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A generous pile of golden crispy air fryer garlic parmesan fries on a dark plate, visible parmesan cheese coating and fresh chopped parsley, perfectly golden and crispy with some fries showing the ...
Sarah Mitchell

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries

I need you to stop buying frozen fries. I'm serious.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large russet potatoes (about 2 lbs)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • Flaky sea salt for finishing

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Large bowl for soaking
  • Paper towels for drying
  • Mixing bowl
  • Sharp knife

Method
 

  1. Cut the potatoes into even sticks about 1/4 inch thick. Try to keep them uniform in size so they cook evenly. Leave the skin on for extra crunch and nutrition.
  2. Place the cut fries in a large bowl of cold water and soak for at least 30 minutes. This removes excess starch and is the key to crispy fries. Drain and pat completely dry with paper towels — this step is critical.
  3. Toss the dried fries with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
  4. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the fries in the basket in a single layer — don't overcrowd. You may need to cook in 2 batches.
  5. Air fry for 15-18 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes, until the fries are golden brown and crispy.
  6. While the fries cook, mix the melted butter with the minced fresh garlic. As soon as the fries come out, toss them with the garlic butter, freshly grated parmesan, and parsley.
  7. Finish with a generous pinch of flaky sea salt and serve immediately.

Notes

Three things determine whether your fries are crispy or disappointing: the cold water soak, drying them thoroughly, and not overcrowding the basket. Wet fries steam instead of crisp. Crowded fries block airflow. And un-soaked fries have too much surface starch. Nail all three and you'll get fries crispier than any fast food chain.