There’s just nothing that says comfort food quite like a hot, salty batch of crispy fries, right? If you, like me, are trying to keep things a little healthier but your family still demands that amazing texture, then you’ve found your new favorite recipe. Forget those sad freezer bags—we are making incredible Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips today! This recipe is the best homemade alternative to anything store-bought, and it’s so much fun.
This reminds me so much of making waffle fries with my children. We’d bring out the crinkle cutter, and we’d just laugh watching those plain old potatoes turn into little wavy tracks. The whole house would smell amazing once those went into the oven. Honestly, they are just so much tastier than the stuff you buy, and they bring everyone running to the table.
Why You Will Love Making Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
These homemade chips are a total winner, honestly. I keep coming back to this recipe because it checks every single box for my family. Trust me, once you try them, you won’t look back!
- Healthier Swap: They are a much better alternative to heavy, shop-bought fries—you control the fat and the salt.
- That Perfect Crunch: Baking them right gets them wonderfully crispy on the outside while staying soft inside.
- Kid Appeal: The crinkle shape is just fun! Plus, they are so easy your little helpers can get involved with the seasoning making quick snacks.
- Simple Ingredients: Seriously, four to six ingredients is all you need.
- So Versatile: Perfect next to a burger, dunked in ketchup, or just eaten straight from the pan!
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
The beauty of these homemade chips is they need so little to shine! You just need a few quality items, and you’re set. Don’t skimp on the fat choice, though; that is a big part of the crisp factor, trust me!
- Four to six medium-large potatoes—make sure they are good solid ones!
- Three tablespoons of a heat stable cooking fat like coconut oil, lard, or tallow.
- Salt, obviously, to taste.
- A little sprinkle of pepper.
- Whatever other seasonings make your heart sing!
Expert Tips for the Crispiest Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
Getting that perfect, shatteringly crisp texture when you’re baking instead of frying takes just a couple of little tricks I’ve picked up over the years. We want great texture for our family dinners, after all! If you nail these points, your Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips will be phenomenal.
The most important thing for crispness? Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. If the chips are layered or touching too much, they steam instead of actually roasting, and that makes them soft. You need them laid out neatly in a single layer so the hot air can circulate around every single wave.
The Role of the Crinkle Cutter in Your Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
Why use the crinkle cutter? It’s not just for fun, sweetie! Those little ridges dramatically increase the surface area of the potato that’s exposed to the heat. More surface area equals more spots that can crisp up! That’s why these Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips have that perfectly satisfying crunch you just don’t get with a straight cut potato.
Fat Selection and Preparation
I know it seems a little extra, but trust me on this: if you are using a solid fat like coconut oil or lard, you absolutely must melt it in the pan while the oven preheats. Pouring the cold potato slices onto a cold pan wastes precious minutes bringing the fat up to temperature. When you pour your slices onto that already-hot, shimmering fat, you get an immediate sizzle. That initial blast of heat seals the edges instantly, which is a huge step toward getting them golden brown and crispy!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Amazing Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
Okay, let’s get these potatoes wavy and hot! I always follow these steps in order because timing is key for getting that right oven crispness on our Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips. Don’t rush the preheat part; that starting sizzle makes all the difference when you’re prepping these for quick budget-friendly dinners.
Preheating and Fat Melting
First things first, crank that oven up to 425°F. If you’re using a solid fat like lard or coconut oil, put your baking pans—I usually grab two 9x13s right away so I don’t overcrowd them—right into the oven to melt that fat while it heats up. This means the fat is scorching hot when the potatoes hit the pan. If you’re using a liquid oil, you can just wait until the oven is hot before you drizzle it.
Slicing and Coating the Potatoes
Now for the fun part! Grab your crinkle cutter and slice those potatoes. Try to keep them pretty even, aiming for roughly a quarter-inch thick. You want consistency so they all cook through at the same time. Once the oven is hot and the fat is melted, carefully take the pans out. Roll those slices around in the hot fat until every single piece is totally coated. Seriously coat them well!
Roasting and Resting Your Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
Lay those coated potatoes out in a single layer—no piling up! Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, and anything else you like. Pop them into the 425°F oven and let them roast for about 25 to 35 minutes. Thinner slices might only need 25 minutes, but thicker ones will take the full time. You’re looking for them to be slightly golden and cooked through. When they come out looking just right, let them chill on the pan, undisturbed, for a couple of minutes before serving. That little bit of rest time lets them firm up and gets them super crisp!
Variations: Seasoning Your Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
Salt and pepper are classics for a reason, but honey, these chips deserve a little more fanfare, especially when you’re making them from scratch! Since you’re in control of what goes on them, don’t be shy about adding some flair before they hit the oven. This helps elevate them beyond just a side dish.
My favorite quick, family-friendly seasoning blend—one my kids actually help me mix up—is a little smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a tiny pinch of onion powder. It gives them a lovely color and a savory depth. You can even toss them with a bit of dried dill! If you like a sweet-and-savory hit, think about how delicious these would be dusted with a little chili powder and brown sugar before roasting. They turn out gorgeous, maybe like a simplified version of how I treat my roasted side dishes, but potatoes love those earthy spices!
