The invention provides an image forming method, comprising transferring a toner image to an electrophotographic recording sheet, layering the electrophotographic recording sheet on a fixing belt and heating and pressing the sheet, and cooling the electrophotographic recording sheet and separating the sheet from the fixing belt. The electrophotographic recording sheet comprises a support comprising cellulose pulp-containing base paper and a toner image-receiving layer comprising a thermoplastic resin disposed on the support. A shrinkage percentage of the electrophotographic recording sheet in a CD direction in the heating step is 1.3% or less. The support preferably further comprises either a polyolefin-containing layer or a coating that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of kaolin, a pigment, a resin, a rubber latex, or a polymer material and that is provided on one or both surfaces of the base paper.