Beef Tallow Fries in Air Fryer

Crispy, golden, salty -- what is better than a french fry?! My beef tallow fries are delicious and a beautiful alternative to your usual seed oil, drive through french fries. If you’ve never cooked with beef tallow before, this is the perfect recipe to start with. It doesn’t add extra flavor to the fries but enhances their crispiness, thanks to its high smoke point. Plus, air frying makes the process easy and cost-effective—using just a tablespoon or two of tallow for incredible results.

Why Beef Tallow? What is the hype?

Beef tallow is rendered beef fat. Unprocessed, naturally high in good, saturated fat, and hold up well to high heat cooking - making it ideal for frying, searing and general cooking. Other oils like peanut, vegetable, etc are high in unsaturated fat. It is also INCREDIBLY versatile. Like coconut oil, it’s packed with fat-soluble vitamins and has been used historically in everything from skincare to candle-making. Whether you’re looking for a healthier frying fat or a multi-purpose kitchen staple, beef tallow is a game-changer.

These are my favorite beef tallows: Traditional Nutrients (my go to & favorite, no smell) & Epic Beef Tallow (this is a little cheaper, but has a much beefier smell). Both are great and I use them regularly so choose what fits your taste and budget!

Whether you’re looking for a healthier frying fat or a multi-purpose kitchen staple, beef tallow is a game-changer. Plus, beef tallow is reusable! If you ever decide to deep-fry, you can strain and store it after cooking, getting multiple uses out of it. Compared to constantly buying bottles of high-priced oils, tallow is an incredibly smart and flavorful choice for home cooking.

Cost-Effective & Delicious

One of the best things about using beef tallow in the air fryer is that you don’t need a whole pot of oil. Traditional deep frying requires cups of fat, but here, just a tablespoon or two gives you perfectly crisp fries.

Can I Bake Beef Tallow Fries

Absolutely! If you don’t have an air fryer, baking them in the oven is another great option. Here’s how:

Preheat your oven to 450°F – A hot oven mimics the high heat of frying.
Prepare the fries the same way – Toss with melted beef tallow, a little cornstarch, and salt.
Spread them out – Use a parchment-lined baking sheet and arrange the fries in a single layer without overcrowding.
Bake for 20-30 minutes – Flip halfway through, and keep an eye on them until they’re crispy and golden brown.

While they won’t get quite as crisp as in an air fryer, the oven method still delivers incredible flavor with that signature tallow richness.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Beef Tallow Fries
Ready In: 30 minutes from start to finish.
Makes: Serves 3 people
Flavor: Salty, savory, and classic without an overpowering beef flavor.
Perfect For: Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, or an easy homemade snack or side dish.
Oven Option: No air fryer? Bake the fries at 450°F for 20–30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Best Part: You only need a tablespoon or two of beef tallow to get deliciously crisp homemade fries.

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Jump to:

Why Beef Tallow? What is the hype?
Cost-Effective & Delicious
Can I Bake Beef Tallow Fries
A Quick Look At The Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
Why You’ll Love This Beef Tallow Fries
How to Make Beef Tallow Fries in Air Fryer
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You'll Love
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Ingredients You'll Need

Russet potatoes: The best choice for homemade fries because their high starch content helps create crispy edges with fluffy centers.
Kosher salt
Cornstarch
Beef tallow: Adds richness and helps the fries turn beautifully crisp and golden in the air fryer.

Why You’ll Love This Beef Tallow Fries

If you're looking for this kind of recipe that's flavorful, and easy to make at home, here's why you'll love this one:

Extra crispy: Beef tallow and a little cornstarch help the fries develop perfectly crisp, golden edges.
Soft and fluffy inside: Russet potatoes give you that classic French fry combination of a crispy exterior and fluffy center.
Only four ingredients: All you need are potatoes, beef tallow, cornstarch, and salt.
Easy in the air fryer: You get crispy homemade fries without dealing with a pot full of oil or deep frying.
Uses very little tallow: Just a tablespoon of beef tallow is enough to make a batch.
Perfect with anything: Serve them alongside burgers, wraps, sandwiches, or simply enjoy them with your favorite dipping sauce.

How to Make Beef Tallow Fries in Air Fryer

Cut Potatoes Into Fries: Trim the ends to create a uniform shape for even fries. Cut them into planks by slicing ¼ inch thick slabs or "planks" from top to bottom. You should have 4-5 slabs per potato depending on its size. Cut slabs into sticks. Stack 2-3 at a time and slice lengthwise into ¼ inch sticks. If some are very uneven, trim them slightly so they cook evenly!

Melt your Tallow: Add tallow to dish and microwave in 20-30 second increments until melted enough to toss over fries.

Prep Fries for Air Fryer: Add cut fries to a mixing bowl. Drizzle tallow and add cornstarch and pinch of salt. Toss until no cornstarch is visible.

Air Fry Fries: Preheat air fryer to 425°. Place fries on basket, try to line up not touching each other to start. Depending on the size of your basket, you may have to do 2 batches. Air fry 15-25 minutes. Shake basket every 5 minutes until fries are golden brown and crisp! Carefully remove and add to clean bowl or plate. Let cool 5 minutes, they will crisp up a little more as they cool. Toss in more salt if that's how you like them! Serve hot with ketchup or your favorite sauce.

Tips for the Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Use russet potatoes: Their high starch content helps create crispy fries with soft, fluffy centers.
Cut the fries evenly: Aim for about ¼-inch-thick sticks so all the fries cook at roughly the same rate.
Melt the tallow first: Melt the beef tallow before tossing it with the potatoes so every fry gets an even coating.
Don’t skip the cornstarch: A small amount helps create that extra-crispy, golden exterior.
Preheat the air fryer: Starting at 425°F in a hot air fryer helps the fries begin crisping right away.
Avoid overcrowding: Arrange the fries with space between them when possible. Cook in two batches if needed so hot air can circulate.
Shake every 5 minutes: Tossing the fries regularly promotes even browning and prevents them from sticking.
Let them rest: Give the fries about 5 minutes after air frying. They’ll continue to crisp as they cool slightly.
Season to taste: Add another sprinkle of kosher salt while the fries are still warm for the best flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my beef tallow fries not crispy in the air fryer?

Make sure the fries aren’t crowded in the basket. For this recipe, arrange them so they aren’t touching too much at the beginning and cook in two batches if necessary. Shaking the basket every 5 minutes also helps them brown and crisp evenly.

Do I need to soak the potatoes for this recipe?

No! These beef tallow fries don’t require soaking. Once the potatoes are cut, you can toss them directly with the melted beef tallow, cornstarch, and salt before air frying.

How long do beef tallow fries take in the air fryer?

At 425°F, these fries take approximately 15–25 minutes. Shake the basket every 5 minutes and start checking toward the lower end of the cooking time since air fryers can vary.

Why should I let the fries sit after air frying?

Let the finished fries rest for about 5 minutes. They’ll continue to crisp as they cool slightly, giving you an even crunchier exterior.

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