Say hello to the filthiest fries you’ll ever fall in love with. These Cajun Dirty Loaded Fries take all the bold, savoury flavour of dirty rice and throw it over a bed of golden homemade fries. A sizzling mix of ground beef and pork is cooked down with peppers and Cajun spices until rich and irresistible, then spooned generously over your chips like it owns the place.
But we’re not stopping there. A melty layer of cheese brings the ooze, while a creamy Cajun mayo drizzle ties it all together with a smoky, tangy finish. It’s messy, meaty, and totally over the top in the best way.
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Calories in Cajun Dirty Loaded Fries
This recipe serves 4 and is 441 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 300+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredient Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Ground pork and beef – The dream team for a proper dirty topping. Pork adds a touch of richness while beef brings that hearty, savoury flavour. Together, they make a juicy, flavour-packed base that holds up beautifully against the bold Cajun spices.
- Red and green pepper – These add sweetness, crunch, and colour. The combo of both gives a nice contrast and keeps things looking vibrant and tasting fresh.
- Onion and garlic – The foundation of flavour. Softened down and mixed into the meat, they bring a mellow sweetness and rich aroma that makes the whole thing smell irresistible.
- Stock – Keeps the meat mixture moist and brings a hit of savoury depth. A good stock ties everything together.
- Potatoes – These are your fries, roasted to golden perfection. Crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle – ready to soak up every bit of that dirty topping.
- Low-calorie spray – Helps get those fries crisped up without using loads of oil. Just a light coating does the trick.
- Reduced-fat mayo – Used for the Cajun drizzle. Still creamy and indulgent, just a bit lighter on the calories.
- Honey – A tiny touch in the Cajun mayo to mellow the heat and add a subtle sweetness that really rounds it out.
- Cheddar and mozzarella – A match made in cheese heaven. Cheddar brings bold flavour, while mozzarella gives you that glorious gooey stretch. Together, they melt into the ultimate cheesy topping.
- Spring onions – Fresh, punchy, and perfect for scattering on top. Adds colour and a crisp bite to finish.
- Salt and pepper – The basics, but essential. Season well throughout to make all the flavours pop. I keep separate from the Cajun seasoning so it’s easy to adjust to taste. Everyone has their own comfort level with salt and pepper, so this way you can tweak it exactly how you like it.
- Homemade Cajun seasoning – A mix of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, oregano, thyme, and cayenne. It’s smoky, herby, with just the right amount of heat – and gives this dish that proper dirty rice-inspired flavour. The cayenne to suit your spice level.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
This dish is easy to tweak depending on what you’ve got on hand or your personal taste. Here are some simple swaps and additions to make it your own:
- Switch up the ground meat – Use all beef, all pork, or swap in turkey or chicken mince for a leaner option. Lamb works nicely if you want something richer.
- Add diced chicken thighs or bacon – Stir through some finely chopped chicken thighs or crispy bacon for extra flavour and texture. Bacon especially gives it that smoky edge.
- Add a splash of beer – A little drop of beer added to the meat while it’s cooking gives the mix a richer, deeper flavour. Just let it simmer down so the alcohol cooks off.
- Use store-bought Cajun seasoning – If you’re short on time, a ready-made blend works well. Just be cautious – many are heavy on salt, which can throw off the balance of the dish. Taste before adding extra seasoning.
- Different cheese combos – Fancy a change? Pepper Jack, Red Leicester, or a smoky cheese like Applewood can all bring something new to the mix. Use what you love.
- Swap the fries – use frozen oven chips for a speedy fix, homemade sweet potato fries for a touch of sweetness, or hearty wedges if that’s more your style. The toppings work on just about anything crispy and golden. Feeling adventurous? Try it loaded on a baked potato instead. Pure comfort, guaranteed!
- Meat-free version – Simply sauté peppers and onions with Cajun seasoning and toss this over the fries. Season the fries themselves with the Cajun spice mix too, for a full-on flavour hit without any meat.
Homemade Dirty Mince
This recipe makes double the meat mixture needed for one batch of dirty fries, perfect for freezing half the meat mixture for next time. It’s a clever time saver that means you’ll have homemade dirty mince ready whenever the craving hits, without starting from scratch.
