Seasoned Fries

Of course, it’s okay to indulge in fast-food French fries sometimes because they are undeniably delicious. But they’re even better made at home and healthier, too.

So if you have the time, why not make these Seasoned Fries from scratch instead?

Even better, you can have unlimited refills without spending much. Honestly, spices and potatoes are probably the most economical treats you can make for your family. And these babies are oh so fabulicious. 👌

Contents… Recipe Ingredients How to Make Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Finger Snacks to Try Watch How To Make It

Homemade Seasoned Fries

What you’ll love most about this seasoning recipe is that you can easily customize it to your palate. A few herbs and spices are all it takes to make the magic happen.

Whether you want them spicy, sweet, or salty, you can do all of that with a few ingredient adjustments. 😉 And I swear, they’ll be the best-est fries you’ll ever have.

Your kids will surely enjoy them. And since they’re homemade, our fries are preservative-free. Plus, we can enjoy them anytime we want guilt-free. So no more lining up and waiting for our orders to come. Yay!

Seasoned Fries Recipe Ingredients

I know French fries are already addictive on their own, but why stop there when you can enjoy them loaded with spices and flavor, eh? So, let’s shake these babies up a bit with this easy French fry seasoning to enjoy these fries with style!

• Potatoes – The best potatoes for fries are the ones that are high in starch because they are denser and have the least moisture among the other varieties of potatoes. Perfect fry potatoes include Russet, Idaho, Maris Piper, and Yukon Gold. They hold their shape well get beautifully crispy on the outside. Try my Cajun baked sweet potato fries if you want an even healthier snack.
• Herbs – Oh, how I love my herbs! I always have them in my pantry because everything just tastes better with herbs. My favorites are parsley, oregano, and basil. Imagine adding them to our fries. Yum! 😋
• Spices – And, of course, the spices will surely give more life to our fries with their deep, bold flavors, especially with savory flavors from onion and garlic powder. And a dash of paprika and cayenne gives them a little kick of heat while adding a nice color.

How to Make Seasoned Fries

Make the French Fry Seasoning

1. Combine – Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl until everything is well incorporated. (Photos 1-2)
2. Set Aside – Transfer to an airtight or glass container.

Prep the Potatoes

1. Clean and Remove Potato Blemishes – Thoroughly scrub and clean potatoes if cooking with skin. Then use a paring knife to clean and remove any spoiled spots, such as bruising and discoloration.
2. Or Peel – If you choose to peel them, place the peeled potatoes in a bowl of cold water, so they don’t turn dark while you peel the rest. Make sure the potatoes are completely submerged in the water. (Photos 3-4)
3. Slice – Using a sharp knife, cut potatoes in 4-5 vertical slices, then cut each slice into sticks, depending on your preference. Remember, the thinner the fries, the crispier they get. (Photos 5-7)
4. Soak the Sliced Potatoes in Water –  Place cut potatoes in the bowl of water – the potatoes should be fully submerged in water. Then allow them to soak for two or three hours. Note: Alternatively, you can put them in the fridge and soak for several hours or overnight to remove excess starch. It helps make to make the fries crispier. (Photo 8)
5. Line a Plate or Cookie Sheet with Paper Towels – When ready to fry, line a cookie sheet or large plate with paper towels. You might have to use more than one plate or cookie sheet. Set aside.
6. Drain and Dry Sliced Potatoes – Drain off the water and lay them on a prepared cookie sheet. Pat damp fries with paper towels to dry out. If possible, let it air dry for about 10 minutes before frying. (Photos 9-10)

Fry the Sliced Potatoes

1. Heat the Oil in a deep fryer or cast-iron skillet to 300℉/160℃.
2. Fry – Carefully drop fries into the hot oil for about 5-6 minutes. Potatoes should be tender but not browned. (Photo 11)
3. Remove and Drain Excess Oil – Using a large strainer spoon to remove potatoes fries, gently shake off the excess oil, and let them drain on a plate or rack. Continue frying the remaining potatoes until you have par-cooked all the potato fries. (Photo 12)
4. Crank Up the Heat to 350℉/177℃.
5. Fry Again Until Golden Brown and Crispy – Return potatoes back to the fryer in small batches, frying until they’re golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. (Photos 13-15)

Season the Fries

1. Drain Oil and Season – Remove from oil, then shake off the excess oil and immediately toss with seasoning. (Photo 16)
2. Repeat until all potatoes are cooked.

