Best French Fry Seasoning You Can Buy

As much as I love a hot spud in its simplest form, the best french fry seasoning really takes the classic side to the next level. I tried 12 different french fry seasonings available in stores and online in search of the very best seasoning for fries—one that delivers on the restaurant (or, at least, fast food) experience without necessitating putting on fancy restaurant clothes like “pants.”  

In the spirit of minimal work, I cooked up a bag of frozen fries to use as the base for taste testing all of these french fry seasonings. And, let’s be realistic, I’m not going to be chopping and triple-frying when I make fries in the future—you’re probably the same. When you’re at home and fiending for something to eat straight off of the tray while marathoning the newest Food Network show, frozen fries are the way to go. (And, of course, Sporked ranked the best frozen fries so you can eat both quickly and well.) 

Need french fry seasoning ideas? Whether you’re looking for something savory, tangy, sweet, or salty to top your taters, here are the five best french fry seasoning brands you need to try. 

The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.


Bojangles Bo's Famous Seasoning

Best Umami

Bojangles Bo’s Famous Seasoning

This french fry seasoning from chicken and biscuits chain, Bojangles, packed unexpected depth and earthiness. I stand by my initial note of “umami at first whiff.” Despite including sugar in the mix, it ate much more balanced than a lot of the other seasoning blends, many of which leaned a little far into the realm of sweetness without enough savory. If Old Bay, MSG, and BBQ sauce had a kid, it’s this very good french fry seasoning. I don’t know much about the biological possibilities of spice reproduction, but I do know that I’ll shake this onto many batches of fries to come.

Credit: Merc / Bojangels

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Fresh Finds French Fry Seasoning

Best Salty

Fresh Finds French Fry Seasoning

The only reason I’m not screaming about this french fry seasoning to everyone I know is because “Fresh Finds French Fry Seasoning” is nearly impossible to say quickly. Move over she who sells seashells. I’m flipping Fresh Finds French Fry Seasoning. Anyway, if you’re a salt lover, this is the best french fry seasoning to satisfy your savory tooth. It tastes ever so slightly like those dehydrated cups of noodles, but I cannot stress how positively I mean that. It has the same bright notes of the dehydrated vegetables, but no need to go through the hassle of pouring the water, waiting the longest two minutes of your life, and then flinging scalding broth everywhere as you slurp the noodles that just love to whip your chin.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Chef’s Fun Foods Flame Grilled BBQ

Best Sweet & Smoky

Chef’s Fun Foods Flame Grilled BBQ

I tasted a lot of french fry seasonings, and this was the only one to elicit an unintentional sound from me. The second I peeled back the top, an excited “Oooo!” sprung forth from the depths of my throat to meet the wallop of scented nostalgia. This brought me right back to tipping a bag of BBQ chips back to drink the crumbs. Can we call it nostalgia if I did it yesterday? Let’s say yes. It smells like liquid smoke and, though it’s pretty sweet, something about it just works. This is the best seasoning for fries if you’re looking for a dead ringer for BBQ chip flavoring—and it’s also the best fry seasoning if you’re looking for fry seasoning ideas that are cookout appropriate.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Pilleteri’s Mr French Fry Original

Best Cheesy

Pilleteri’s Mr French Fry Original

This french fries seasoning brand’s mascot has every right to be posing so deductively, because they know they’ve got goods. Hear me out: Dry. Cheese. Fries. Kind of. Shaking this cheesy french fries seasoning powder onto my fries had me kicking myself for wasting a life of not dusting my fries with Kraft Mac and Cheese powder, because, apparently, those flavors are a match made in heaven. Just keep in mind: This is a powder, so if you’ve got a craving for an ooey, gooey cheese-pull with every fry you grab, this won’t do. But if you’re hankering for somewhat fake-tasting cheese that you know you love anyway, and a kind of bad good that hits so right with a late night pile of fries, this is the best seasoning for fries to buy. 9/10 sporks.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Chef's Fun Foods Salt and Vinegar

Best of the Best

Chef’s Fun Foods Salt and Vinegar

This french fry seasoning has actually changed my life. It instantly turns almost anything into salt and vinegar chips without adding the moisture and sogginess from vinegar. It tastes exactly like salt and vinegar chips, and the sun seems a little brighter knowing I can bring that flavor to sliced vegetables, my morning eggs, even a chocolate cake if I want. I absolutely don’t want that, but it’s liberating knowing I could do it! This french fry seasoning has given me agency. It’s given me flavor. It’s given me a conversation topic for every dinner party I’m invited to for the next year and even a few I’m not invited to because I’ll absolutely crash a party if it means spreading the gospel of this seasoning. This is the best seasoning for french fries and you really need to try it.

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other french fry seasoning powder we tried: Red Robin, Spice Supreme, Joe’s, Chef’s Fun Food Garlic Parmesan, Chef’s Fun Food Sour Cream & Onion, Baker’s Club Salt & Vinegar, Tone’s


About the Author

Hebba Gouda

Hebba Gouda is a freelance contributor to Sporked who will die on the hill that a hot dog is not a sandwich. She’s proud to spend weekends falling asleep at 9 p.m. listening to podcasts, always uses the Oxford comma, and has been described as “the only person who actually likes New Jersey.” She’d love to know how on earth she somehow always has dirty dishes, if donkeys hear better than horses, and how the heck you’re doing today? Hopefully swell - thanks for reading!

Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!

Your thoughts.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *