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4.8 from 36 votes

Crispy Cajun Baked Fries (Oil-Free!)

The BEST way to make perfect french fries that are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and oil-free! Simple ingredients, BIG flavor, super versatile!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 4 (Servings)
Calories: 131 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Appetizer
Cuisine: French , American , International

Ingredients

POTATOES
  • 3 medium Russet potatoes (scrubbed clean // organic when possible)
  • Water for cooking
  • 1 pinch salt
CAJUN SPICE BLEND
  • 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano (or sub fresh, minced)
  • 3/4 tsp dried thyme (or sub fresh, minced)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (omit for less heat)
FOR SERVING optional
  • ketchup
  • No-Honey Mustard Sauce

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F (218 C) and use the convection setting if you have it. This will allow the fries to become more crispy on the edges and cook faster. If you don’t have a convection setting, no worries. You’ll just bake for slightly longer. Convection simply speeds up the process.
  2. Line 1 large or 2 small baking sheet(s) with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside (this is important or the fries will stick). (See notes for best way to cook large batches of fries.)
  3. Wash and scrub your potatoes clean but leave the skin on. Add to a large saucepan or pot and cover with water by 1 inch. Add a pinch of salt.
  4. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until a knife slides in easily and is easily removed — ~25-35 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes. You don’t want them to be cracking or falling apart, but you do want them to be tender and pretty much cooked through. Remove from the water and allow to cool on a cutting board (~5-10 minutes).
  5. Note: At this point you could store your boiled potatoes (uncovered) in the fridge for up to 3-4 days and then slice and bake. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
  6. While potatoes are cooking, prepare your spice blend by adding all spices to a small mixing bowl and stirring to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt to taste, cayenne for heat, herbs to taste, smoked paprika for smokiness, or garlic powder for garlic flavor. Set aside. (Leftovers will keep sealed at room temperature for up to 3 months).
  7. Once cooled to the touch, carefully slice potatoes into even, small wedges or strips. If the fries break apart in places, that’s okay and normal. These are secretly my favorite pieces because they get extra crispy when baked. Just try to handle gently to prevent much breaking. Using a sharp knife and handling gently is key here.
  8. Transfer to the lined baking sheet(s) and sprinkle on the Cajun spice blend. Then lift one side of the parchment paper at a time to gently toss the potatoes, coating them with spices. This allows for more gentle handling than hand tossing.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping / tossing at the 15-minute mark to ensure even cooking. Turning the pan around can also help them cook more evenly. You’re looking for the fries to be golden brown and crispy on the edges. Keep baking until you achieve desired results!
  10. Serve immediately. If desired, sprinkle with a bit more salt and pepper for added flavor. These fries are delicious on their own, but are also elevated with ketchup or our No-Honey Mustard Sauce.
  11. Best when fresh, though leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator up to 2-3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in a 375 degree F (190C) oven. In our experience, these are not freezer friendly (unless the boiled, cut, and seasoned fries are frozen before baking — when cooked from frozen cook time will need to be increased).

Notes

  • *Nutrition information is a rough estimate. *Ideally you would bake your fries on one large baking sheet that’s big enough to allow space between the fries so they aren’t crowding each other — this is important and is what helps them to crisp up. More than 1 pan in the oven at a time is okay, but it does usually mean cook time will be extended and the fries may not get as crispy. So in this instance, I would usually bake all the fries that I can on 1 large baking sheet, and if I have leftovers, I prefer to wait and bake them after the first batch is done for best results.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 131 (7%) Carbohydrates 29.9g (10%) Protein 3.6g (7%) Fat 0.2g (0%) Saturated Fat 0.1g (1%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.08g Monounsaturated Fat 0g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 301mg (13%) Potassium 684mg (20%) Fiber 2.4g (10%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 337IU (7%) Vitamin C 9.27mg (10%) Calcium 31.03mg (3%) Iron 1.81mg (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4(Servings)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 131

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 131 7%
Carbohydrates 29.9g 10%
Protein 3.6g 7%
Fat 0.2g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.08g 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 301mg 13%
Potassium 684mg 15%
Fiber 2.4g 10%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 337IU 7%
Vitamin C 9.27mg 10%
Calcium 31.03mg 3%
Iron 1.81mg 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.