One of my all time favourite sides has to be potatoes. I mean, you can cook them up so many different ways, what't not to like about them?! But, if I had to pick a favourite way to cook a potato, it would definitely be fries. Growing up, I'd often times crave McDonalds fries and hit the drive thru just for them. Years later, I started making my own at home. So, I'm pretty excited to share these crispy oven baked fries with you, because everyone should enjoy these from time to time.

A lot of people have some pretty strong opinions about how to make oven baked fries crispy. I know that there are techniques to boil the potatoes first to have them cooked slightly before baking, but I'll be honest, when I want fries, I want fries. I don't want to have to fuss too much with them. And these oven baked fries get plenty crispy on their own without needing to boil them.

Healthy Crispy Oven Baked Fries

You might be thinking fries aren't healthy, but I beg to differ. Sure potatoes aren't the most nutrient dense food, but that doesn't make them unhealthy either. And because we're not deep frying them or using a lot of unhealthy oils to cook them in, these are a lot healthier.

You could also use sweet potato for this recipe if you want, just be sure to follow the same tips I outline below with them.  

Tips to Make these Fries Crispy

I like these crispy oven baked fries because they really are pretty fuss free. And you don't have to do a lot to make them taste delicious. But, with that being said, there are definitely some tips you'll want to follow to ensure you get your fries as crispy and delicious as possible.

Cut them Uniformly:

No matter what shape you decide on, whether you want them thinner like mine, or wedges, make sure that they're all cut the same size. Because we're heating them on a fairly high heat, you want to make sure that they all cook the same. Otherwise, you'll end up with some that are nice and crispy, and some that are burnt, or not crispy at all. Whichever shape you choose, stick with it.

To cut them into thinner fries like I did, take your large russet potato and cut in half lengthwise, then slice them once more lengthwise. You'll end up with four slabs of potato. From there, you'll slice them into fries, making sure they're all roughly the same shape and size.

Spread them Out

When you're ready to bake them, make sure that they're spread out evenly on the parchment lined pan. You can use two baking trays for this to ensure they're not touching. If they're touching, you'll end up steaming the fries rather than crisping them.  We want to avoid this! See below for how I spaced them out.

Don't forget the Oil

You definitely want to ensure that your fries are coated in oil so that they crisp up and don't dry out. I use about 2 to 3 tbsp of olive oil for 2 large russet potatoes. You don't want them super oily by any means, but you do want to ensure that each fry is coated.

Opt for olive oil or avocado oil.

Crank up the Heat

In order to ensure you get crispy fries, you need to turn up the heat. Preheating your oven to 425ºF is key. Some recipes call for an even higher heat, but personally I find 425ºF is perfect.

Flip them!

I know, it seems annoying to have to flip each fry over, but trust me it's worth it. You can try and be a hero and flip them all at once, but I just flip them individually around the halfway point. If I'm using two baking trays, I also like to flip them around and alternate the trays, so that the one at the bottom is now on top and vice versa. Flipping is crucial to ensuring that the fries crisp evenly.

Add-in's For Your Oven Baked Fries

For these crispy oven baked fries, I went with a classic combo of parmesan and rosemary. I also added in some truffle salt because I'm a bit truffle obsessed and why not!? I really like adding the grated parmesan on top after the fries are done baking, it just adds a lot of flavour.

Other options for these fries could be:

• Nutritional Yeast instead of Parmesan: I love adding nutritional yeast and I think a nice pinch of that after the fries are finished cooking would be delicious.
• Fresh Herbs: Rather than fresh rosemary, you could also use fresh chopped parsley on top. Fresh chives would also be delicious.
• Make them Spicy: Adding some spices like chili powder, smoked paprika, or Aleppo pepper would all make great add-ins. I would add those to the fries before baking so they can absorb all that flavour.

Use your imagination and add whatever you like. Or keep them super simple and just use salt. No matter what, they're delicious.

How to Re-Heat Crispy Oven Baked Fries Again (If Needed)

If you end up having leftover fries (it can happen!), you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge. When you want to reheat them, simply place them on a parchment lined baking sheet at 350ºF (177ºC) for about 7 to 8 minutes. This will get them hot again and slightly crisp them up. They won't taste as good as when they were fresh, but I still enjoy them.

Wondering what to serve with these crispy oven baked fries? Try my paleo chicken tenders with hot honey dipping sauce! It's kind of the perfect pair.

If you make these healthy crispy oven baked parmesan fries, let me know. Tag me on Instagram, or comment/leave a rating below. I love hearing from you!

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