Serving Suggestions for Homemade Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
Homemade Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips are so much more versatile than you might think. They start out as the perfect sidekick to a big, juicy burger, of course, but I try to treat them like little edible scoops for all sorts of dips!
When we have them because we want a fun family night, I always set out a small table of dipping options. Forget sticking only to ketchup—though classic ketchup is mandatory! We love making a quick homemade ranch dressing. It’s just sour cream, a splash of buttermilk, some dried herbs, and a tiny bit of garlic powder. So easy, so much better.
These chips are chunky enough that they hold up really well to a thicker dip, too, like my husband’s favorite honey mustard. If you’re serving them alongside something like meatloaf, I sometimes like to sprinkle them with a little fresh chopped parsley right when they come out of the oven. It just brightens them up! And if you have any leftovers, they actually work great crumbled up on top of baked macaroni and cheese instead of breadcrumbs. That crunchy addition is always a hit! You can find some great pairings for comfort sides over here for inspiration.
Storing and Reheating Your Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
If you somehow manage to have any of these amazing chips left over—which, let’s be honest, is rare—you need to store them correctly if you want that texture back tomorrow. Pop your cooled-off leftovers into an airtight container. They usually last great in the fridge for about two or three days. They are perfect for packing into lunchboxes the next day!
Now, here is the critical part about reheating: please skip the microwave! Microwaving turns even the crispiest fry soft and sad. The best way to bring these back to life? Toss them onto a dry baking sheet and stick them back into a 400°F oven for just 5 to 8 minutes. They crisp right back up, and nobody will ever know they weren’t made fresh!
Frequently Asked Questions About Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
I always get so many questions about making sure the oven chips turn out just right, especially when cooking for picky eaters. It’s a simple recipe, but a few details can make all the difference between perfect and just good! Here are the things I hear most often.
Can I make these Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips healthier?
Yes, absolutely! The beauty of making these at home is you control the oil. While I use a heat-stable solid fat for the best crunch, you can certainly opt for a heart-healthy liquid oil like avocado oil instead of coconut oil or lard. If you are looking for even lighter fare, you could try an air fryer version next time, but for the oven, the fat ratio is what gives you that satisfying, healthier alternative to deep-frying!
What is the best potato type for this recipe?
My go-to potato for anything that needs to get truly crispy—whether it’s baked or fried—is almost always the Russet potato. They just have that higher starch content that turns wonderfully fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside when baked at a high temperature like 425°F. Whatever you pick, make sure they are firm and free of any soft spots!
How do I ensure these are kid-friendly snacks?
For my kids, the fun factor is huge when it comes to making these work as **kid-friendly snacks**! First, get them involved with the crinkle cutter—it feels like playing with sculpting clay to them! Second, keep the seasoning simple at first. A little salt and maybe some plain paprika goes a long way. Because this recipe is so quick, they get their satisfying, fun-textured food much faster than waiting for takeout, which always wins them over!
About the Author: Sophia Reed, Family Cooking Specialist
Sophia Reed is a Family Cooking Specialist at Sena Recipes. She focuses on timeless family-style dishes and modern twists on classics, helping readers keep traditions alive while making mealtime simple and joyful.
You can find more of my home cooking adventures and family favorites over on my author page here: All of Sophia’s Recipes. I’d be thrilled if you tried these chips and let me know how they turned out! You can give the recipe five stars below, or better yet, tag me on social media with your wavy potato creations. I always read your comments and love seeing your kitchens in action!
Connect with me on LinkedIn to see what traditions I’m cooking up next!
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Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips
- Total Time: 50 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Make simple, crispy oven chips at home using a crinkle cutter for a fun, kid-friendly texture. These are a healthier alternative to store-bought fries.
Ingredients
- 4–6 medium-large potatoes
- 3 tbsp heat stable cooking fat (tallow, lard, coconut oil)
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- desired seasonings
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- If you use a solid fat, place your pans (I use two 9×13 pans) in the oven with the fat to melt while the oven preheats.
- Use a crinkle cutter to slice the potatoes as evenly as possible, aiming for roughly ¼” slices.
- Remove the pans from the oven. Coat the potatoes in the melted fat before placing them in a single layer on the pan. If you use a liquid fat, drizzle the fat onto the pan and coat the potatoes the same way.
- Season the potatoes with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you want.
- Roast in the 425°F oven for 25-35 minutes. Thinner slices need less time than thicker ones; 30 minutes is often the right amount of time.
- After the potatoes cook through and look slightly golden, remove them from the oven.
- Let the chips sit undisturbed for a couple of minutes before serving to help them crisp up.
Notes
- This recipe reminds me of making waffle fries with my children; the crinkle cutter makes the process fun.
- These chips are much tastier than store-bought versions and are great for family dinners or quick snacks.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: Crinkle-Cut Oven Chips, homemade fries, baked chips, kid-friendly snack, easy potato recipe, crispy oven fries