These homemade Weight Watchers Air Fryer French Fries are just 3 points per serving. And I can’t get enough of them! Although I love other forms of french fries, like carrot or sweet potato fries, I always seem to crave classic french fries made with russet potatoes. There’s just something so delicious about their crispy exterior and fluffy center.
Not to mention, they are so fun to dip in sauces and serve alongside burgers, wraps, and other yummy entrees. Sometimes, I even make cheese fries for a snack using some fat-free mozzarella. No matter how you enjoy your french fries, you can use this easy recipe as a base! Since they are made in the air fryer instead of being cooked in oil, they are much healthier overall.
All you need is a spritz of avocado oil spray (or some olive oil) just to coat their surface and make them nice and crispy. They’re also healthier than fast-food french fries or frozen fries because they don’t contain any preservatives or additives—what you see is what you get! Potatoes, seasonings, and some cooking spray or oil are all you need to accomplish this delicious recipe.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- It’s healthy! These french fries are lightened up because they’re not cooked in oil. And they are made with whole, simple ingredients.
- You can customize the recipe. You can coat your french fries with a customized seasoning blend, dip them in various sauces, or load them with cheese after they cook. There are so many ways to enjoy them.
- It’s versatile. This recipe can be enjoyed as a light afternoon snack or it can be a side dish for your lunch or dinner entrée. Fries pair with so many different foods, from sandwiches to chicken strips to burgers and fish.
Recipe Overview
- Serving Size: 144g
- Number of Servings: 4
- Time to Cook: 15 – 20 minutes
- WW Points Per Recipe: 3 WW points per serving, 12 for the entire batch (Click here to view the recipe in the WW app. WW login is required)
Ingredients in Air Fryer French Fries
- 20 oz Russet potatoes, sliced into ¼ – ½ inch fries (measure the ounces after trimming/cutting. This was 3 med-large potatoes for me)
- Salt and pepper: To taste
- Garlic powder: To taste
- Dried parsley: To taste
- 6-12 second spray, Avocado oil spray (or your preferred oil)
Instructions for making Air Fryer French Fries
- As preparation, clean the potatoes and slice them into ¼ – ½ inch fries. I first cut the ends off and then cut the potatoes into planks, which I then sliced into fries. This helped me to achieve a relatively even thickness.
- Rinse the potatoes until the water runs clear. Soak the potatoes in ice-cold water for at least 1 hour (or up to 8 hours). You can put the potatoes in the fridge while they soak to ensure the water stays cold.
3. Preheat the air fryer to 380F.
4. Rinse the uncooked fries gently and then thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. You shouldn’t be able to see any moisture on the surface of the fries. It is better to overdo it when drying them rather than under-drying them because if they’re still wet, they will be soggy.
5. Spray the fries with avocado spray (or use a small amount of oil) to coat them on all sides. If using the spray, you can count how many seconds you spray them for and calculate it in the WW app. Even what feels like a generous spray will likely be zero points. Season them lightly.
Carefully spread the fries in the air fryer, giving space between each one. Work in batches if needed. Don’t let them touch!
6. Cook the French fries in the preheated 380F air fryer for 10 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness and darkness. Start with less time for thinner fries. If they are not getting enough color, you can spray them more (don’t use aerosol spray).
7. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately! If you had to work in batches, you could combine all of them in the air fryer to refresh them for just 1-2 minutes, which will crisp them up again.
Variations and Substitutions
- Splurge Version: Make cheese fries once your fries are entirely cooked. You can keep the fries in the air fryer and carefully top them with shredded cheese, making sure not to let the cheese fall into the basket. It only needs a minute for the cheese to melt. Then, top the cheese fries with onions, jalapenos, bacon, chives, shredded chicken, or any preferred toppings.
- Cajun Fries: Season the fries with a cajun seasoning blend. You can make your own or use a store-bought blend to make it easier!
- Poutine: Turn your fries into poutine by loading them with gravy and cheese curds.
- Dipping Ideas: French fries taste amazing with all sorts of condiments! Try dipping them in ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or even buffalo sauce. Or, make your own fry sauce for an extra delicious experience.
Tips and Tricks for Making Air Fryer French Fries
- Don’t let fries touch when loading them into the air fryer! This is the key to the crispiest fries. They really need the air flow in order not to turn out soggy.
- Thoroughly dry them with a paper towel before spraying and seasoning them. If you leave too much water on the surface, they will be limp and not cook properly.
- Flipping them is also crucial. Although the circulating air cooks them on all sides, it further promotes even cooking when you flip them.
- I personally like to lightly season my fries before cooking and then give them a taste test when they’re done. From here, I can add more seasonings if needed. I find this prevents accidentally over-seasoning them!
- How to store homemade french fries: store any extras in an airtight container or a resealable bag and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to crisp them up again.
- Use a non-aerosol spray and one that doesn’t contain soy lecithin, as the sprays that have these properties can damage your air fryer sometimes!
Related Recipes
Homemade Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
- 20 oz Russet potatoes, sliced into ¼ – ½ inch fries (measure the oz after trimming/cutting. This was 3 med-large potatoes for me)
- Salt and pepper: To taste
- Optional: Garlic powder, onion powder To taste
- Optional: Dried parsley: To taste
- 6-12 second spray Avocado oil spray, or your preferred oil
Instructions
- As preparation, clean the potatoes and slice them into ¼ – ½ inch fries. I first cut the ends off and then cut the potatoes into planks, which I then sliced into fries. This helped me to achieve a relatively even thickness.
- Rinse the potatoes until the water runs clear. Soak the potatoes in ice-cold water for at least 1 hour (or up to 8 hours). You can put the potatoes in the fridge while they soak to ensure the water stays cold.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380F.
- Rinse the uncooked fries gently and then thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. You shouldn’t be able to see any moisture on the surface of the fries. It is better to overdo it when drying them rather than under-drying them because if they’re still wet, they will be soggy.
- Spray the fries with avocado spray (or use a small amount of oil) to coat them on all sides. If using the spray, you can count how many seconds you spray them for and calculate it in the WW app. Even what feels like a generous spray will likely be zero points. Season them lightly. Carefully spread the fries in the air fryer, giving space between each one. Work in batches if needed.
- Cook the French fries in the preheated 380F air fryer for 10 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness and darkness. Start with less time for thinner fries. If they are not getting enough color, you can spray them more (don’t use aerosol spray).
- Adjust seasoning and serve immediately while they are crispy! If you had to work in batches, you could combine all of them in the air fryer to refresh them for just 1-2 minutes, which will crisp them up again.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
