Baked Skinny Fries

By Updated on

Baked Skinny Fries are a delicious low-calorie alternative to traditional french fries. Made with a sneaky combination of potatoes and turnips, you won’t even be able to tell the difference! Say hello to your new favorite healthy rendition of a classic side dish.

119 CAL 18g CARBS 5g FAT 2g PROTEIN 3
3 Comments

Need a side for your favorite burger or wings? These deliciously crispy Baked Skinny Fries are always the answer. Made with a combination of potatoes and turnips, these fries are both skinny in size and lighter than typically fried french fries. 

I have always been a sucker for french fries, but they aren’t exactly the healthiest side dish. With this in mind, I have fallen in love with making healthier alternatives at home. From Baked Eggplant Fries to Spicy Green Bean Fries and absolutely everything in between, I truly love experimenting with unique, healthy fry recipes.

When it comes to making oven fries at home, I’ve always leaned more towards thin, skinnier fries than wedge-style fries. They cook quicker and are more likely to get perfectly crispy in the oven, without the need for tons of oil like the fried ones you’re used to. These Baked Potato Chips are another great option for a super crispy side dish.

As someone who is almost addicted to trying out new types of oven fries, it was only a matter of time before I stumbled across these delicious Baked Skinny Fries. Made with a mixture of potatoes and turnips, these healthy french fries have that same delicious, salty taste, but with only half the calories.

Turnips are similar to potatoes in both texture and flavor, so when mixed into a batch of potato fries—you won’t even be able to tell the difference. 

These delicious baked fries are beyond easy to make and come together in just 30 minutes. Try pairing them with some skinny ranch or sriracha for a healthy side dish that guarantees to please the whole family.

Healthy baked skinny fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Key Ingredients

To make these delicious baked fries, you only need these three key ingredients:

  • Potatoes: We’re sticking with the classics here and using potatoes as a base for this healthy fry dish. Many people prefer Russet potatoes for making into fries, but feel free to use any kind of potatoes you like.
  • Turnips: Turnips have a similar texture and flavor to potatoes, making them the perfect sneaky substitute. Once they’ve been sliced, seasoned, and baked, it’s hard to tell which fry is a turnip and which is a potato. I dare you to guess!
  • Olive oil: This helps our fries crisp up while baking and also helps achieve that beautiful golden color. If you don’t have any olive oil on hand, you can substitute it for avocado oil instead.
  • Seasoning: I like to keep it simple with salt and pepper for my skinny fries, but you can use any kind of seasonings you prefer. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Old Bay, and rosemary make fantastic additions.

Tips and Tricks for Crispy Baked Fries

Here are some of my top tips for creating the best Baked Skinny Fries:

  • Use a mandolin. Here lies the secret to perfect, thinly-sliced potatoes and turnips. While any sharp knife will do, I’ve found that investing in a mandolin has made my life a whole lot easier.
  • Soak your veggies for about 20-30 minutes in cold tap water. This will give them the best consistency for frying and help ensure that they get super crispy.
  • Salt your fries while they are still hot. Salting your skinny fries while they’re still hot locks in the flavor and helps the salt to stick.
  • Add cheese. To turn these delicious skinny fries into a batch of savory cheese fries, try sprinkling some parmesan, cheddar, or mozzarella cheese on top halfway through cooking them.
  • Substitute sweet potatoes. If you prefer the flavor of sweet potatoes over that of regular, then you’re in luck! Sweet potatoes work great here too, and you can follow the same recipe to prepare them.
  • Leave the skin on or peel it off. These delicious skinny fries taste great with their skin on or off, so feel free to try both and see which method you like best. 
  • Line your fries in a single layer. When it comes to baking fries at home, always line your baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper and spread the fries out in a single layer. To make sure your skinny fries get as crispy as possible, you want to give them room and make sure none of the edges are touching.

How to Serve Baked Skinny Fries

These healthy french fries pair wonderfully with just about anything. They make a great, healthy side dish for burgers or barbecue nights, or as a snack on their own! To take these baked fries to the next level with a dreamy dipping sauce, here are some of my top picks:

Crispy thinly sliced potato and turnip fries on a baking sheet with crispy browned edges.

