This easy homemade French fry seasoning blend works great on fresh or frozen French fries of any variety! This spice blend is a great way to add extra flavor to homemade French fries!
The Only French Fry Seasoning You’ll Ever Need
Are you a French fry family? We LOVE them at our house. (Obviously - see my Pizza Fries, Wingstop Copycat Louisiana Voodoo Fries, and Crispy Parmesan Carrot Fries for proof!) Baked, deep-fried, or air-fried - we're here for all of it and, especially on busy nights, find that this easy side dish makes its way to our table often. (Maybe a little too often?) But, if like me, you like to make your fries a little extra, this easy fries seasoning is just the thing. Add it to hot fries and you'll be munching on gourmet-style fries that taste like they just came from your favorite pub!
This is my go-to, BEST French Fry Seasoning—a bold, smoky, salty-sweet blend that works just as well on crispy oven-baked fries as it does on frozen curly fries straight from the air fryer. If you’ve got a favorite cut of French fries, this works on it. Potato wedges, shoestring, sweet potato fries—whatever you’re working with. I keep it in a small ziplock bag in my pantry and sprinkle it on hot fries as soon as they come out of the oven or deep fryer. The residual heat and a little oil (if needed) help the seasoning stick perfectly.
In This Post
Key Ingredients in This French Fry Seasoning
One of the best things about this easy recipe is that you can whip up a bit batch of it with common spices found in your spice drawer. It makes weeknight dinners that much easier to level up when you already have a pre-made spice at the ready. Here's what I use for my homemade fries seasoning:
- Smoked paprika (the real MVP of this mix, IMO.)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder (or granulated onion, whatever you’ve got)
- Celery salt
- Kosher salt (I prefer the classic, regular, fine granule salt for fries - the finer granules stick to the fries better than larger ones)
- Black pepper
- Cumin
- Dried basil
- Chili powder
To make this French fry seasoning recipe, simply toss all of the ingredients together and store in an airtight container. This makes about ½ cup of seasoning—enough for several batches of seasoned fries.
How To Season French Fries
Seasoning fries is easy—but doing it right makes all the difference. Here’s how to get perfectly seasoned French fries every time:
- Cook the fries first. Whether you're making oven-baked frozen fries, crispy air-fryer french fries, or going full-send in the deep fryer, get those fries crispy and hot before adding anything. (*Note - see my one exception for homemade baked fries below!)
- Toss while hot. Right when the fries come out, transfer them to a large bowl.
- Add a little oil (if needed). If the fries are super dry (especially true for frozen French fries), spray on a small amount of olive oil or give them a tiny hit of cooking spray to help the seasoning mix stick.
- Sprinkle the seasoning. Just sprinkle 1–2 teaspoons of the seasoning per serving over the top of the hot fries (or more if you're a seasoned fries fanatic). Toss well to coat.
- Serve! Serve the fries HOT!
*Note: the one exception for adding seasoning before you cook the fries is if you're making homemade baked fries. The moisture from the precooked potatoes actually does a pretty good job of helping the seasoning stick, so feel free to go ahead and toss your precooked fries in the seasoning prior to baking, if making homemade baked fries.
Frequently Asked Questions
A little olive oil goes a long way. If your fries aren’t already a bit oily (most frozen ones aren't), toss them with a tiny bit of oil or hit them with a quick spray of cooking spray right after cooking. Then add the seasoning while they’re still hot. That combo of oil + heat helps the seasoning stay put.
Don’t limit yourself to fries, my friends. This all-purpose seasoning pairs well with hash browns, baked potatoes, roasted or grilled veggies, or even grilled chicken or pork. You can even stir a touch into some mayo or sour cream for a savory dip. Basically, anything that could use a punch of smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a special blend of salt.
Keep it in an airtight container—think spice jars, mason jars, or even spice bottles. (And don't worry - you don't have to be fancy here. You can see my ziplock bag storage solution, which works just fine!) Store the fries seasoning in a dry place away from direct sunlight (aka not right above your stove). It’ll stay fresh for up to a year, but let’s be honest—you’ll blow through it way before then.
If you try this recipe, let me know what cooking methods you’re using and how you’re putting this special blend of salt and spice to work in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram with a pic so I can see your scrumptious plate of seasoned fries!
Recipe
French Fry Seasoning Blend (5-Minute Homemade Mix)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅓ teaspoon celery salt
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tablespoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle over freshly baked or fried French fries.
- Store extra fry seasoning in an airtight container in your pantry for 6 months to 1 year.
Notes
- Season the fries after cooking. It's best to sprinkle the fry seasoning after baking or frying, and here’s why: If you sprinkle the seasoning on the fries prior to cooking, the seasoning may not stick well and could burn or become unevenly distributed. (This is especially true if you’re using frozen fries.) However, adding the seasoning after baking on HOT fries helps the seasoning to adhere better, because of the residual heat from the fries, and any remaining surface oil
- Not just for fries! While I LOVE this seasoning on any type of fry (baked! sweet potato fries! air fried! fried!) I’ve found it’s also a perfect seasoning mix for grilled chicken or pork.
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