Recipe Variations

• Creole Seasoning – Making Cajun fries seasoning is as simple as adding a dash of Creole seasoning to the mix. Or directly use the Creole Seasoning to season your fries.
• Seasoned Salt – Amp up the flavor with seasoned salt in our french fry seasoning. Or substitute our French fry seasoning with Seasoned Salt if you want a subdued seasoning without the added herby flavor.
• Taco Seasoning – Add a touch of Mexican flair to our Seasoned Fries with a few sprinkles of taco seasoning. Oh yes!
• Garlic and Parmesan – Garlicky and cheesy? Yes, please! That’s a sure winner right there! ❤
• Sweet Potato Fries – Use the seasonings on sweet potato fries or potato wedges. Yum!

Tips and Tricks

• Peanut oil or lard are the best options to fry your potatoes. It adds a nice flavor to our seasoned fries.
• Remember to add the seasoning while the fries are hot so they’ll stick to the fries.
• Twice-frying is the key to making the best Seasoned Fries. No shortcuts!
• Use a brown paper bag to toss and shake your fries and seasonings together.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Washing, slicing, and drying the potatoes is very time-consuming, and it doesn’t help if we’re currently craving fries. Right? Good thing potatoes freeze well. So, we can prep them ahead of time and store them until they are ready to use. Including the French fry seasoning as well. 😉

Alternatively, you can prep the potatoes a day ahead. Wash and slice the potatoes as instructed. Submerge them in a bowl of water, covered, then store them in the fridge overnight. Drain and let them dry before frying.

Make-Ahead French Fries

• Follow instructions to the point the potatoes are par-cooked.
• Store seasonings in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
• Once cooled, place par-cooked fries into a baking sheet without letting them touch each other and freeze them for about 2-3 hours.
• Transfer frozen fries into a freezer-safe resealable bag, removing as much air as possible. Don’t forget to label accordingly. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to three months.
• When ready to serve, proceed to fry the fries. No need to thaw.

Pro Tip: Blanching or par-cooking is essential in freezing potatoes or french fries because raw potatoes contain a lot of water. So freezing them might alter their texture, resulting in mushy and grainy potatoes once thawed.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Have you tried fries and ice cream combination? Aaah! They’re phenomenal! The combination of sweet and salty is on point.

Don’t get me wrong, though, because nothing beats fries and ketchup. Right? Or not? Because fries go well with these dips and sauces below, too. 😋

• Gravy
• Honey Mustard
• Ranch Dressing
• Barbecue Sauce
• Cheese Dip

Storing and Reheating Leftover Seasoned French Fries

Place the leftover fries in an airtight container or resealable bag. They will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To reheat:

• Stove – Pan-fry the fries in a heated skillet over medium-high heat. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes or until crispy. No need to add oil because the fries have enough residual oil already. Adding oil will just make them soggy and very oily.
• Oven – Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil. Preheat the oven at 400-450℉/205-232℃ and place the prepared baking sheet while preheating. Once heated, take out the baking sheet from the oven, and transfer the leftover fries into the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake them for 5 minutes or more, depending on the size and the amount of fries being reheated.
• Air Fryer – Place the fries in the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 450℉/232℃ and set the timer for 3-5 minutes or until crispy.

FAQs

What to Serve with Seasoned Fries

Aside from snacking on fries, we can include them as a side dish to any of these main entrees below.

• Air-Fryer Southern Fried Chicken
• Southern Fried Catfish
• Breaded Pork Chops
• Grill Jerk Chicken Tacos
• Pulled Pork Sandwich

More Finger Snacks to Try

• Beignets New Orleans
• Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
• Cajun Baked Sweet Potato Fries
• Mac and Cheese Bites
• Pulled Pork Egg Rolls

Watch How to Make It

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