Homemade Crispy Curly Fries | Air Fryer & Oven Recipe (2024)

These Homemade Crispy Curly Fries require only a handful of ingredients! They're crisped to perfection in an air fryer or an oven and are perfect served alongside your favorite burger and dipping sauce. These fries are way healthier than their deep fried counterpart yet just as delicious. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, Vegan and Whole30 compliant, there's no reason for you not to dig in! Now you can have your fries and eat them too!

Fries come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but there's something about a spiral shaped spud of crispy, salty goodness that makes the curly kind my absolute favorite. Curly fries evoke nostalgic childhood memories of my brother and I getting in heated arguments over who got the longest curly fry at Arby's. My mother would bring an end to the dispute by threatening to never take us to Arby's again. That shut us up real quick.

A few weeks ago, I actually treated myself to an order of Arby's fries. I was at a mall for the first time in ages and the food court had an Arby's. I honestly can't tell you the last time I was in the vicinity of an Arby's, so I went for it, and it was SO worth it. They were just as crispy and perfectly seasoned as I had remembered. As I sat there stuffing my face with those delicious spiraled spuds, it dawned on me that I could totally make them at home ...so here we are.

Kitchen Gadgets that will Come in Handy

In order to slice the potatoes into curly fries, I recommend using a vegetable spiralizer. I have an AS SEEN ON TV Veggetti and a table-top vegetable spiralizer (pictured below). They both do a great job of slicing vegetables into spaghetti noodle-like shapes. If you don't have a vegetable spiralizer, that's okay too! Using a sharp knife, julienne your potatoes into shoestring fries! The cooking times should be about the same. Honestly, you can slice your spuds into whatever shape your heart desires. Just keep in mind that the cooking times will vary depending on the size of your fries! Just keep an eye on them. Once they're crisped to your liking , they're done.

Ingredients for Homemade Crispy Curly Fries

• 1 ½ Pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes: I prefer using yukon golds for fries because of their bright, golden interior. I think they make the prettiest fries, but any kind of potato will work just fine! Russet and Idaho are great options too!
• 2 Tablespoons Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (Melted)
• 1 Teaspoon All-Purpose Seasoning Blend (of your choice): Having a favorite tried and true all-purpose seasoning blend is like a right of passage into becoming a great homecook! Look for one with salt and garlic listed as one of the first few ingredients! Those ones are always the best!

Are Potatoes Paleo?

For the love of cavemen, that is for you to decide. When I first started eating Paleo, I didn't eat white potatoes because it was widely accepted among the Paleo community that potatoes were a big "no no." That was then and this is now. Today, many embrace potatoes with open arms and for GOOD reason! They're GOOD for you! They're nutrient-dense, high in antioxidants, naturally gluten-free and they're incredibly filling. I've said this before and I'll say it again and again: if our primal ancestors had access to potatoes, they'd eat them.

Why Use Olive Oil & Coconut Oil?

To reap the nutritional benefits of both oils, of course! Olive oil is rich in beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, while coconut oil is high in medicinal healthy saturated fats. You certainly don't need to use both, but why not get the best of both worlds?

How to Prep the Potatoes

Begin by peeling the potatoes and slicing them into your desired shape. If you're spiralizing the potatoes, you may end up with a few extra long spirals. Go ahead and trim those with kitchen shears. Next, add them to a large bowl and toss with olive or coconut oil or a combo of the two.

How to Make Homemade Crispy Curly Fries in an Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees. Mine doesn't actually have a preheat function, so I just set the temperature and turn it on for a few minutes before I put any food into it. Once it's preheated, add the potatoes to the fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. The potatoes do not need to be an even-layer, but I wouldn't fill the fryer basket anymore than 3 quarters of the way full.

Air fry for 10 minutes, remove the basket and gently toss the spuds with a pair of tongs. Return the basket to the fryer. So I tested this recipe 3 times and found that the best way to achieve a fry that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside is by starting them at a lower heat and then turning the heat up. That being said, crank the temperature up to 400 degrees and continue to cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fries are brown and crisp.

Remove the curly fries from the fryer, toss with your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend and serve HOT alongside your favorite dipping sauce!

How to Cook Homemade Crispy Curly Fries in the Oven

Someday an air fryer will be just as common in a kitchen as a microwave, but we're not quite there yet, so I made sure to test this recipe in the oven as well. The prep work is exactly the same, but while you're prepping preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the spiraled spuds in a relatively even-layer across a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and give the spirals a gentle toss. Return the fries to the oven and bake for an additional 35 minutes or until the potatoes are brown and crisp. Sprinkle them with your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend and serve!

Delicious Homemade Crispy Curly Fries that aren't deep fried in unhealthy oils?! Who would have thought! Air fryer owner or not, this recipe is one you're going to want to hang onto! I'd go as far as to say these will be the best fries you've ever eaten!

If you try this recipe, share it with the world! Sharing helps me continue to grow my recipe collection for you guys week after week! Tag me on social media and tag your stunning food photos with #paleoishkristaeats! Enjoy!

Pin Now! Make Later!

Hungry for more yummy air fryer creations? I have quite a few.

• Air Fryer Breakfast Cups | Great for On-The-Go
• Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
• Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Air Fryer Onion Rings
• Air Fryer "Roasted" Potatoes
• Air Fryer "Rotisserie" Chicken
• The Best Ever Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

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