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Here’s how to make homemade Cajun fries! These crispy baked fries are irresistibly seasoned with Cajun seasoning.
Love a good spicy, seasoned fry? Try these Cajun fries! Cajun seasoning is the perfect foil for crispy potatoes: this savory, spicy seasoning adds just the right kick. Bake them up in a hot oven and they come out crispy and full of flavor: ideal for serving with burgers or fish. Just like most fry recipes, we couldn’t tear ourselves away from the pan. Here’s how to whip them up at home: without a deep fryer!
What you need for Cajun fries
Cajun fries are French fries cooked with Cajun seasoning. You can make them either baked or fried, and we prefer baked because it’s the easiest method easiest for the home cook. Either purchased Cajun seasoning or homemade work for the seasoning. We love this homemade Cajun seasoning, but we don’t always have time to make it so often reach for purchased. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
- Russet potatoes: russet potatoes are the best variety for fries: they get crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside
- Olive oil
- Cajun seasoning: purchased or homemade; experiment to find a brand you love!
- Salt
How to cut fries by hand
The only tricky part about homemade Cajun fries? Cutting the fries! There are two main methods: by hand or with a French fry cutter. Here’s our fast and easy method for how to cut fries with a knife (or watch this video):
- Slice off the ends and side: Slice off the ends of each potato, then slice off part of the side to make a base.
- Cut slices, then strips: Place the potato half cut side down and cut off a 3/8-inch slice. Then lay the slice on its side and cut it into several long 3/8-inch wide strips.
- Repeat: Repeat until all potatoes have been cut into fries.
Alternative: use a French fry cutter
If you make homemade fries often, you may want to invest in a French fry cutter. This gadget turns a potato into fries in just 1 second. It’s easy to use and pumps them out in a jiffy! The only downside: finding storage space for a one-use gadget! We love ours, but we do make fries often: it’s not a must for the home kitchen. Here’s a link to the French fry cutter we use.
Why to soak Cajun fries before baking
Another secret to homemade Cajun fries? Soak them before baking. This is not required if you’re frying up the fries, of course. But for baking, this makes the best texture. Here’s what to know about this method:
- Soaking makes the outside crispy and inside fluffy. In extensive recipe testing, we found this makes for just the right tender interior and crispy exterior.
- All you need is 10 minutes! Some fry recipes call for soaking for 1 hour or more. In our testing, we found that the 10 minute soak was actually better!
- Soak while your oven preheats. This step doesn’t cost you any time when making the recipe, because you can do it while the oven is preheating. Ideally you can cut, soak and season the fries before the oven is ready to go.
Dips for Cajun fries
Once you’ve soaked and bake up your Cajun fries to crispy deliciousness, it’s time for dipping! These fries are fantastic on their own, but it’s always more fun to dip, right? Here are a few fry dips that go with Cajun fries:
- Remoulade: Dip into Remoulade Sauce
- Aioli: Try Classic Aioli, Truffle Aioli, Lemon Aioli
- Ketchup: Opt for Homemade Ketchup
More fries recipes
Love fries? Here a few fun variations on the classic fried potato:
- Go for Ultimate Baked French Fries or Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Grab Home Fries or Garlic Fries
- Opt for Classic Chili Cheese Fries
- Try Easy Steak Fries
- Go for Greek Fries or Parmesan Truffle Fries
This Cajun fries recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based and dairy-free.
Cajun Fries
Here’s how to make homemade Cajun fries! These crispy baked fries are irresistibly seasoned with Cajun seasoning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 3 to 4 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Fries
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes (1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds)*
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Fine salt, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Evenly space the oven racks to ensure even cooking.
- Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into fries: (Watch this video or use a fry cutter.) Wash the potatoes, leaving the skins on. Slice off the ends of each potato, then slice off part of the side to make a base. Place the potato half cut side down and cut off a 3/8-inch slice, then lay the slice on its side and cut it into several long strips. Repeat until all potatoes have been cut into fries. The pieces can be uneven, but aim for as uniform of thickness as possible. See the video for full instructions!
- Soak in cold water (10 minutes): Place the cut fries into a medium bowl and rinse with cold water until water is clear. Then fill the bowl with cold water and allow to rest for 10 minutes (while the oven preheats). Then drain the potatoes and dry them thoroughly with a clean dish towel.
- Season the fries: Add the fries to a dry bowl and toss them with the olive oil, Cajun seasoning, and kosher salt. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the fries in straight lines on the paper, placing them as far apart as possible.
- Bake: Bake the fries for 20 minutes. Take them out of the oven and carefully flip each fry. Return to oven (reversing the pans on top and bottom racks). Bake additional 8 to 10 minutes until they are crisp and golden brown, watching carefully as the bake time depends on the fry thickness and your oven. If the majority of the fries still seem soft, continue baking a few more minutes until crispy.
- Remove from the oven. Taste and sprinkle with some fine salt to taste. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Let us know if you have any questions!