Oven Baked Fries Recipe
There’s nothing better than a pile of crispy fries alongside a juicy burger, and this Oven Baked Fries Recipe makes some of the best you’ll ever eat. Instead of standing over a pot of hot oil, you can make perfectly golden and crispy French fries right in the oven with just a few simple ingredients. Soaking the potatoes first removes excess starch, while beef tallow gives them incredible savory flavor and crispy edges. Serve them with homemade burgers, soft sourdough hamburger buns, my homemade miracle whip recipe, and your favorite dipping sauce for a delicious from-scratch meal.
Quick Look: Crispy Homemade Oven Fries Baked In Beef Tallow
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🍳 Cook Time: 1 hour
- 🕒 Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 6
- 📊 Calories: ~110 kcal per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cook Method: Oven-baked on baking sheet
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Rich, savory, and deeply flavorful with a crispy exterior and tender, fluffy interior; classic beefy notes from tallow.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy – beginner-friendly, simple prep and oven baking.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Extra crispy without deep frying. Soaking the potatoes before baking and cooking them in beef tallow gives these oven fries a beautifully crisp exterior with a fluffy center.
- Rich, savory flavor. Beef tallow adds a delicious depth of flavor and helps the potatoes turn golden brown in the oven.
- Simple ingredients. You only need potatoes, my beef tallow recipe, salt, pepper, and your favorite seasonings to make a batch.
- Perfect for burgers and cookouts. These crispy fries make an easy homemade side dish for burgers, grilled meats, sandwiches, and summer meals. They’re especially delicious served alongside a chicken patty melt or homemade burger.
- Mostly hands-off. Once the potatoes are prepared and in the oven, you only need to give them an occasional stir while they bake.
- Easy to customize. Keep them simple with salt and pepper, or add garlic powder, onion powder, ranch seasoning, or your favorite spices. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy.
Ingredients
For a full list of ingredients needed to make this recipe, see the recipe card below.
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How To Make Oven Baked Fries Recipe
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
2. Using a cutting board and a sharp knife or a french fry cutter, cut the potatoes into fries. I like to cut the potatoes in half or thirds lengthwise, then lay each piece of the potato flat and slice into fries. I always leave the skins on my potatoes because it saves time and makes them extra crispy.
3. For steak fries, you can cut thicker fries, and just bake them longer in the oven.
4. Add the cut fries to the mixing bowl and cover with water. Let them soak for 10 minutes.
5. Place them on a tea towel and dry thoroughly.
6. Grease the baking sheet with tallow to keep the potatoes from sticking.
7. Add the cut potatoes in a single layer on the sheet pan.
8. Sprinkle seasoning of choice on the fries and gently toss.
9. Dab remaining tallow on top of the fries.
10. Bake for 1 hour or until golden brown and crispy, stirring occasionally.
11. Serve with ketchup, ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
12. Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. To Reheat: Place cold fries in an even layer on a greased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes. They’ll be crispy and taste fresh baked.
Tips For Making This Oven Baked Fries Recipe
- Use homemade beef tallow for the best flavor. Beef tallow has a high smoke point and works especially well for high-heat cooking, making it an excellent fat for crispy fries. If you don't have any on hand, you can use coconut oil or avocado oil. You can learn how to process beef tallow and keep a supply in your pantry for cooking.
- Cut and soak the potatoes ahead of time. If you need to get a head start, cut your potatoes and place them in a bowl of cold water in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake. Make sure the potatoes are completely covered with water so they don't turn brown. Just be sure to dry them very well before adding the tallow and baking.
- Dry the potatoes really well. This is one of the most important steps for crispy fries. A salad spinner makes quick work of removing excess water after soaking, or you can spread the potatoes on clean kitchen towels and pat them thoroughly dry. The less moisture on the surface, the better the fries will brown and crisp.
- Don't skimp on the salt and fat. Potatoes need plenty of seasoning to really shine, and the beef tallow adds both flavor and helps create those crispy golden edges. Season the fries while they're still hot so the salt sticks well.
- Give the fries plenty of room. For the crispiest oven fries, spread the potatoes in a single layer with space between them. If they're crowded together, they'll steam instead of roast and won't get nearly as crispy. Use two baking sheets if necessary.
- Use parchment for easier cleanup. You can line your baking sheet with parchment paper if you'd rather spend less time scrubbing the pan. For maximum browning and crispiness, however, a well-preheated bare baking sheet can give you an even better crust.
