Lemon Garlic Air Fryer French Fries

Lemon Garlic Air Fryer French Fries – good crispy crunchy lemon garlic seasoned air fried french fries that use a fraction of the oil of deep fried french fries and are crunchier than baked!

Lemon and garlic are two of our favorite flavors – and when covering crispy, crunchy french fries, it can't be beat! If you're craving a great side dish, these Lemon Garlic Air Fryer French Fries can't be beat!

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Lemon Garlic French Fries

These french fries are crispy, crunchy, and totally addictive… but you can feel a lot better about serving them to your family since they use a fraction of the oil of regular french fries.

Lemon Garlic Air Fryer Fry Ingredients

• Potatoes (2 lbs) – Serve as the crispy, fluffy base of these air fryer fries, soaking up all the bright lemon garlic flavors.
• Olive oil (3 tablespoons) – Helps the fries crisp up beautifully in the air fryer while adding a rich, smooth flavor.
• Italian Herb Seasoning (1 Tablespoon) – Brings a savory blend of herbs that adds depth and classic Mediterranean flavor.
• Lemon pepper (1 teaspoon) – Adds a zesty citrus kick with a hint of peppery heat.
• Himalayan Sea Salt (1/2 teaspoon) – Enhances all the flavors while adding a clean, balanced saltiness.
• Zest of lemon (1) – Infuses the fries with fresh, vibrant citrus aroma and bright flavor.
• Garlic Powder (1/2 tsp) – this garlic powder adds a wonderful herb flavor to the fries.

Steps To Make Air Fry French Fries in an Instant Pot

Once you have assembled the ingredients, use this method:

Prep Potatoes

Wash potatoes under cold water and scrub with a bristled brush to remove any dirt. Rinse under cold water. Slice potatoes into 1/4 inch strips. Dunk fries in large bowl with cold water and let sit 20 minutes. Drain water and refill with new cold water, let sit additional 40 minutes.

Mix Seasonings

In a small bowl combine the dry seasonings and whisk.

Dry Potatoes

Drain the potatoes and dry thoroughly between paper towels.

Coat Fries

In a large bowl, combine potatoes, oil, and seasonings. Mix well with your hands to ensure an even coating.

Air Fry

Pre-heat the Air Fryer to 400F. When ready, dump the fries into an even layer. Close and set the time for 20 minutes. We personally like more crunch, and set ours at 25 minutes.

Shake

Shake halfway through. The entire batch can be cooked at once. To do more than one batch, doubling is fine.

Finish

keep the cooked fries on a baking sheet in the oven at 225F to remain warm until you're ready to serve. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, parsley, and of course ketchup!

Kitchen notes

These easy tips and tricks will help to ensure the best crunchy air fried french fries, every time – without the oil. Oil is easiest – but these will give you a fried crunch, without oil.

What Potatoes For French Fries. Russet potatoes give a classic french fry flavor. Leave skins on, but wash potatoes well and scrub off any excess dirt, remove any eyes or bruises.

Use Mandoline To Cut Fries. Cut potatoes with a mandoline for easy, solid sticks that will crisp up well.

Soak Fries. Make sure your fries soak for at least one hour in a large bowl of cold water – preferably changing the water after 20 minutes or 30 minutes with fresh new cold water. Soaking in water helps remove some of the starch, which will help them crisp up better!

Dry Fries Completely. Make sure your fries are dry after soaking. Pat them with paper towels or a clean dish towel to be sure there is no residual moisture. Wet fries = soggy fries.

Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes

These fries are a spin off of our favorite easy side dish – our Easy Air Fryer French Fries recipe and our crunchy baked french fries recipe.

They are good on their own, or paired with Air Fryer Tri Tip SteakGarlic Butter Pork TenderloinCreamy Garlic Chicken Thighs and Mushrooms!

Not convinced on grabbing an air fryer yet? These good, easy, and simple air fryer recipes will make you fall in love with this fabulous appliance!

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Lemon Garlic Air Fryer Fries FAQs

Do we need to soak the potatoes before air frying?

Yes—soaking the cut potatoes in cold water helps remove excess starch, which is key to getting fries crispy instead of soft.

How long should we soak the potatoes?

For best results, soak the potatoes for at least 1 hour, changing the water once or twice if possible.

Do we need to dry the potatoes after soaking?

Absolutely—drying thoroughly is essential so the oil sticks properly and the fries crisp up instead of steaming.

What type of potatoes work best for this recipe?

Russet potatoes are ideal because their high starch content creates that classic crispy-outside, fluffy-inside fry texture.

What temperature should we cook air fryer fries at?

Cook fries at around 375–400°F, or as hot as your air fryer allows, for the crispiest results.

Why aren't our fries getting crispy?

Common reasons include skipping the soak, not drying the potatoes well, overcrowding the basket, or not using enough heat.

Can we skip the oil?

You can reduce the oil, but a small amount helps achieve that golden, crispy texture and enhances flavor.

How do we keep fries crispy between batches?

Place cooked fries on a wire rack in a warm oven (around 200°F) to keep them crisp while finishing the rest.

Can we use sweet potatoes instead?

Yes! Sweet potatoes work well, but you may need to slightly adjust the cooking time for best texture.

Can we add extra seasonings?

Definitely—this recipe is customizable, so feel free to add parmesan, chili flakes, or extra herbs.

Are air fryer fries healthier than deep-fried fries?

Yes—air fryer fries use significantly less oil while still delivering a crispy texture.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs potatoes, russets or Yukon golds are great options!
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Italian Herb Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• ½ teaspoon Himalayan Sea Salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 lemon, zest and juice

Method

1. Wash potatoes under cold water and scrub with a bristled brush to remove any dirt.
2. Rinse under cold water.
3. Slice potatoes into 1/4 inch strips.
4. Dunk fries in large bowl with cold water and let sit 20 minutes.
5. Drain water and refill with new cold water, let sit additional 40 minutes.
6. In a small bowl combine the dry seasonings and whisk.
7. Drain the potatoes and dry thoroughly between paper towels.
8. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, oil, and seasonings.
9. Mix well with your hands to ensure an even coating.
10. Pre-heat the Air Fryer to 400F.
11. When ready, dump the fries into an even layer.
12. Close and set the time for 20 minutes. We personally like more crunch, and set ours at 25 minutes.
13. Shake halfway through.
14. The entire batch can be cooked at once.
15. To do more than one batch, doubling is fine.
16. keep the cooked fries on a baking sheet in the oven at 225F to remain warm until you're ready to serve.
17. Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, parsley, and of course ketchup!