Crispy Frozen Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan French Fries
One of my all time favorite food guilty pleasures is French fries. I tend to rate burger joints based on the fries rather than the burgers themselves. Because if you are doing life right, fries can be a whole meal 🙂 And I have been making fries at home as long as I have had my own oven. In this recipe I am taking classic French fries to a whole new level with air fryer garlic parmesan fries. These are full of garlic flavor and parmesan topping and the best part is it’s an easy recipe that requires minimal effort and limited cooking time. Now let me show you how to make this easy side dish perfect for snacking, your next backyard BBQ, or game days. Full recipe card below.
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What are Garlic Parmesan Fries?
Garlic parmesan fries are a play on traditional French fries with a ton of added flavor. They are commonly found on restaurant menus across the United States and have become quite popular. These French fries are coated in garlic seasoning and parmesan cheese and sometimes fresh parsley or Italian seasoning.
What is an Air Fryer?
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last several years you have likely heard of the culinary phenomenon of the air fryer. But every time I share a video of me air frying dinner on Instagram, I get lots of questions about what it tastes like. So let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
In my opinion, the best way to describe an air fryer is they are really powerful convection ovens that are portable. They make food very crispy without drenching your food in vegetable oil making it a healthier option. Unlike a deep fryer, air fryers can be used with very little oil and sometimes none at all. I personally don’t enjoy super greasy and heavily oiled fried food so the air fryer is a great way to have crispy fries without the deep fried taste.
​One of the most common questions I get is does it taste like deep fried food? No. They taste very different. With the air fryer you get the crispiness of something that has been fried but without the oil taste.
My Air Fryer
I will say, the first time I used an air fryer I wasn’t completely sold. When they first came out I didn’t feel like I had room in my kitchen for one so I chose to get the air fryer lid for my Insta Pot instead. This way I would only need to store the extra lid and not another appliance. But it was very awkward to use and as a result, I didn’t use it much.
Then I reconsidered and asked for a Ninja Foodi air fryer for Christmas. And I LOVE IT! I use it several times each week and it makes magical crispy crunchy fries. The air fryer basket on this one is much larger and can hold a lot more than my old one. It also pulls out which makes it  much more convenient to use. It has two zones which can be used simultaneously or as one large mega zone as it’s called. The only draw back is the size. It does take up more space, but in my opinion it is totally worth it!
Ingredients
These air fryer garlic fries only require a few ingredients to make, many of which you probably have in your your pantry and fridge. Let me walk you through what I use and why and what ingredients will give you the best results.
French Fries – I use frozen French fries 90% of the time I make fries. Why? Because it is super convenient, I always have a bag in my freezer, and I can make as little or as much as I want. I have made from scratch homemade French fries before, but I honestly don’t think they are worth the extra work. You can definitely use russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes for this recipe, but it’s not really necessary. Do yourself a favor and save the time for something else. My favorite brand of frozen fries is actually the Great Value brand from Wal-Mart. They come in several different varieties like crinkle, sweet potato, and even tater tots. For these crispy garlic fries I used the plain regular cut fries.
Garlic Powder – They wouldn’t be garlic parmesan fries without the garlic! Normally I use jarred garlic when I cook, but for this recipe I think garlic powder works better to coat the fries. You can use minced garlic cloves, but they may not stick as well to the fries. You can also use garlic salt, just be careful not to add too much salt then.
Parmesan Cheese – I use real shredded parmesan cheese for my fries. The jarred parmesan cheese that comes in the green container is not real cheese. The fact that it is not refrigerated in the grocery store is your first clue. While you can use the fake stuff, you will have better flavor with the real deal. I buy aged parmesan cheese in bulk at Costco but you can use the bagged shredded parmesan cheese too. Just note the texture might vary slightly with bagged cheese since it is usually coated in cornstarch during packaging.
Olive Oil – I used a little bit of extra virgin olive oil mixed with the other seasoning to toss the fries in. This will be your sticking agent for the parmesan mixture to adhere to the fries.
Italian Seasoning – There is something about garlic and parmesan cheese that takes me in an Italian inspired direction. Italian seasoning is the perfect compliment to the other flavors here. If you do not have Italian seasoning, you can use a combination of equal parts dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary for a similar flavor.
Salt – I like to be in control of the salt content in my food but that doesn’t mean I don’t use it. Food needs salt, period. But it doesn’t need so much that it’s all you taste. I used sea salt for these fries, but you can also use table salt or kosher salt. Note if you choose to use garlic salt above, use less salt here to avoid an overly salty dish.
Black Pepper – And a little bit of pepper to top it all off. It gives the recipe a little extra flavor not included in the other ingredients.
Coating the Fries
You will not coat the fries in the parmesan mixture until after the cooking process. After you remove them from the air fryer, toss the fries in a large bowl with the seasoning mixture until they are fully coated.
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Crispy Frozen Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan French Fries
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy the taste of delicious restaurant quality garlic parmesan French fries at home with frozen fries! This super easy side dish can be made without all the fuss of cutting and cooking a fresh potato. Simply add some frozen French fries to the air fryer and mix up the parmesan topping for the best fries! This is a great recipe for weeknight dinners or backyard BBQs. No matter when you make it, this easy French fry recipe will quickly become a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 16 oz Frozen French Fries (1/2 a bag)
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/8 tsp Pepper
- 2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese shredded
Instructions
- Pre-heat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Pre-heating is not required, but I think it helps for the fryer to heat up for a couple of minutes prior to adding my fries.
- Spray the inside of the air fryer with cooking oil spray to prevent the fries from sticking to the bottom.
- Add a single layer of frozen fries to the air fryer. I use my mega zone for this and can make about a half a bag at a time. Cook for 15-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- While the fries cook, in a large bowl mix up the garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil and seasoning. Set aside.
- When the fries are done, do not allow the fries to cool in the fryer. I find that this makes my fries less crispy. As soon as the time ends, open the fryer and turn it off. Cool for a few minutes with the drawer open or lid off.
- Add the cooked fries to the bowl and toss in the parmesan mixture until coated.
- Transfer to a baking sheet or plate and serve.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Equipment
Notes
Air fryer ovens may differ in size and temperature so cooking times and quantities may vary.
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Side
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Storage
Leftover fries can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. They tend to get soggy in the fridge the longer they sit, so it’s best to use them as soon as possible.
When to Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan French Fries
These easy air fryer French fries are so good you won’t want traditional fries again! By using frozen fries they are much easier than freshly cut fries and can be made on short notice for a week night dinner, backyard BBQ, Super Bowl party, or simply as a snack! Pair them with a burger, a sandwich, hot dogs, or BBQ. Air fryer garlic fries are a simple side dish the whole family will love!
Looking for a tasty sauce to dip them in? Try my gourmet ketchup recipe with balsamic vinegar, copycat Kraft chipotle aioli, easy mayo ketchup recipe, or my curry lime sweet potato fries dip.
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