I have a few others (chicken tenders and veggies) that require a spritz or two of oil spray, but not this one! Enjoy!

        Reply
    27. Joan Kuhnke

      April 28, 2019 at 7:01 pm

      I love my Bella air fryer, we use it most for granddaughter, we used it to make Gluten free recipes, and always looking for new recipes.

      Reply
      • Kristin

        April 29, 2019 at 8:42 am

        Oh fun! So far, I am loving my air fryer. I plan to try a few new recipes in it this week so stay tuned!

        Reply
    28. Teresa

      April 26, 2019 at 10:14 am

      5 stars
      I have recently purchased an air fryer too, but have not used it yet. I’m going to start out with the french fries. I hope you continue to post more air fryer recipes. One question about your chicken tenders, could milk be used in place of eggs? My grandson has an allergy to eggs.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Kristin

        April 26, 2019 at 11:17 am

        Oh how fun! You are a newbie with me then!! We’ll experiment together, hehe! Let me know what you think of the fries, I think you’ll LOVE them!
        As for the chicken, I have heard that heavy cream is a great substitute! Will that work??

        Reply
    29. Mira Mokhat

      April 26, 2019 at 9:15 am

      What brand air fryer did you get??

      Reply
      • Kristin

        April 26, 2019 at 11:16 am

        Hi! I got an Innsky, here is the link, https://amzn.to/2XJu0SZ
        After doing some research, this one came in with the highest reviews and best price!

        Reply
    3.78 from 158 votes (149 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

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