How to Make McDonald’s-Style Crispy French Fries at Home

I eat fast food as rarely as a total solar eclipse, but McDonald’s French fries still occupy a soft spot in my memory. When I do indulge in the idea of fast food, it’s those fries I think about—their unique flavor and satisfying crunch. Over the years I’ve experimented to recreate them at home, and this recipe is the closest copycat I’ve found. The result is the ideal balance of texture and taste.

A Word Of Caution

Be sure to re-freeze the fries after brining. Letting the brine set briefly in the freezer helps prevent heavy grease splatter when you lower them into hot oil. If you skip this step, expect a lot more splatter—so proceed with caution and protect yourself from hot oil.

For frying larger batches I use a high-quality deep fryer. It reaches and maintains temperature quickly, and its filtration and storage features make it easy to reuse oil safely.

I like to serve these fries alongside my copycat McDonald’s hamburger or a McRib-style sandwich. If you’re a fan of other fast-food fry styles, I also have a Five Guys–style fries copycat you might enjoy.

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Copycat McDonald’s Fries

This recipe recreates McDonald’s fries with impressive flavor and the right crispness—perfect for serving as a side or with your favorite burger.

Course
Side

Cuisine
American

Keyword
copycat, fries

Prep Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
5 minutes

Total Time
15 minutes

Servings
6

Calories
8kcal

Author
Based on a recipe from Mashed

Equipment

Deep Fryer
Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

vegetable oilfor frying; a blend of canola, soybean, and corn oils works well
¼ cup ice
½ cup beef stockunsalted or low-sodium is best
¼ cup soymilk
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 bag shoestring potatoesabout 26 ounces
Kosher saltto taste

Instructions

Heat the oil blend to 375°F (190°C).
In a mixing bowl, combine the ice, beef stock, soymilk, and baking powder; stir until well combined.
Briefly immerse the shoestring fries in the brine, then remove them after a few seconds.
Place the brined fries back in the freezer for about five minutes to let the brine set.
Fry the fries in the hot oil for roughly 2 minutes, or until they reach your desired crispness.
Salt immediately after frying and serve hot.

Notes

These fries are excellent on their own, but feel free to serve them with ketchup if you prefer.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.