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    Home » Recipes » Sides & Appetizers

    Published: Oct 20, 2022 · Modified: Dec 27, 2022 by Petranka · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe (Air Fryer or Oven)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A collage of photos of cajun fries with text overlay "Copycat five guys cajun fries recipe". A photo of cajun fries with text overlay "Copycat five guys cajun fries recipe". A photo of cajun fries with text overlay "Copycat five guys cajun fries recipe".

    This Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe is crispy, spicy, and perfectly flavored with our cajun seasoning blend. It's a healthier version that can be made both in the oven and air fryer.

    Five guys Cajun fries served on a baking sheet layered with parchment paper.  One bowl white filled with sauce placed on the lower right side of the baking sheet, and one white bowl filled with salt placed on the upper left side.

    Five guys fans, gather around! This Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries recipe tastes just like the real thing.

    If you've ever tried homemade french fries, you know they're a hundred times better than the frozen fries you buy at the grocery store.

    This copycat version consists of fresh potatoes that get seasoned with our DIY cajun mix and then cooked until golden perfection.

    It's perfect to enjoy alongside your favorite dips and sauces or serve as a side dish to burgers, cauliflower wings, chili, and even shakshuka.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQ
    • Serving
    • Storage
    • More Air Fryer Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Made with simple ingredients. This recipe doesn't use any fancy ingredients or techniques and is super easy to make.
    • Customizable. You can control how salty, spicy, and seasoned you want your fries to be.
    • Healthier than regular fries. You'll need only a small amount of vegetable oil to coat the potatoes before air frying or baking them.
    • Delicious. Using real potatoes, and fresh spices, these easy cajun fries carry an amazing flavor.

    Ingredients

    See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

    • Potatoes: I like to use Yukon Gold potatoes or russet potatoes.
    • Spices: To make the five guys' cajun spice blend, you'll need smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
    • Oil: Use canola, olive oil, or peanut oil for best results. Five guys fries are made with peanut oil, but if you have nut allergies I don't recommend using it.
    • Salt and black pepper: The best part about making fries at home is that you can control how salty you want them to be.
    • Granulated sugar (optional): It mellows down the spiciness of the cajun spice mix, but it won't make your fries sweet.
    Gathered ingredients for making our five guys Cajun fries recipe with text overlay on each ingredient.

    How to Make Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe

    Step 1: Cut the potatoes

    Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into ¼" strips. Then, if using the oven method, add your baking sheet to the oven and preheat it to 390ºF (200ºC).

    Step 2: Soak in ice-cold water

    This is optional, but it helps to get rid of some of the starch, which results in crispier fries. Fill a large bowl with water and add ice and add the potatoes. Soak for at least 30 minutes, then drain and rinse.

    Raw sliced potatoes on wooden cutting board.
    Sliced potatoes soaking in a large bowl filled with water and ice.

    Step 3: Dry the potatoes

    Lay them on a few layers of paper towels and dry well. This is important to make sure that the seasoning will stick properly.

    Step 4: Season

    Add the potatoes to a bowl and coat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Then, add the spice mix and stir until every last piece is well-coated.

    Raw sliced potatoes drying on a piece of paper towel.
    Raw sliced potatoes coated in Cajun seasoning in a large bowl.

    Step 5: Bake or air fry

    Take the hot baking sheets out of the oven and spray them with cooking spray. Add the fries in a single layer, giving them enough space in between. Bake for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.

    If using an air fryer, preheat it to 390ºF (200ºC). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then add the fries in a single layer. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

    Finish by sprinkling a little bit of sea salt before serving.

    Raw sliced potatoes on a baking sheet.
    Baked Cajun fries on a baking sheet.

    Expert Tips

    • Cut the fries into similar sizes. This ensures that they will cook evenly and at about the same rate.
    • Soak the potatoes in ice-cold water. If you have the time, I recommend soaking the fries anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get rid of the starch. This is my best trick for this Five Guys cajun fries recipe
    • Dry them very well before seasoning. After soaking, make sure to completely dry the potatoes. This will help the seasoning stick better and will prevent the potatoes from getting soggy.
    • Preheat your baking sheets. Instead of using parchment paper, preheat your baking sheets and spray them with cooking spray. This creates a non-stick layer, and since you're not using parchment paper, the potatoes can have direct contact with the surface and get super crispy.
    • Work in batches if needed. It's essential to not overcrowd the air fryer basket or the baking sheets. If you don't give the potatoes enough space, they'll steam instead of crisp up, and will end up being soggy.

    FAQ

    Are cajun fries spicy?