Simply freeze half the meat mixture in a suitable container. When you’re ready to use it, defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave until piping hot. Then pile it straight onto your fries and follow rest of the recipe. Easy, tasty, and fuss-free.
Sides for Cajun Dirty Loaded Fries
Honestly, these dirty fries are a meal all on their own, rich, loaded, and utterly satisfying. You can absolutely enjoy them just as they are, no questions asked. But if you want to add a bit of freshness and balance, I like to serve them alongside a simple mixed salad.
Think baby leaves or mixed salad greens, crisp cucumber slices, thinly sliced red onion for a little zing, and maybe some cooked beetroot for a touch of earthiness and colour. Cherry tomatoes and a handful of radishes add a lovely pop, too. Keep the dressing light and simple, a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon works wonders to cut through the richness of the fries.
It’s the perfect way to jazz things up without stealing the show from those messy, delicious fries.
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FAQ for Cajun Dirty Loaded Fries
Yes, you can use store-bought Cajun seasoning if you prefer a shortcut. Just be aware that many pre-made blends tend to be quite salty, which can affect the overall flavour of the dish. It’s best to taste as you go and adjust the salt accordingly.
I don’t recommend freezing the entire loaded fries once assembled — the fries can get soggy and lose their crispness. However, you can definitely freeze the meat part. In fact, this recipe makes double the meat mixture, so freezing half is a handy shortcut for next time you want to whip up dirty fries.
Definitely! Frozen oven chips or fries work really well and save you time. Just cook them according to the package instructions, (dust them in some of the cajun seasoning) and cook until they’re nice and crispy before piling on the dirty mince and toppings.
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Recipe Card
Cajun Dirty Loaded Fries
These Cajun Dirty Loaded Fries are the ultimate comfort food fix – golden fries loaded with spiced cajun meat, melted cheese, and a punchy Cajun mayo drizzle.
Ingredients
- 800g (28.2oz) of russet potatoes (or similar potato), peeled and sliced into fries
- 250g (8.8oz) of extra lean ground beef (mince)
- 250g (8,8oz) of extra lean ground pork (mince)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 120ml (½ cup) of chicken stock
- 60g (2.1oz) of reduced fat mozzarella, grated
- 60g (21.oz) of reduced fat cheddar, grated
- 4 tablespoons of reduced fat mayonnaise
- 1.5 teaspoons of honey
- 3 green onions, sliced thinly (green part)
- salt and pepper
- low calorie spray oil
For the cajun seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoons of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon of dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon of cayenne
Instructions
- Combine the Cajun seasoning in a small bowl and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan, 200°C, 400°F or gas mark 6.
- Rinse the potatoes in cold water until the water runs clear to remove the starch. Pat them completely dry with a clean tea towel or kitchen paper.
- Make the Cajun mayo – add the mayonnaise to a bowl with 2 tablespoons of water, the honey, and 1½ teaspoons of the Cajun seasoning. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- Add the potatoes to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with 1½ teaspoons of the Cajun seasoning and season well with salt and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly, then spray generously with low-calorie spray oil. Bake in the oven for approx 40 minutes until golden and crispy, flipping halfway through.
- While the fries are baking, heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and pork along with the onion and garlic and cook until browned.
- Add the remaining Cajun seasoning to the pan, season well with salt and black pepper, then stir in the peppers and half a cup of stock and continue to cook until the peppers are softened, the stock has reduced, and the meat mixture is slightly caramelised.
- Tub up half the meat mixture and freeze for next time – this gives you a ready-made shortcut the next time you’re craving dirty fries.
- Once the fries are cooked, scatter over the remaining meat mixture, then sprinkle with the grated cheeses. Return to the oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish with toppings – sprinkle with chopped spring onions, drizzle over the Cajun mayo, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Gluten Free Friendly - use gluten free stock/seasonings
- Freezer Friendly ❄️ - meat part only
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 441Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 7gSodium 895mgCarbohydrates 49gFiber 5gSugar 6gProtein 27g
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