- Want thicker steak fries? Cut the potatoes into thicker wedges and bake them at 375°F for about 15–20 minutes before increasing the oven temperature to 425°F. Continue baking until they're golden brown and crispy on the edges.
- Turn them into loaded fries. These fries are delicious on their own, but you can also turn them into chili fries, nacho fries, or load them up with your favorite toppings for an easy meal or snack.
Oven Baked Fries Recipe FAQs
The key to crispy oven fries is removing excess starch and moisture from the potatoes before baking. Soaking the cut potatoes in cold water helps remove surface starch, while thoroughly drying them before adding the fat keeps them from steaming in the oven. Baking at a high temperature with beef tallow also helps create golden, crispy edges.
If your oven fries aren't getting crispy, the potatoes may be too wet, the baking sheet may be overcrowded, or the oven may not be hot enough. Make sure to dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking and spread them in a single layer with plenty of space between the fries. Too much moisture causes the potatoes to steam instead of roast.
You don't absolutely have to soak potatoes before baking them, but I highly recommend it if you want crispy oven fries. Soaking helps remove excess starch from the surface of the potatoes, which helps them develop a crispier exterior as they bake.
Russet potatoes are an excellent choice for homemade oven fries because they have a high starch content and relatively low moisture, which helps create a crispy exterior and fluffy center. Yukon Gold potatoes can also be used if you prefer a slightly creamier texture.
Beef tallow is my favorite fat for making crispy oven fries. It has a high smoke point and gives the potatoes a delicious savory flavor while helping them turn beautifully golden and crisp. You don't need a large amount of tallow to get great results. If you don't have beef tallow, coconut oil or avocado oil are good alternatives.
Yes! That's one of the best things about this recipe. You can make crispy homemade French fries in the oven without a deep fryer or a pot full of hot oil. Soaking and thoroughly drying the potatoes, using enough cooking fat, and baking them at a high temperature are the keys to getting a crispy exterior.
The best way to prevent soggy oven fries is to remove as much moisture as possible before baking. Dry the potatoes thoroughly after soaking, don't overcrowd the baking sheet, and serve the fries soon after they come out of the oven. If you need to hold them briefly, keep them uncovered so trapped steam doesn't soften the crispy exterior.
Yes. You can cut the potatoes ahead of time and keep them completely submerged in cold water in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake them. This is a great option when you're preparing fries for a burger night or cookout. Drain and dry the potatoes thoroughly before continuing with the recipe.
If you try this recipe and love it, please come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @wagonwheelhomestead21. I can’t wait to see what all you make!
If you're looking for a great recipe to try out on your grill, make this Cheesey Smoked Meatloaf Recipe from my friends blog, theproverbskitchen.com.
Crispy Homemade Oven Fries Baked In Beef Tallow
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 cutting board
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes medium sized
- 4 tablespoon beef tallow
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- seasonings of choice optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
- Using a cutting board and a sharp knife or a french fry cutter, cut the potatoes into fries. I like to cut the potatoes in half or thirds lengthwise, then lay each piece of the potato flat and slice into fries. I always leave the skins on my potatoes because it saves time and makes them extra crispy.
- For steak fries, you can cut thicker fries, and just bake them longer in the oven.
- Add the cut fries to the mixing bowl and cover with water. Let them soak for 10 minutes.
- Place them on a tea towel and dry thoroughly.
- Grease the baking sheet with tallow to keep the potatoes from sticking.
- Add the cut potatoes in a single layer on the sheet pan.
- Sprinkle seasoning of choice on the fries and gently toss.
- Dab remaining tallow on top of the fries.
- Bake for 1 hour or until golden brown and crispy, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with ketchup, ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To Reheat:
- Place cold fries in an even layer on a greased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes. They’ll be crispy and taste fresh baked.
Notes
- No beef tallow? Use coconut or avocado oil instead.
- Plan ahead: Cut and soak fries in cold water in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Keep them fully submerged to prevent browning.
- Dry well: Use a salad spinner to quickly remove excess water before baking.
- Don't skimp on seasoning: Salt and fat are key to flavorful, crispy fries.
- For steak fries: Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, then increase to 425°F until golden and crispy.
- Make them loaded: Top with chili, cheese, or your favorite toppings for chili or nacho fries.
- Easy cleanup: Bake on parchment paper for less mess.
These are so good!