Cajun Fries
Have you ever wondered how to make Cajun fries at home? This spicy recipe will give you everything you need to know to spice up your side dish game.
Suitable for gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
There’s something about delicious Cajun fries like they make at Popeye’s or Five Guys that is just addicting! But what if we could have that same flavor for pennies on the dollar and without all the extra calories? This irresistible Baked Cajun French Fries recipe is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with bold flavors, they’re a perfect accompaniment to any meal.
The best homemade french fries start with the spud. There are many types of potatoes to use, but the best for homemade fries are Russets. Russet potatoes are firm and crispy on the outside but soft and delicious on the inside.
Next, comes the flavor. Cajun seasoning has a little bit of everything, and especially spice. Paprika and Cayenne pepper give it a red color and a pop of spice, while black pepper and white pepper provide depth to the spice. Don’t forget about the garlic and onion undertones though, because that’s what brings that aromatic flavor we crave. You can make homemade cajun seasoning or try this Creole Seasoning for a similar spice level and flavor.
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Finally, the oil. Regular olive oil is a great choice because of its light flavor. The oil keeps the fries from sticking to the pan. Using light, neutral oil lets the flavor of the potatoes shine through.
And since we are baking the fries instead of deep frying them, it takes considerably less oil, so you can enjoy these oven-baked cajun fries guilt-free! Reheat the fries in the air fryer for a crispy, delicious snack, or if you are short on time, Air-Fried Frozen Waffle Fries are a lifesaver.
Why Make This Recipe
- They’re crispy – I love a good crispy fry, don’t you?!
- They’re spicy – Cajun seasoning gives these spuds the right amount of spice.
- They’re healthy – Forget frying – baking fries is the healthy way to go!
Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes — Russet potatoes are great for making crispy french fries and they’re the cheapest. Win-win! For a variation of flavor and texture, you can use Yukon gold or Red potatoes. For a super quick option you can also use frozen fries.
- Olive oil — A light, neutral flavored oil is the best option.
- Cajun seasoning — This seasoning is a blend of spicier herbs including Cayenne pepper, black pepper, and white pepper mixed with garlic, onion, oregano, thyme and paprika.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How To Make Cajun Fries
Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C, and wash and cut the potato into fries.
Step 2. Soak potatoes in water for 30 minutes then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
Step 3. Layer the potatoes onto a baking tray and toss with oil and cajun seasoning. Arrange the fries in single layer.
Step 4. Bake for 20 minutes then increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F / 220 degrees C and bake for another 15 minutes until fries are golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oven, garnish with parsley. Serve immediately with your favorite dip.
Pro Tips
- Opt for russet potatoes for a fluffy interior and crispy exterior.
- Soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes helps remove excess starch, resulting in crispier fries, so don’t skip this step!
- After soaking, pat the potato sticks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This will help them crisp up in the oven and keep them from steaming.
- Spread the fries out in a single layer on the baking sheet, leaving space between each fry. Crowding the pan can cause them to steam instead of crisp up.
- Pay attention to the temperature increase listed in the recipe. This final increase helps the fries to crisp up.
Delicious Variations
- Garlic Parmesan Fries – Use minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, salt, and black pepper in place of Cajun seasoning.
- Loaded Baked Fries – Cover fries with cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped green onions, then pop in the broiler to melt the cheese. Add a dollop of sour cream or guacamole.
- Ranch Fries – Instead of Cajun seasoning, toss fries with ranch seasoning mix or drizzle with ranch dressing for a tangy twist.
Prep And Storage
- Prep Ahead – You can parboil or partially bake the potatoes until they just start to turn golden brown. Then cool and store in the fridge until ready to finish cooking.
- Store – Keep in an airtight storage container for 2-3 days in the fridge.
- Freeze – Cool completely then spread on a baking sheet in one layer and freeze until solid. Store in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months.
- Reheat – Reheat the potatoes in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit until crispy again and warmed through.
FAQs
The best potatoes for making homemade fries are Russet potatoes.
They are commonly used for making homemade fries because they have a high starch content, which results in a fluffy interior and crispy exterior when fried or baked.
Homemade baked French fries can be healthier than store-bought fries because you have control over the ingredients and cooking methods. By baking instead of frying and using minimal oil, you can reduce the amount of unhealthy fats and calories in homemade fries.
Your fries are not crispy possibly due to the baking sheet being too crowded or the potatoes weren’t dried off before baking. This would steam the potatoes instead of crisping them. It is also essential to increase the oven temp during the final bake to get the crispy edge.
Similar Recipes
Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of sides and snacks, or start a few of my most popular recipes:
Serve With:
- Dipping sauces – Dipping sauces always take fries from just fries to something unique. We love Bang Bang Sauce with these fries.
- Grilled Chicken Tenders—Fries and chicken tenders are a match made in heaven. They offer the perfect crispy duo for any meal occasion.
- Nashville Hot Chicken – This Southern delicacy, with its crispy exterior and succulent inside, drenched in a spicy, buttery sauce, is perfectly paired with these fries.
Recommended Tools
- A sharp knife for slicing the potatoes.
- A good quality olive oil makes such a difference to the taste.
- Salt is good to have on hand if you want to adjust the seasoning before serving.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
More Sides And Snack Recipes
Sides can make a meal go from good to great. But if you have a snack attack, we’ve got you covered too.
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Cajun Fries
Ingredients
- 1 pound (453g) potatoes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- Chopped parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
- Wash and cut the potato into fries.
- Soak potatoes in water for 30 minutes then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
- Layer the potatoes onto a baking tray and toss with oil and cajun seasoning. Arrange the fries in single layer.
- Bake for 20 minutes then increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F / 220 degrees C and bake for another 15 minutes until fries are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with parsley and serve immediately with your favorite dip.
Video
Notes
- Opt for russet potatoes for a fluffy interior and crispy exterior.
- Soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for 30 minutes helps remove excess starch, resulting in crispier fries so don’t skip this step!
- After soaking, pat the potato sticks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This will help them crisp up in the oven and keep them from steaming.
- Spread the fries out in a single layer on the baking sheet, leaving space between each fry. Crowding the pan can cause them to steam instead of crisp up.
- Pay attention to the temperature increase listed in the recipe. This final increase helps the fries to crisp up.
- Store – Keep in an airtight storage container for 2-3 days in the fridge.
- There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
