These homemade oven baked fries are golden, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and paired with a rich roasted garlic aioli that’s better than anything you can get at a restaurant!
Men like meat… and a potato of some sort. So these homemade oven baked fries came to be when I was planning a Father’s Day dinner for Mike and I needed an easy side to go with our grilling. And, of course, every fry needs a tasty sidekick, so I whipped up a roasted garlic aioli to dunk them in. Hello, delicious! While these crispy fries are awesome with any kind of sauce, the aioli really fancies things up, bringing gastropub vibes. (My Parmesan Truffle Fries do too!)
Why These Homemade Fries Put Restaurant Fries to Shame
These fries strike the perfect balance between tender and crisp and a simple blend of pantry seasonings adds savory depth, making them next-level delish. It’s hard to stop myself from eating them all straight off the pan!
- Crispy without deep frying. Soaking and high-heat baking makes them crispy in the oven, no pot of oil needed. I’ve found that the flavor of baked fries is superior to the deep-fried version because you’re tasting the potatoes, not the oil!
- Seasoning takes them up a notch. Most restaurant fries are seasoned with salt—yawn. I love the smoky, garlicky flavor of the homemade seasoning I use for these oven fries.
- That sauce, though. The aioli is bold, tangy, sharp, spicy, and it’s got an awesome base of sweet, caramelized roasted garlic. It is so, so good. You’ll never want fries with ketchup again!
What You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need for the homemade oven baked fries and the roasted garlic aioli. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Crispy Baked Fries:
- Yukon gold potatoes – While russets are the most common choice for oven fries, I prefer buttery, thin-skinned (in a good way) Yukon golds. They bake up crisp yet creamy inside.
- Olive oil
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, sea salt, dried basil, and smoked paprika.
Roasted Garlic Aioli:
- Mayonnaise – You could use plain Greek yogurt for a lighter version, or use half yogurt/half mayo to strike a balance between the two. But I like to go all out with mayo.
- Lemon juice – Be sure to use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Prepared horseradish – I love the gentle heat and sharpness or horseradish. You can use less for a milder flavor.
- Roasted garlic – Here’s how to roast garlic.
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Homemade Oven Baked Fries and Aioli
Let’s get cooking! Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Soak the potatoes. Submerge the sliced potatoes in water for 30 minutes, then drain and dry well. This removes excess starch, giving you crispier fries.
- Mix the aioli. Whisk together the mayo, lemon juice, horseradish, roasted garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Season the fries. Toss the potatoes with olive oil and half the spice blend.
- Bake until crispy. Roast in a single layer on a parchment-lined pan at 400°F for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Finish and serve. Toss with the remaining spices and serve with the aioli.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Baked Fries
I’ve got a few more tips to help you make the crispiest fries in the oven!
- Cut the fries evenly. I know it’s not always possible (those end pieces always end up small!), but as best as you can, try to make sure the fries are all roughly the same size so they all cook at the same rate.
- Dry them well. If there’s still a lot of moisture clinging to the fries when you add the oil, you’ll end up with soggy fries that steam in the oven rather than getting crispy.
- Turn the pan. If your oven bakes unevenly, I recommend turning the pan when you flip the fries at the 15-minute mark.
Serving Suggestions
I have a feeling you already know what to serve with these homemade oven baked fries, but here’s a little inspiration if you need it:
Storage and Reheating
- To store: Store leftover baked fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The aioli will keep for up to 5 days refrigerated.
- To reheat: Warm in the oven or air fryer at 375°F until crisp.
More Recipes for Potato Lovers
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Description
These homemade oven baked fries are crispy, golden, and easy to make. Serve them with roasted garlic aioli for the perfect pairing!
Crispy Baked Fries:
Roasted Garlic Aioli:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Add sliced potatoes to a large bowl of water, soak for 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, to a small bowl add mayo, lemon juice, prepared horseradish, roasted garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine everything and set aside.
- Drain potatoes and pat down with paper towel so that the potatoes are dry.
- Add dry potatoes to a large bowl add olive oil and half the spice blend.
- Place potatoes in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Bake 30 minutes. Turning half way through.
- Remove from oven when they are slightly browned and crispy.
- Season with the remaining spice blend and toss the fries so they are all coated.
- Serve with roasted garlic aioli.