    This recipe is moderately spicy. If you don't like spicy food, you can simply omit the red chili flakes, and if you want the make your fries spicier, you can add ¼- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper.

    Can you reheat this Five Guys cajun fries recipe?

    Yes. Although they won't get as crispy as they were when they were fresh, you can still reheat them. Preheat the oven or air fryer to 400°F (205°C). Bake for 10 minutes, or air fryer for 4-5 minutes, tossing halfway through.

    How do five guys make their fries?

    Unlike other fast-food fries, five guys use fresh potatoes that they deep-fry in peanut oil. They use a cooking process called "double frying", which is exactly what it sounds like- frying the potatoes twice to make them extra crispy.

    Do you have to soak potatoes before frying?

    IMO, yes. I highly recommend soaking the potatoes to make the fries extra crispy. If you can't remember to soak them a few hours before, you can soak them overnight and keep them in the fridge.

    Which are the best potatoes to use for fries?

    Russet potatoes are the best type of potatoes to use to make fries. They're high in starch and low in moisture. Avoid using waxy potatoes.

    Five guys Cajun fries served on a baking sheet layered with parchment paper. They're topped with flaky sea salt and chopped parsley.

    Serving

    In true Five Guys fashion, enjoy these cajun fries alongside a Five Guys burger. For those following plant-based diets, check out my air fryer beyond burger recipe.

    You can also serve them alongside dishes like eggplant tofu, mac and cheese, risoni salad with feta, and vegan chicken sandwich.

    Storage

    This recipe is best served when fresh, as the fries get soft when they cool down. However, if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    A hand dipping a French fry in a small white bowl filled with pink sauce.

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      Easy Air Fryer Pita Chips (3 ingredients!)
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    📖 Recipe

    Five guys Cajun fries served on a baking sheet layered with parchment paper. They're topped with flaky sea salt and chopped parsley.

    Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe

    This Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe is crispy, spicy, and perfectly flavored with our cajun seasoning blend. It's a healthier version that can be made both in the oven and air fryer.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: air fryer, cajun seasoning, oven baked fries, spring, Summer, winter
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Soaking time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Petranka
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Air fryer optional
    • Oven

    Ingredients

    For the fries

    • 2 large russet potatoes or 3 medium
    • 1 tablespoon peanut oil or canola, or olive oil
    • cooking spray

    For the spice blend

    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
    • ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into ½-inch thick fries. Then, if using the oven method, add your baking sheet to the oven and preheat it to 390ºF (200ºC).
    • This is optional, but it helps to get rid of some of the starch, which results in crispier fries. Fill a large bowl with water and add ice and add the potatoes. Soak for at least 30 minutes, then drain and rinse.
    • Lay them on a few layers of paper towels and dry well. This is important to make sure that the seasoning will stick properly.
    • Add the potatoes to a bowl and coat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Then, add the spice mix and stir until every last piece is well-coated.
    • Take the hot baking sheets out of the oven and spray them with cooking spray. Add the fries in a single layer, giving them enough space in between. Bake for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.
    • If using an air fryer, preheat it to 390ºF (200ºC). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then add the fries in a single layer. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
    • Finish by sprinkling a little bit of sea salt before serving.
    Step-by-step imagesScroll back to find detailed recipe photos!

    Notes

    • Cut the fries into similar sizes. This ensures that they will cook evenly and at about the same rate.
    • Soak the potatoes in ice-cold water. If you have the time, I recommend soaking the fries anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get rid of the starch. This is my best trick for making crispy baked potatoes.
    • Dry them very well before seasoning. After soaking, make sure to completely dry the potatoes. This will help the seasoning stick better and will prevent the potatoes from getting soggy.
    • Preheat your baking sheets. Instead of using parchment paper, preheat your baking sheets and spray them with cooking spray. This creates a non-stick layer, and since you're not using parchment paper, the potatoes can have direct contact with the surface and get super crispy.
    • Work in batches if needed. It's essential to not overcrowd the air fryer basket or the baking sheets. If you don't give the potatoes enough space, they'll steam instead of crisp up, and will end up being soggy.
     
    Storage
    This recipe is best served when fresh, as the fries get soft when they cool down. However, if you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
     
    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with an online calculator without including the optional ingredients. The information shown should not be considered a substitute for personal nutritional advice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 178kcal

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Robert says

      October 22, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      5 stars
      These fries totally saved me when I had friends over for a movie. They freaking loved em'!

      Reply

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    Sunglow Kitchen is a food blog about delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes. We share easy-to-make and budget-friendly meal ideas that anyone can make at home! Cooking is a BIG passion of mine and I am excited to show you how simple it can be! More about me...

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