What are dirty fries made of?

At the heart, dirty fries are made up of seasoned french fries, cheese, and a complimentary sauce.

Why do they call them dirty fries?

Dirty fries, loaded fries, or filthy fries are named for all the extra toppings and sauces added to a "clean" pile of fries. The more toppings, the dirtier they are!

Are cajun fries really spicy?

While they have a slight kick of heat, it does not linger long. If you are heat sensitive, use a non-spicy sausage, omit the hot sauce from the fry sauce, and make your homemade cajun seasoning, omitting the cayenne.

Can I use fries made from scratch for this recipe?

Absolutely! If you have a solid recipe for very crispy fries, go for it! I haven't been super successful at making homemade "ultra crispy" fries, so I use the frozen version. The toppings can make the dish soggy if the fries are not crisp enough, and I find that unappetizing.

Can you reheat dirty fries?

Surprisingly, dirty fries reheat very well. The air fryer is the best option, but the oven will work, too. I store leftover dirty fries still on the parchment they were cooked on, which can be reheated right along with the fries. You will need to drizzle them with more sauce after they're reheated.

Cajun Dirty Fries

Name: Cajun Dirty Fries
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning; 1 teaspoon tomato paste; 1 teaspoon creole mustard (NOTE 1); 1 teaspoon hot sauce; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1 - 32 ounce bag of frozen french fries, cooked to package directions; 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning; 1 - 16 ounce bag of breaded frozen okra, cooked to package directions; 4-6 ounces cheddar cheese, thinly shredded; 2-3 spicy sausage links (NOTE 2), cooked to package directions; 3/4 cup thin sliced matchsticks of bell pepper, preferably 3 colors; 1/2 cup finely diced tomato, seeds removed; 1/3 cup sliced green onions

Description

Get a taste of Cajun and Creole cuisine with Cajun Dirty Fries. Loaded with flavor, these fries are a must-try.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Cajun Dirty Fry Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon creole mustard (NOTE 1)
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Dirty Fries

1 - 32 ounce bag of frozen french fries, cooked to package directions
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

1 - 16 ounce bag of breaded frozen okra, cooked to package directions

4-6 ounces cheddar cheese, thinly shredded
2-3 spicy sausage links (NOTE 2), cooked to package directions
3/4 cup thin sliced matchsticks of bell pepper, preferably 3 colors
1/2 cup finely diced tomato, seeds removed
1/3 cup sliced green onions

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Instructions

Cajun Dirty Fry Sauce

Combine all the ingredients for the fry sauce in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Add water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is pourable like a dressing.
Refrigerate the sauce while preparing the rest of the dish. Add more water if it thickens up after refrigeration.

Dirty Fries

First, prepare all of the vegetables according to the recipe. Shred the cheese on the fine side of the grater.
Cook the sausage according to the package directions. Cool for a few minutes, then slice the sausage from end to end. Then, slice across each strip diagonally to create biased strips. (See photos for example)
Cook the french fries according to the package instructions, tossing with 2 teaspoons of cajun seasoning when finished.
Cook the okra according to package instructions as well.
Once all the components are ready, it's time to build the dirty fries.
Move the top rack in your oven to a 3-4 inches from the heating element and set it to broil.
On a parchment lined sheet pan, layer 2/3 of the fries and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Top with the remaining fries, the okra, and the sausage. Top with the remaining cheese.
Broil the fries for 2-3 minutes keeping a close eye on it.
Remove from the oven and top with the vegetables and drizzle with lots of Cajun sauce.
Serve as an appetizer or with a side salad to make it a meal.

Notes

NOTE 1: Substitute 1 teaspoon of Creole mustard with 1 teaspoon of spicy brown mustard and 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard like French's.

NOTE 2: You can use Andouille sausage for the most authentic flavor, but any sausage make with chilis or peppers works great. Or use your favorite flavor of sausage, though avoid Italian flavored sausages.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: appetizer
Method: Stove-top, oven
Cuisine: American