Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries Recipe

This Copycat Five Guys Cajun fries recipe is perfect for everyone who loves those perfectly seasoned, crispy French fries from the popular burger chain.  With just a few pantry staples, 15 minutes of prep time, and your trusty Air Fryer, you’ll be able to make these in your kitchen!  Serve them with a nice burger, team them up with your favorite sauces and dips or enjoy them as-is! 

This is the best Copycat Five Guys Cajun fries recipe have to be my favorite comfort food. They’re crispy, salty and absolutely delicious, and I love experimenting with different versions of them. 

I’ve tried everything from copycat Chick-fil-A waffle fries to Wingstop fries and even some classy Air Fryer truffle fries, and they all turned out delicious! 

These Five Guys fries though, are on the top of my list of favorites, and that’s because of their secret seasoning mix! 

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Quick and easy: You’ll just need a few minutes of prep time to make these! They’re perfect when you’re looking for a quick snack to put together for a party or for movie night. 
• Customizable: With a scratch-made seasoning, you’ll be able to control the amount of ingredients that go in, and enjoy a unique and delicious serving of fries, every single time. And yes, you can make these in the oven too! 
• Perfect for entertaining: These seasoned fries can be the perfect affordable snack that you can make and serve whenever you’re hosting a get-together or just need a side to pair with some Ninja Foodi hamburgers. 
• Healthier: You’ll be using your Air Fryer to get these fries to crisp up, which means using considerably less oil than deep frying! 

Ingredients Needed

• Potatoes: Start with large Yukon Gold, Maris Pipers or Russet potatoes. Avoid using waxy potatoes, as they won’t give you that crispy texture you’re looking for.
• Five Guys Cajun Spice Blend: I love making this from scratch. It’s actually pretty easy too. You’ll just need some garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, red chili flakes, black pepper and some granulated sugar and kosher salt.
• Oil: I used peanut oil here, but you could use canola oil, avocado oil or any other cooking oil that has a high smoke point. 

Variations & Substitutions

• Add some cayenne or some extra red pepper flakes into the spice mix to make these copycat Cajun fries more spicy! 
• Replicate the same recipe with zucchini sticks instead of potatoes to make zucchini Cajun fries. 
• Serve these crispy fries with a dipping sauce (or sauces) of your choice. Fireball BBQ sauce, Olive Garden creamy garlic sauce and Zaxby’s ranch sauce are my personal favorites. 

How to Make Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries

To make these Five Guys Copycat fries, prep your Air Fryer basket by greasing it with some cooking spray or lining it with some parchment paper. 

Prep potatoes: Start by washing the potatoes thoroughly and then patting them dry with a kitchen towel. You can leave the skin on, or remove it if you want to. 

Chop chop time: Cut the potatoes into sticks around ¼ inch thin. Use a sharp knife or a French fry cutter to do this.

Soak potatoes: Transfer the fries to a bowl of ice cold water and let them soak for 20-30 minutes. Drain the water and dry the potatoes again. 

Season potatoes: Now add them to a large bowl with some peanut oil and toss well to coat all the fries. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning mix over them and toss again.

Air fry: Arrange them in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer and cook them at 390 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until they’re golden brown.

Season and serve: Sprinkle some more seasoning over the fries if you want to, and then serve them immediately.

Tips & Tricks to Make Five Guys Cajun Fries in the Air Fryer

• Soaking matters: Soaking the fries in cold water helps remove any excess starch, which causes the fries to get nice and crispy. Don’t skip this step! 
• Chop them right: Try to cut the fries such that they have equal thickness. This will ensure they’ll all be cooked perfectly at the same time. 
• Remove moisture: Remember to pat dry and remove all traces of moisture from the fries before you season them. Excess moisture will cause them to lose their crispiness. 
• Be oil-wise: If you can, choose peanut oil for this recipe. It lends the fries a unique flavor that makes them taste exactly like the fries from Five Guys. 
• Space them out: Don’t overcrowd the Air Fryer basket with too many fries. Leave a little room between them to allow the hot air to circulate through and get the fries nice and crispy. 
• Make ‘em fun: Use a crinkle cut knife to cut the fries if you want to enjoy these spicy fries in a different way. 
• Shake shake: Shake the Air Fryer basket a couple of times during the cooking process to get the fries to crisp up on all sides. 

Storage Instructions

• Refrigeration: I would recommend making and serving these fries fresh. If you do have some leftovers that you want to store, you can transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for 2-3 days. 
• Reheating: The best way to reheat these Copycat Five Guys Cajun fries is to pop them in the Air Fryer for a few minutes, until they’re crispy again. You could also use the oven if you want to- just make sure you preheat the oven before you add the fries in! 
• You may also want to quickly read through my guide on reheating French fries in the Air Fryer. 

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

These Copycat Five Guys Cajun fries are best enjoyed with a cheesy, melty burger! I love pairing them with my Copycat Culver’s butter burgers or my favorite Air Fryer lamb burgers. 

Sometimes, I also whip up a batch of Copycat Burger King onion rings or chicken nuggets on the side. 

FAQs

Can I make Copycat Five Guys Cajun fries with frozen fries? You can! Simply follow my Air Fryer frozen French fries recipe, toss the fries into this homemade Cajun seasoning mix, and you’re done. I would really recommend making the fries from scratch though- it really makes a difference in the flavor and texture. 

Why are my fries coming out soft and soggy? Overcrowding the Air Fryer basket with too many fries or adding the fries in when they still have a bit of moisture on them can make them soggy even after air frying. 

Can I make Five Guys Cajun fries in the oven? Yes, you can! Preheat your oven to 390 degrees, grease your baking sheet and bake the fries for 30-35 minutes, flipping them over midway through the cooking time. 

How can I adjust the cooking time for thicker or thinner fries? Thinner fries will need around 20-25 minutes to cook all the way through, while thicker fries can take up to 40 minutes. Depending on how you’ve cut the fries, you may want to check them when they start to turn slightly golden brown, and adjust the cooking time based on their doneness. 

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