The Best Oven-Baked French Fries

Crispy, Cozy, and the Easiest Side Dish Ever

If there’s one side dish that never fails in our house, it’s oven-baked French fries. They’re simple, affordable, and pair with just about everything — burgers, sandwiches, chicken, or a cozy weeknight dinner plate.

These fries are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and incredibly forgiving. You can bake them in any oil you like — olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil — but if you want truly next-level flavor… bacon grease is amazing.

One small step makes all the difference here: soaking the potatoes in ice water. It removes excess starch, which helps the fries crisp instead of steaming in the oven. Don’t skip it — this is the secret to restaurant-style oven fries.

Why You’ll Love These Fries

• Crispy without deep frying

• Made with simple pantry ingredients

• Works with any oil you have on hand

• Bacon grease option = unreal flavor

• Extra crispy thanks to an ice-water soak

• Easy to customize with seasonings

Ingredients

• Potatoes (russet or Yukon gold work best)

• Ice water (for soaking)

• Oil of choice (olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil — or bacon grease!)

• Salt

• Optional seasonings: garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, rosemary, parmesan

How to Make Oven-Baked French Fries

1. Cut the potatoes

Wash and cut the potatoes into evenly sized fry-shaped sticks.

2. Soak in ice water (don’t skip this!)

Place the cut potatoes into a bowl of ice-cold water. Let them soak for 30 minutes.

This step removes excess starch and is key for crispy fries.

3. Rinse and dry thoroughly

Drain the potatoes, rinse them well, then pat completely dry with a clean towel or paper towels. The drier the potatoes, the crispier the fries.

4. Preheat the oven

Heat your oven to 375°F.

5. (Optional but amazing) Make bacon grease

Lay strips of bacon on the baking sheet and bake until crispy. This cooking process takes 20-35 minutes, depending on the thickness. Flip halfway through! I love to make bacon for breakfast the next morning! This is the perfect way to use up the bacon grease. Remove the bacon and leave the grease on the pan. This adds incredible flavor and helps the fries crisp beautifully.

6. Preheat the oven

Heat your oven to 425°F.

7. Toss with oil

Add the dried potatoes directly to the pan with your oil or bacon grease. Toss to coat evenly and spread into a single layer — no overlapping.

8. Season

Sprinkle generously with salt and any seasonings you love.

9. Bake

Bake for 35–45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.

Tips for Extra-Crispy Fries

• Always soak, rinse, and dry the potatoes

• Don’t overcrowd the pan

• Use high heat (425°F is ideal)

• Flip halfway for even browning

• Finish with flaky salt while hot

Flavor Variations

• Garlic parmesan fries

• Rosemary & sea salt

• Smoked paprika fries

• Cajun-style fries

• Classic salt + ketchup

Why Bacon Grease Works So Well

Bacon grease has:

• Rich, savory flavor

• A higher smoke point

• Natural crisping power

It turns simple oven fries into something that tastes restaurant-quality with almost no extra effort.

A Simple Side That Never Fails

These oven-baked fries are one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again. They’re cozy, practical, and easy — exactly what weeknight cooking should be.

I hope you enjoy!

Lauren Morgan

Weeknight_Homemaker