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I’ve been making these for years, and they never last long at my house. Air Fryer Steak Fries come out perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Cook them from frozen in about 12 minutes, or cook hand-cut fries from scratch in about 25.
An easy side dish from all types of meals, from burgers to steaks, just like these air fryer sweet potato fries.
Table of Contents
Quick Look At This Recipe
- ✨ Flavor: Crispy and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside — classic steakhouse-style fries you can make at home in minutes.
- ⏱️ Prep time: 2 minutes for frozen + 40 minutes to cut and soak fresh potatoes
- 🔥 Cook time: 12 minutes for frozen + 20-25 minutes for steak fries from scratch
- ⏲️ Total time: 14 -60 minutes, depending on cooking frozen or fresh
- 👥 Servings: 4
- 🥄 Tools: Air Fryer
- ❄️ Freezer friendly: Not really. They’re best cooked fresh.
- 👩🏻🍳 Tip: Always cook in a single layer — it’s the key to getting every fry crispy instead of steamed.
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Why You Love This Recipe
- Simple Side Dish: Whether you’re pulling a bag of frozen fries out of the freezer or starting from scratch, this steak fries recipe delivers crispy, golden steak fries every time with minimal effort.
- Versatile: Air-fried steak fries pair with almost any meal, work as a quick snack or a proper side dish, and the air fryer does all the heavy lifting.
- No Frying or Oven Needed: The air fryer turns cooking fries into the easiest thing ever!
If you’re a French fry lover, try our air fryer French fries and air fryer seasoned fries next!
What are Steak Fries?
Steak fries are thick-cut potato strips, typically sliced about ½ inch wide and 3 to 4 inches long from a whole russet potato. They’re larger and heartier than regular French fries, and different from potato wedges, which are cut with the skin on in a triangular shape.
The thick cut gives steak fries their signature crispy exterior and fluffy, soft interior. They get their name from being the classic steakhouse side dish! We love them with our air-fried ribeye or a juicy strip steak in the air fryer.
Frozen vs From Scratch
Not sure which method to use? Here’s the simple breakdown:
- Make frozen steak fries if you have a bag of store-bought steak fries on hand and want a crispy, satisfying side dish in about 12 minutes. No peeling, no soaking, no prep. Ore-Ida Golden Steak Fries are my go-to brand, but any brand works at the same temperature and time.
- Make them from scratch if you have about 30 minutes and a couple of russet potatoes. You get full control over thickness, seasoning, and ingredients — and the results are genuinely restaurant-quality. This is the method I reach for when I’m making something special, like pairing them with an air fryer steak dinner.
Ingredients You Need
- Frozen steak fries: All you need is a bag of your favorite frozen steak fries. I use Ore-Ida Frozen Golden Steak Fries, but any brand will work.
- Homemade steak fries: Use Russet potatoes, the best potato for steak fries. Their high starch content gives you that fluffy interior, while the outside crisps up beautifully. Yukon Golds will work but produce a slightly waxier, denser fry. You will also need some olive oil and salt (or other seasoning blend).
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list with quantities.
Seasoning Ideas
The beauty of air frying steak fries is that you control the seasoning. Here are some of my favorite seasonings that work with homemade or frozen steak fries.
- Classic steakhouse: Combine garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Simple and exactly what you’d expect from a good restaurant.
- Montreal-seasoned: Montreal steak seasoning is bold, savory, with just a touch of heat, and works perfectly on thick-cut fries.
- Cajun-style: A Cajun seasoning blend adds a spicy, herby kick. Great alongside a burger or chicken sandwich.
- Parmesan herb: Toss the finished fries with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped fresh parsley the moment they come out of the air fryer. I use a similar method with these air fryer truffle fries.
- Loaded steak fries: Top with shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon, and a dollop of sour cream. Works as a full snack or appetizer on its own, just like these air fryer loaded tater tots!
For other French fry variations, try these air fryer frozen sweet potato fries and air-fried waffle fries.
How to Cook Frozen Steak Fries in the Air Fryer
No preheating required! The fries can go straight from the freezer to the basket. That’s one of the best things about cooking steak fries in the air fryer!
- Step 1: Place frozen steak fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer, without overlapping.
- Step 2: Air fry at 400° F (200° C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. Once golden and crispy, remove the fries from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
A note on air fryer models: I test all my recipes in a Cosori 5.8-quart basket-style air fryer.
- If you have a smaller 3 or 4-quart basket model, you may need to cook in two batches to maintain a single layer. It’s important to avoid overcrowding which can lead to soft instead of crispy fries.
- If you’re using an oven-style air fryer (like a Ninja Foodi or a toaster oven with an air fry setting), add 2 to 3 minutes to the cook time, as oven-style models circulate heat a bit differently than basket models. When in doubt, check at the 10-minute mark and add more time from there as needed.
Air Fryer Homemade Steak Fries
Making steak fries from scratch is easier than you might think! Here’s everything you need to know before you start.