Storing Leftover French Fries

I’ll be totally honest and tell you that baked fries are best when enjoyed fresh out of the oven. That being said, if you happen to have some leftovers, you can easily store them for later. Simply let them cool down, then seal them in an airtight storage bag or container. Then, you can store them in one of two ways:

  • In the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
  • In the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat your frozen skinny fries, just pop them into a 350°F oven and heat until hot and crispy, or for about 10-12 minutes.

Main Dish Ideas

Looking for something to serve alongside these easy-baked fries. From burgers to wings to wraps, there are so many great options to turn these fries into a full meal. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about this healthy side dish recipe:

Skinny fries are made of a mixture of potatoes and turnips, whereas regular french fries are made just using potatoes that are typically fried. Because of the turnip substitution, skinny fries have an extra dose of veggies — which means extra nutrients — as well as fewer calories. We also bake them instead of frying them, which significantly cuts down on unwanted fat, making them a perfectly healthy side dish.

The most common culprit to soggy french fries is the presence of water or liquid. Surface starch is known for absorbing nearby moisture, so if you don’t dry your potatoes completely before baking them, they won’t form a dry, sealable surface that is able to crisp up in the oven.

Baked Skinny Fries take about 20-30 minutes to cook to completion. However, you can tell they are done when their edges turn golden-brown and crispy. If you are unsure, I always like to lean on the crispier side.

Russet or Idaho potatoes are going to be your best bet when it comes to baking skinny fries. These kinds of potatoes belong to the floury category, as opposed to the waxy, and are known for their rough skin and fluffy interior. For this reason, they are the perfect texture for homemade french fries.

When making these baked fries, you can swap in another vegetable for the turnips or use all potatoes if you like. Some good was for turnips include rutabaga, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash. 

Absolutely! Prepare the fries in the same way with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any seasoning you like. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees and arrange the fries in a single later. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the fries are nice and crispy. Watch the fries for the last few minutes since they can burn quickly.

Crispy potato and turnip fries on a baking sheet served with small bowls of ranch and ketchup.
The Recipe
Baked skinny fries with crispy baked potatoes and turnips on a plate with ketchup.

Baked Skinny Fries

119 CAL 18g CARBS 5g FAT 2g PROTEIN 3
PREP TIME: 10 Min
COOK TIME: 30 Min
TOTAL TIME: 40 Min
3 Comments
  • Print
  • Download
  • Send to your inbox

Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 lb. potatoes, cut into fries (thinner fries will cook faster)
  • 1 lb. turnips, peeled and cut into fries
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Like this Recipe? Try our Meal Plans!

Slender Kitchen Meal Plans
  • Weekly Meal Plans
  • Easy Shopping List
  • Healthy, Low Carb, & Vegetarian
  • Nutritional Information

Instructions

(Hide Media)

Switch to prevent your screen from going dark.

1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray.

Potatoes and turnips cut into thin fries tossed with olive oil and seasoning in a white bowl.
2

Toss the potatoes and turnips with olive oil, salt, pepper, and your favorite seasoning. Mix so all the veggies are coated. Spread in one layer onto the baking sheet trying not to have the fries touch.

Thinly sliced turnips and potatoes on a baking sheet in single layer.
3

Cook for between 20-30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove once crispy and cooked through. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fries.

Crispy baked fries on a white baking sheet with parchment paper.

Equipment

This equipment section may contain affiliate links to products we recommend.
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 119
Calories from Fat 42
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g
7%
Saturated Fat 1g
3%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 55mg
2%
Total Carbohydrate 18g
6%
Dietary Fiber 3g
12%
Sugars 4g
Protein 2g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

user image
About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
3 Comments
On Baked Skinny Fries
user image
user image
judi
October 24, 2022 - 12:50
Add a Rating:
5
Ummm - I didn't actually do the turnips though. But the potatoes rocked!
user image
judi
October 24, 2022 - 12:49
Add a Rating:
5
AWESOME. Every time I make french fries, I pick up my phone and google "crispy baked french fries" and do whatever recipe I happen to poke on. THIS TIME I made a note of it so now I have a "go to" recipe. They came out perfectly. Thanks!
user image
Carrie Drissi
February 2, 2016 - 08:48
Add a Rating:
5
These were delicious, kids loved them.
Smart points are 4 though not 3.
Instagram Icon
Did you make this?

Snap a picture and show us what you made on Instagram or Facebook. Tag us using @SlenderKitchen or #slenderkitchen.