Crispy and flavourful! These oven-baked Cajun fries take the crispy snack and side dish to new aromatic heights. Eat them as is or serve them with your favourite protein for an indulgent but balanced meal.
One of the potato recipes I love lately are these Cajun fries. They are easy to prepare, healthier than their fried counterpart but still so flavourful. The Cajun seasoning takes already delicious fries for a spicy and aromatic spin. No wonder I ate the last batch I made in a couple of minutes.
Love a crispy treat? Try these baked sweet potato chips, baked sesame chicken tenders, and air fryer crispy roasted carrots to satisfy your cravings more healthily.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- crispy snack or side dish
- only a few ingredients needed
- flavourful and spicy
- budget-friendly
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Before we dive into making the spice blend, what is Cajun seasoning exactly? The Cajun spice blend originates in Louisiana, a Southern state in the USA. The area is known for their Cajun cuisine and aromatic spice blend.
Cajun seasoning is a mix of different dried spices creating a flavourful blend. Although there are different blends of Cajun seasoning, it mostly consists of the following:
- paprika
- oregano
- thyme
- garlic
- cayenne pepper
- salt
- black pepper
The spicy and smoky blend is easy to make, and you can prepare a bigger batch and store it in an airtight container. This way, you have it on hand when you want to season something like meat and vegetables before cooking.
Ingredients
This recipe is a no-brainer when you want a crispy and flavourful snack without breaking the bank. Here is what you need:
- Potatoes: Use high-starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold potatoes to get crispy fries. If you live in Austria, Germany or a different German-speaking country, look for the wording "festkochend" on the label to get the best variety.
- Cajun seasoning: Paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic, salt, black and cayenne pepper make for a flavourful combination to season the fries with.
- Vegetable oil: Use a light-tasting oil with a high smoke point. Rapeseed or sunflower oil works best in the marinade.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a big baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash the potatoes and pat them dry. Cut them into about 1 cm (0.4 inches) thick slices. Then cut the potato slices into fries.
Make the Cajun seasoning by mixing paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic, salt, black and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Add the vegetable oil and stir until well combined.
Transfer the fries to the bowl and stir until every fry is well covered in the marinade.
Place the fries on the baking sheet, making sure they are distributed evenly and don't overlap.
Put the baking sheet on the middle rack and bake the fries in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes until crispy.
Serving ideas
These Cajun fries are delicious eaten as is but also great to serve with all kinds of grilled, baked, and fried meat or seafood. Try it with my crispy baked sesame chicken tenders and mango hot sauce for a savoury and spicy treat.
Tips & substitutions
- Not a spicy eater? The cayenne pepper adds a little heat to the seasoning. But you can leave it out to take the heat away.
- Conscious of your salt intake? Leave the salt out of the aromatic blend.
- Use high-starch potato varieties like russet, Idaho, or Yukon gold potatoes. In Austria, where I live, look for the Label “festkochend” when buying potatoes. Ditta, Kipfler or Sieglinde potatoes are a great choice to get crispy fries.
- Cut the potatoes about the same size to ensure they are baked evenly in the oven.
Top tip
Make a bigger batch of the Cajun seasoning and store it in an airtight container. If you crave the spicy and aromatic flavour, you have it ready to season meat, fish, seafood and vegetables.
Recipe FAQs
Use light-tasting vegetable oil with a high smoke point to get the best result. Rapeseed or sunflower oil is great to use for the Cajun seasoning marinade.
The Cajun fries are best eaten right after making. This way, they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. If you have leftovers store them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for a day or two. Then reheat them in the oven until hot, but be aware that they don't burn.
📖 Recipe
Cajun Fries
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
Cajun seasoning
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a big baking sheet with parchment paper. Wash the potatoes and pat them dry. Cut them into about 1 cm (0.4 inches) thick slices. Then cut the potato slices into fries.
- Make the Cajun seasoning by mixing paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic, salt, black and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Add the vegetable oil and stir until well combined.
- Transfer the fries to the bowl and stir until every fry is well covered in the marinade. Place the fries on the baking sheet, making sure they are distributed evenly and don't overlap.
- Put the baking sheet on the middle rack and bake the fries in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes until crispy.
- Serve with fresh parsley on top if you like, and enjoy.
Notes
- Not a spicy person? The cayenne pepper adds a little heat to the seasoning. But you can leave it out to take the heat away.
- Conscious of your salt intake? Leave the salt out of the aromatic blend.
- Use high-starch potato varieties like russet, Idaho, or Yukon gold potatoes. In Austria, where I live, look for the Label “festkochend” when buying potatoes. Ditta, Kipfler or Sieglinde potatoes are a great choice to get crispy fries.
- Cut the potatoes about the same size to ensure they are baked evenly in the oven.
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