Copycat Five Guys Cajun fries (oven or Air Fryer)

Whether you're discovering one of the United States' most classic fries for the first time or you've been a Five Guys fan since the beginning, you'll wish you'd discovered them sooner! After all, they are the perfect comfort food dinner...

💙 Why you'll love it

• Perfect side dish the whole family will love - this copycat recipe of the iconic fast-food chain is an amazing side dish, super crispy on the outside, tender and melt-in-mouth on the inside and perfectly seasoned.
• Simple ingredients - potatoes + simple homemade Cajun seasoning = simply delicious fries!
• You can vary cooking methods - I've suggested Air Fryer or oven, so you can adapt depending on what you have at home.
• A cinch to prepare - all you have to do is peel and cut the potatoes, soak them in water, season and cook! A cinch, I told you...
• Naturally vegan, they are great fries for people on plant-based diets!

🥔 Ingredients

You can find a full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below. Here are a few ingredient notes to make these crispy Cajun fries.

• Fresh potatoes - I recommend going for Russet potatoes, as they are just perfect for fries and offer the best results. Because thanks to their firm flesh, the skin will be super crispy. You can also go for Yukon Gold potatoes, Maris Piper potatoes or King Edward potatoes. Really pay attention to the type of potatoes you use: once, I bought the wrong one and my fries were soft and soggy, completely different from my usual fries!
• Homemade Cajun seasoning - with paprika, red chili flakes (or Cayenne pepper), sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and oregano. But you can also buy a pre-made Cajun spice mix in any grocery store.

🥕Variations

If you're looking for a change from those spicy Cajun fries, I've got a few options for you to choose from. Don't be afraid to be creative haha!

• With veggies - you can make zucchini fries in summer, carrot fries or butternut squash fries in winter, or sweet potato fries the whole year!
• Spicy fries - add Cayenne pepper instead of red chili flakes. You can also toss your fries with Sriracha sauce.
• Garlicky and cheesy fries - toss the fries with pressed garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of Cajun seasoning.
• Truffled fries - toss the fries with truffle oil and topped with freshly grated black truffle (just writing it makes my mouth water. I have a real passion for black truffle!).

🍴Utensil

Philips Air Fryer

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If you're not sure which utensils or robots to buy for cooking, check out my guide to kitchen tools and utensils.

✨How to make these Cajun style fries?

Recipe details and quantities are in the recipe card below.

• Wash and peel the potatoes.
• Cut your fries into strips and stack them on top of each other before cutting them into ½-inch sticks.

• Put them in a large bowl of boiling water for 1 hour (this is what will make them crispy, removing the starch).

• Rinse well, then dry well in a tea towel (important for the spices to stick).

• Add the olive oil and mix. Then add the paprika, chili flakes, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, salt and black pepper, and mix again.

• For Air Fryer version - place the fries in the Air Fryer basket, making sure there is only one layer of fries (make several batches if necessary). Cook at 375°F/190°C for 8 minutes, then stir and cook for a further 12 to 15 minutes (times vary according to the model of your Air Fryer and the size/thickness of your fries). Watch often during the last few minutes to make sure they don't burn.

• For oven version - preheat oven to 375°F/190°C in natural convection/static heat mode top and bottom. Place the fries on an oven tray lined with parchment paper, making sure there is only one layer (make several batches if necessary). Bake for 25 minutes.
• Then, toss the fries so that they all cook evenly, then increase the temperature to 415°F/210°C and cook for a further 15 minutes.

👩🏻‍🍳 Chef's Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks I learned from my experience about making the crispier fries.

1. Cut fries to the same size, so that they cook in the same way at the same time. 
2. Soak in boiling water for 1 hour - this step is crucial, as it's what will enable the potato's starch to be removed (and it's what makes potatoes soft when cooked).
3. Rinse well after the soaking, to remove any remaining starch.
4. Dry potatoes very well with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, otherwise the oil and spices won't stick to them
5. Make several batches if necessary, but whether in the Air Fryer or in the oven, you should only have one single layer of potatoes.
6. Don't wait: as soon as the fries are coated with olive oil and spices, go straight to cooking. Otherwise they will soften.
7. Important if you're making several batches: place the waiting batch on a rack with holes in it, on top of a plate. While they're waiting to be cooked, the potatoes will release liquid, and if you leave them in a bowl, they'll soak in this liquid, which will soften them.

💡Frequently Asked Questions

❄️ Storage

Store - believe me, they're so good they'll be eaten in no time. But if you have any left over, you can store them in an airtight container for up to two days. 

Reheat - place fries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a preheated oven at 300°F/150°C for a few minutes, until hot.

If you make these fries, it would be so nice to leave me a comment and rate the recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. You can also tag me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Tik Tok, or even send me a photo, I love seeing my little dishes in your homes!