I recently polled my Facebook group about their favorite fries, and the cajun fries from Five Guys was the clear winner when it came to fast casual fries. So in the name of research, I made a trip to my local Five Guys and tested them out. Not to toot my own horn, but I think my version might be better. But I’ll let you be the judge.
If nothing else, this air fryer Five Guys cajun fries recipe creates crispy, flavorful, and slightly healthier fries that rival the real thing. And unlike the original, these won’t be dumped inside a brown paper bag or make a greasy mess. Unless you’re into that sort of thing. Then be my guest!
How to Make Five Guys Cajun Fries in an Air Fryer
You’ll find a recipe walkthrough that covers how to cut potatoes for fries, ingredient and air fryer notes, and other tips below. If you’re a fry expert, you can probably skip down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. Otherwise, let’s get our learn on.
Step 1: Cut potatoes for fries.
- Cut a large Russet potato in half and place the cut sides down.
- Make 1/4″ cuts lengthwise on each half of the potato.
- Lay the slices flat and cut into 1/4″ fries.
Cutting the potatoes evenly is key for even cooking, but the cook method for this recipe is pretty forgiving so don’t sweat perfection.
Step 2: Toss the fries in oil and air fry for 15 minutes at 400ºF until the fries start to turn golden brown.
The recipe calls for peanut oil because that’s what Five Guys uses to make their fries. The flavor definitely comes through but if you don’t have peanut oil on hand or would rather use something else, go for it. My Wingstop fries recipe uses olive oil, for example.
Pro Tip: Use the same bowl for tossing the fries in the cajun seasoning during step 3. The residual oil in the bowl will help the seasoning stick to the fries.
Air Fryer Note: I use a 6.5qt Ninja Foodi for nearly all of my air fryer recipes. If you’re using a different sized air fryer, that may affect cook times by a few minutes. Use the photos in the post for visual cues on what your cajun fries should look like at each step.
Step 2.5: Make a cajun seasoning blend.
I tested a few pre-made Cajun seasonings like the Louisiana cajun seasoning I used in my air fryer cajun chicken and vegetables recipe but found them all to be a little too salty. If you wanted a shortcut, you might want to mix some pre-made seasoning and some of the non-salty ingredients you have on hand.
Step 3: Transfer the fries back to the bowl and toss with 1/2 to 3/4 the cajun seasoning blend before air frying an additional 4-6 minutes at 400ºF.
Air frying the fries with a portion of the cajun seasoning ensures all the seasoning ends up on the fries. Since you’re not working with much oil and air frying instead of deep frying, it can be difficult to get much seasoning to stick. Just be careful not to go too long in the air fryer and burn the fries once the cajun seasoning is on!
Step 4: Toss the finished fries in the remaining cajun seasoning.
The photo above is what your cajun fries should look like fresh out of the air fryer. Crispy, not too brown except for a few ends, and ready to soak up the remaining seasoning.
And that’s a wrap. Serve ’em up and enjoy!
How to Make Five Guys Cajun Fries in an Oven
While they have a little less diggity than the air fryer version, the oven gets the job done. For a baked version, I’d coat the fries in the peanut oil and then about 3/4 the cajun seasoning blend. Place the fries directly on a baking sheet and bake for 25-35 minutes at 450ºF. Flip the fries over and give them a shake halfway through for crispier fries.
Toss the baked cajun fries in the remaining seasoning blend and serve.
What to Serve with Five Guys Cajun Fries
A burger, obviously. While I don’t have a Five Guys style or smashburger recipe, you could roll with something like my animal style burgers. You could also use these fries to make great loaded burger bowls.
Other non-burger ideas might include: air fryer chicken nuggets, spicy bbq pulled pork sandwiches, 50-calorie cheeseburger bites, or bacon ranch chicken quesadillas.
Whatever you end up doing, I’d love to hear about it. Come on back and let me know!
Copycat Five Guys Cajun Fries
Ingredients
- 1 large, 12 oz Russet Potato, cut into 1/4″ fries
- 1 Tbsp 16g Peanut Oil
- 1/2 Tbsp 6g Granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Ground Thyme
Instructions
- Wash and dry the potato(es) before cutting into 1/4" strips. Pat dry with a paper towel and add to a large bowl with the peanut oil. Toss to evenly coat and place in an air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes* at 400ºF until the fries begin to turn golden brown. (No need to shake.)
- Mix the remaining ingredients together in a small bowl while the potatoes cook.
- Transfer the potatoes back to the bowl and toss with 1/2 to 3/4 the spices. Return to the basket and air fry for an additional 4-6 minutes at 400ºF. Toss the finished fries in the remaining spices and a bit of parsley, if desired. Serve and enjoy!
I made the Five Guys copycat Cajun Fries with my Ninja Foodie. The seasoning on the fries was so good! Tons of flavor and really easy to make. My kids liked them so much that I had to make a second batch.
These are amazing! I had to lower the time from 15 min to about 10-12 and then take them out to put the seasoning on before the last 3ish minutes to get them real crispy! Seriously so good.
Mason’s copy cat Five Guys seasoning is spot on. I have been looking for a copycat for their Cajon fries seasoning for a long time and this one is amazing. I will make this seasoning without the sugar (less carbs), and use it on burgers too.
During lockdowns/quarantine, something I’ve really missed is eating out and having GOOD French fries. They’re my guilty pleasure! So, when I came across this recipe I knew I had to try them out. The seasonings are likely to already be on hand, as they were for myself. The air fryer made it super simple and the overall turnout was tastier than my usual go-to restaurants! A great side for burgers or wings.
I accidentally made too much cajun seasoning and have it saved away in its own little jar. it’s good on everything. not just fries!
I feel like I’m cheating when I make this recipe. No, not on some diet or anything like that. Just the fact that these are SO GOOD that I feel like I’m cheating the restaurant industry out of their trade secrets or something. These were ridiculously simple to make and unreal how good they were compared to any other fries I’ve had ANYWHERE. Thank you Mason 😭
Never attempted fries in my life before, thought it was just for deep fryers. i cant believe how easy it is. These are a great accompaniment to a number of other dishes like the buffalo chicken dip, burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets.
for extra protein I diced up back bacon and tossed it in the air fryer with the fries.
Is the sugar right in this? My fries were really sweet.
The sugar is correct. The original Wingstop fries packed a pretty sweet punch, but it should be balanced out with the saltiness and other spices. Maybe something else was missing or they could use a bit more salt?
@Mason Woodruff, There is sugar wow
I love the Cajun Fries That is what I alway’s get at five guys. I will make them this weekend
They don’t taste like Five Guys fries but they are definitely delicious! Will make again