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Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries – The Ultimate Flavor Upgrade!

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Who doesn’t love a big batch of crispy, golden fries? These Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries take things up a notch with a garlicky, buttery coating and a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese. They’re the perfect side dish, appetizer, or snack when you’re craving something extra delicious but don’t want the hassle of deep frying. With just a few simple ingredients and your air fryer, you can whip these up in no time!

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan fries

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries

If you love quick and easy air fryer recipes, you’re in the right place! These fries pair perfectly with Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets for a restaurant-style meal at home. Looking for more crispy bites? Try my Air Fryer Tomato Grilled Cheese or Air Fryer Cheesy Meatballs. Once you try these garlic parmesan fries, they’ll quickly become your new favorite way to make fries at home!

Not only are these fries absolutely delicious, but they’re also healthier than traditional deep-fried fries. The air fryer gives them that perfect crunch with way less oil, making them a great alternative to fast food fries. Whether you’re serving them as a side dish, a game-day snack, or just treating yourself, you’ll love how easy and flavorful they are!

air fryer garlic parmesan fries

What You Will Love About This Recipe

Crispy & golden – Thanks to the air fryer, you get that perfect crunch without all the excess oil.


Packed with flavor – Fresh garlic, melted butter, and parmesan cheese make these fries next level.


Super easy to make – No deep fryer needed! Just toss, cook, and enjoy.


Pairs with everything – Serve them with burgers, chicken, or enjoy them on their own with the creamy garlic aioli.

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan fries
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan fries

How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries

  • Cut potatoes lengthwise into ⅜” thick slices. Stack three slices at a time and slice lengthwise again to create ⅜” thick fries (batons). It’s ok if they’re a bit irregular, the thicker parts will stay soft, while the thin areas will get crunchy. 
  • Soak the potatoes in a very large bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes. Drain the water, rinse the potatoes, and place on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel, blot dry thoroughly until you see no more wet areas. Dry the large bowl. These two steps are critical for getting crispy fries, do not skip. 
  • While the potatoes soak, mix the mayo with a squeeze of lemon juice, and remaining dip ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning and lemon to your liking. Cover and place in fridge.
  • Place potatoes back in the bowl and toss with the oil, half of the salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Wipe out the bowl with a clean paper towel.
  • Place potatoes in the basket of a large capacity air fryer and cook at 360℉ for 5 minutes. Toss, and cook at 390℉ for 15-18 minutes until golden brown, tossing every 5 minutes. If you have a few fries at the bottom that are pale and don’t seem done, remove all the others and cook the undercooked ones for another 2-3 minutes. Place the hot fries in the large bowl.
  • Place the butter and garlic in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. This will gently cook the garlic as the butter melts. Gently toss the fries with the garlic butter and parsley, taste and add another pinch of salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with plenty of parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce. 
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan fries

Tips & Tricks

  • Soak the potatoes – This removes excess starch and helps them crisp up in the air fryer.
  • Dry them well – Patting the fries dry before cooking prevents sogginess.
  • Shake the basket – Tossing the fries every few minutes ensures even cooking.
  • Use freshly grated parmesan – It melts better and gives the best flavor.
If you overload your air fryer your fries will just steam and not brown well. If you have a smaller air fryer or bigger potatoes, divide them into more than one batch.  Cooking the potatoes at a lower temperature for a few minutes allows them to par cook and get them ready to become crispy! Cranking the temperature up 30 degrees after this initial first cook transforms the soft pieces of potatoes into magical crispy crunchy fries. Be sure to add all the toppings to your fries right away. They are best enjoyed right away.  You can swap out the fresh garlic for garlic powder if you prefer.  Add cilantro! If you have fresh cilantro on hand, finely mince a few tablespoons and toss the fries with it instead of the parmesan. Garlic cilantro fries are dangerously good! You will love the dipping sauce because it is so forgiving! If you add too much lemon add a scoop of mayo. Swap the parsley out for cilantro if you prefer or even add a squirt of sriracha to make your fries spicy

FAQs

Yes! If using frozen fries, skip the soaking step and go straight to air frying. You may need to adjust the cook time slightly.

The garlic aioli in this recipe is chef’s kiss, but you can also dip them in ranch, marinara, or even spicy sriracha mayo!

These fries are best served fresh, but if you need to reheat them, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-5 minutes to crisp them up again.

air fryer garlic parmesan fries
air fryer garlic parmesan fries long pin
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan fries

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries

Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

These Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan fries are so easy to make and so delicious! They are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. With just 15 minutes of cook time, you will be enjoying these buttery garlic parmesan fries as the perfect snack or side to your favorite meal!

Ingredients

  • 3 medium-size russet potatoes, washed
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, divided
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed or grated on Microplane
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Dipping sauce (aioli)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch dried parsley
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut potatoes lengthwise into ⅜” thick slices. Stack three slices at a time and slice lengthwise again to create ⅜” thick fries (batons). It’s ok if they’re a bit irregular, the thicker parts will stay soft, while the thin areas will get crunchy. 
  2. Soak the potatoes in a very large bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes. Drain the water, rinse the potatoes, and place on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel, blot dry thoroughly until you see no more wet areas. Dry the large bowl. These two steps are critical for getting crispy fries, do not skip them. 
  3. While the potatoes soak, mix the mayo with a squeeze of lemon juice, and the remaining dip ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning and lemon to your liking. Cover and place in the fridge.
  4. Place potatoes back in the bowl and toss with the oil, half of the salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Wipe out the bowl with a clean paper towel.
  5. Place potatoes in the basket of a large-capacity air fryer and cook at 360℉ for 5 minutes. Toss, and cook at 390℉ for 15-18 minutes until golden brown, tossing every 5 minutes. If you have a few fries at the bottom that are pale and don’t seem done, remove all the others and cook the undercooked ones for another 2-3 minutes. Place the hot fries in the large bowl.
  6. Place the butter and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. This will gently cook the garlic as the butter melts. Gently toss the fries with the garlic butter and parsley, taste, and add another pinch of salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with plenty of parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 429Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 863mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 6g

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