- Start with large russet potatoes. The bigger the potato, the longer your fries will be. Cut each potato in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 3 to 4 strips, giving you 6 to 8 fries per potato. You’re aiming for pieces about ½ inch wide. \
Cutting Steak Fries: Don’t go thinner — if you slice them like regular French fries, they’ll cook too fast and lose that soft, fluffy interior of steak fries. You can leave the skin on or peel them; I’ve made them both ways, and honestly, it comes down to personal preference. Skin-on fries get slightly crispier edges and have a more rustic look.
- Soak the fries in cold water for 25-30 minutes to remove excess starch. (This will make them crispy!)
- Drain the water, then pat the potatoes dry, and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt.
- Spread the fries into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 400° F (200° C) for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. If needed, add 2-3 extra minutes for thicker cuts.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Whether making frozen steak fries in the air fryer or cooking homemade fries, air frying in a single layer is the trick to make sure the fries have even crispiness.
- Shake the basket halfway through: This rotates the fries and bit and helps prevent uneven cooking.
- Soak in cold water: Soaking fresh-cut potatoes helps remove some of the starch from the potatoes. You will see the water turn from clear to white after soaking. This is my secret tip for making crispy air fryer steak fries from scratch.
- Dry the potatoes: After soaking and draining homemade steak fries, use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and dry very well. Any remaining water on the surface will steam in the hot air, leading to less crispy fries.
- Toss in a bowl, not the basket. Add your fresh potatoes and oil to a mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly before placing them in the air fryer. This ensures every surface gets a light, even coat of oil for crispness.
Recipe FAQs
After the fries cool, transfer them to a Ziploc bag or airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer at 375° F for 3-5 minutes, or until crispy again. For more tips, check out this post on reheating fries in the air fryer.
No, it’s not needed! For both frozen and homemade steak fries, you can place them straight into a cold basket and start the cook cycle. If your model has a preheat function and you use it, reduce the total cook time by about 2 minutes.
For frozen steak fries, no additional oil is needed because the fries already have oil in them. For homemade steak fries, you can technically skip the oil, but the fries will be noticeably less crispy and may stick to the basket. A light mist of cooking spray is a good middle ground if you want to reduce oil but still get a good result.
The three most common culprits: First, the basket is overcrowded — fries need space for hot air to circulate around each piece. If they’re piled on top of each other, they’ll steam instead of crisp. Cook in batches if needed. Second, for homemade fries, the potatoes weren’t dried well enough after soaking — surface moisture is the biggest obstacle to crispy fries. Third, the fries may be too thick; if your homemade cuts are wider than ½ inch, add 3 to 5 extra minutes and test with a fork for doneness.
Yes! This recipe works with any brand of frozen steak fries at the same 400°F temperature. Ore-Ida Golden Steak Fries are my personal go-to, but store brands work just as well. If you’re using a thinner-cut variety, check at the 8-minute mark. For extra-thick frozen fries, you may need 13 to 14 minutes total.
Serving Suggestions
Steak fries are one of those side dishes that go with almost everything. In my house, we love them with air fryer burgers! When both the burger and the fries come out of the air fryer, weeknight dinner gets really easy. The kids love them paired with crispy air-fried naked chicken tenders or air fryer hot dogs!
When air fryer steaks are on the menu, I love to reach for this easy side dish along with a simple salad, or air fryer broccoli and carrots.
Like all fries, they’re great with a dipping sauce! Ketchup is always the classic, but don’t sleep on fry sauce (a simple mix of mayo and ketchup that’s huge in the Mountain West and the best thing you can put on a steak fry), cheese sauce, garlic aioli, or a smoky chipotle mayo.
More Easy Air Fryer Potato Recipes
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Home Fries
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Red Potatoes
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
Side Dishes
Sliced Potatoes in Air Fryer
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Air Fryer Steak Fries Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Frozen Air Fryer Steak Fries:
- 1 bag Frozen Steak Fries
Homemade Air Fryer Steak Fries:
- 4 Russet Potatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Frozen Steak Fries
- For frozen steak fries, arrange the fries in the basket, without stacking or overlapping.
- Cook the fries at 400° F for 10-12 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking. Depending on the air fryer, the actual cooking time may vary.
Homemade Steak Fries
- Peel, rinse, and cut 4 medium Russet Potatoes into straight strips.
- In a large bowl, soak the potato strips in cold water, for about 30 minutes. Drain, and pat the fries dry.
- Toss the fries in 1-2 tbsp of olive oil, and then season with salt, or other desired seasonings.
- Cook at 400° F for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, until golden and crispy. Serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Cook in a single layer so the hot air can circulate evenly around each fry.
- Shake halfway through: Gives the fries a quick rotate and helps everything cook evenly.
- Soak in cold water: Removes excess starch from fresh-cut potatoes — you’ll see the water turn white. This is my secret to extra crispy homemade fries.
- Dry the potatoes well: After soaking, pat completely dry with a kitchen towel. Surface moisture steams instead of crisps.
- Toss in a bowl first: Coat the potatoes in oil in a bowl before adding to the basket for an even, light coat on every fry.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
