Baked Garlic Home Fries

Name: Baked Garlic Home Fries
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 3 medium russet potatoes (- sliced into fries); 1/4 cup olive oil; 6-7 cloves garlic (- minced); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (- or more); kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (- to taste); chopped cilantro (- to serve)

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Baked Garlic Home Fries are a go-to side dish for dinner, or even an appetizer for game day. These are perfectly seasoned with olive oil, minced garlic, and a delicious blend of spices. Super easy to make, delicious, and healthy too!

Do you prefer sweet potato fries? Try my Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries!

Side shot of a pan of baked fries stacked on top of each other.

Oven Baked Fries

Do you remember when potatoes got a bad rap? Folks thought they were the carb to avoid, and the poor potatoes in the grocery stores got neglected. Well, even though there are some that avoid taters at all cost, we LOVE them and eat tons of them.

Potatoes are the easiest side dish to prepare, and I’ve shared a wide variety of them on the blog. From Herb Buttery Smashed Potatoes to Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes to Make Ahead Creamy Mashed Potatoes to Sweet Potato Casserole, we eat them all. Do I have a favorite? Nope. I like them all.

Do you have a fav? Do tell!

Closeup on a bunch of baked garlic home fries on a pan.

Ingredients needed for Baked Garlic Home Fries:

Potatoes – Three medium-sized russet potatoes will fill up a baking sheet.
Garlic – Use actual minced garlic cloves for the best garlic-y flavor. Garlic powder isn’t the same!
Olive Oil – A good amount of oil is needed for the best flavor.
Seasonings – You’ll need onion powder, paprika, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Pro-Tip: Entertaining a large group? Double this recipe and use two baking sheets.

Three russet potatoes on a white background.

Other ingredients for the fries - olive oil, garlic, and seasonings.

How to make Baked Home Fries:

Step 1
Prep oven. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2
Slice potatoes. Wash potatoes, and slice in half length-wise. Then continue slicing thin wedges, in the same direction (the long way). Place in a mixing bowl.

A bowl of home fries with a half of potato sliced in strips.

Step 3
Soak potatoes (optional). Soak the sliced potatoes in some ice water (for 30 minutes to an hour) to help remove some starch. This is an optional step!

Step 4
Add olive oil, garlic, and seasonings. Pour the olive oil over the potatoes wedges, and toss. Mince the garlic, and add that as well. Sprinkle the seasoning blend over top of the potatoes, and mix with your hands to evenly distribute.

A bowl of home fries soaking in ice water.

The home fries with the garlic and seasonings on top.

Step 5
Bake. Spread the fries in two rows on the prepared baking sheet, so that they aren’t touching each other. Bake for 15 minutes, carefully flip them, and then bake for another 5 – 10 minutes, or until they are fork tender. Remove from the oven.

Step 6
Check seasonings. Mince some cilantro, and sprinkle it over the baked fries. Taste, and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Step 7
Serve. Serve the home fries with ketchup, mayo, or my Skinny Chipotle Ranch Dressing.

Recipe Tips

Try to slice these fries in similar size so they bake evenly.
Don’t crowd the pan. If you need to use an additional pan, that is ok.
You’ll need to flip these fries once at about the half-way point.
These home fries are best served fresh the first day.

Side shot of a baked fries in a small bowl of ketchup and mayo, with a bowl of fries in back of it.

What to serve with Baked Garlic Home Fries:

Blackened Salmon Burgers with Avocado Crema – These are really easy to make, and cook in only 5-6 minutes.
Best Juicy Lucy Burgers (with goat cheese) – These are a regular here for our family.
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wraps – Great for meal prep!

Side shot of a blackened salmon burger with Avocado Crema, on a wheat bun with a white background.

Side shot of a platter of four grilled juicy Lucy burgers, with a closeup on one burger.

May I suggest a cocktail? While there is nothing better than a burger, fries, and a beer, you might wanna try my Classic Salty Dogs or my Blackberry Peach Frozen Margaritas. Both are delish!

Recipe FAQs

Should these potatoes be soaked in water before cooking?

Soaking potatoes in water helps to remove some of the starch, and therefore aids in crispier fries. I tried these potatoes once with soaking and once without. I noticed a slight difference, but not enough to warrant the extra time required. If you have plenty of time, feel free to soak them in water (optional step above), and then dry them off with paper towels before seasoning.

How do you crisp up leftover fries?

First of all, baked fries will never be the same as fries that are cooked in oil. To crisp up leftover fries, either bake them in the oven again, or fry them up in some oil in a cast iron skillet. They should crisp up nicely either way.

Are baked fries good for you?

Baked fries are better for you than potatoes that are submerged and fried in oil. However, too much of anything should be avoided. I recommended sticking to one or two servings of baked fries at a time. 😀

Overhead shot of a small pan with some baked home fries and a small bowl of ketchup and mayo.

xoxo ~Sue