Oven Fries

Oven fries that are thick-cut, crispy and seasoned generously with smoky spices are a natural accompaniment to a burger or sandwich. And because they're baked, they're deliciously guilt-free!

Craving Healthy Fries? Seasoned Oven Fries to the Rescue!

I am definitely a gal that adores fries, and anytime they're offered as an accompaniment to a juicy, delicious burger or gourmet sandwich on a menu, I simply can't resist ordering them and promptly polishing off most of what's on my plate!

Because I enjoy them so much, and often find myself wishing that they were healthier—not as greasy and loaded with calories—I've come up with this delicious and easy oven fries recipe to enjoy at home anytime I'd like.

Seasoned with lots of smoky spices like smoked paprika, coriander and cumin, and served with a slightly spicy chipotle ketchup for dipping, these oven fries are what I personally like to prepare when I'm craving healthy fries that are crispy and golden, and low on the guilt! 😉

Oven Baked Fries, No Frying Required

The three things that I personally really appreciate about making oven fries over preparing classic French fries that are deep fried are a) they're a lot less messy b) no standing over a pot of hot oil, babysitting them and c) they're a lot lower in fat and calories.

Oven fries are a lot less messy because all you do is simply toss the thick-cut russet potato wedges in a mixture of spices and seasoning, and turn them out onto a prepared baking sheet to bake. No need to clean up oil spatter and oily paper towels! 😉

And because oven fries only need one or two gentle “stirs” or flips with a spatula or spoon while baking, you can pretty much put 'em in the oven and walk away.

Baked up nice and golden and flavorful, these contain a fraction of the fat and calories traditional fries contain, yet pack lots of crispy texture—no frying required to achieve that!

Here's a little sneak peek at my oven fries recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe below...)

1. To prepare my oven fries, I like to cut russet potatoes into thicker wedges. This makes for a fluffy inner texture and a more substantial “bite” that's more like a steak fry, with lots of mouthwatering potato flavor!
2. Tossing the wedges with some good quality avocado or olive oil and the generous spices/seasoning comes next, as this creates that crispy outer texture and loads of extra flavor.
3. Baking the oven fries at a nice hot temp (425°) ensures that scrumptious looking golden-brown exterior and a light and tender interior.
4. While the oven fries are baking, I doctor up some ketchup with a few smoky ingredients to make my own delicious sauce to plunge these into, making this recipe truly irresistible!

Recipe

Oven Fries

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

Hot, savory and crispy, these deliciously guilt-free oven fries are a bit smoky and spicy, and come complete with a chipotle ketchup for dipping!

Category: Side
Cuisine: American

Yield: Serves 4

Nutrition Info: 319 calories (with 2 tablespoons ketchup)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Oven Fries Ingredients:

• 4 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed and dried
• Avocado or olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon granulated onion
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, as garnish
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped cilantro leaves

Smoky Chipotle Ketchup Ingredients:

• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 garlic clove, pressed through garlic press
• 1 chipotle pepper, finely minced (or even mashed up since they're soft)
• ½ teaspoon adobo sauce (the sauce that the chipotles are packed in)
• ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• Pinch salt
• Pinch black pepper

Preparation:

- To prepare the oven fries: preheat the oven to 425°, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper that's been misted with cooking spray.

- Cut each potato in half, then each half into about 4 wedges; toss the potato wedges in a large bowl with about 4 tablespoons of the oil, a few good pinches of the salt and pepper (be kind of generous with the salt), plus the coriander, cumin, paprika, and granulated onion and garlic.

- Turn the seasoned wedges out onto the prepared baking sheet and bake the fries, moving them around gently once or twice while they bake with a spatula for even browning, for about 45-50 minutes, until a deep golden-brown.

- While the oven fries bake, prepare the smoky chipotle ketchup by adding the ketchup, along with the rest of the ingredients, into a small bowl and whisking together; keep at room temp to serve, then cover any unused portion and keep in fridge.

- To finish the oven fries, sprinkle over them the chopped parsley and cilantro, and serve with the smoky chipotle ketchup for dipping!

Tips & Tidbits for my Oven Fries:

• Good ol' russet potatoes: I find classic baking potatoes, or russets, to be a great pick for these oven fries. They're larger, a bit more starchy, bake up deliciously, and are loaded with lots of potato flavor! Their skin also crisps up nicely.
• High temp oven: I turn my oven way up to 425° for these oven baked fries, because it crisps up the outside and gives these fries that deep golden-brown color without steaming them.
• The best dipping sauce for oven fries: Little beats ketchup when it comes to fries, but when that ketchup is kicked up, it's even better. I prep a quick and simple smoky chipotle ketchup to dip these oven fries into, as this give that little extra bit of spicy, sweet-savory flavor.
• Reheating oven fries: To reheat and re-crisp oven fries, simply use your toaster oven set to a high (400°) baking temp setting. Place them onto a foil-lined tray and bake, flipping once, until heated through and crisp.

Craving more potato recipes? Check out these Roasted Potatoes, this Twice Baked Potatoes, these Skillet Potatoes, or these Cheesy Potatoes!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2016, and has been updated with even more love!