What is Cajun style at Five Guys?

Five Guys is known for its burgers cooked fresh to order and customizable with a variety of free toppings. One of the signature options offered is the Cajun style, which adds a kick of heat and flavor to the burger. So what exactly is Cajun style at Five Guys and how does it impact the taste of the burger?

Table of Contents

The History of Cajun Style

Cajun style cooking originates from the cuisine of Louisiana, specifically influenced by French-Canadian immigrants that settled in the Acadiana region of the state. Cajun food is known for its bold, spicy flavors and staple ingredients like peppers, onions, celery, and seasonings like garlic, paprika, cayenne, and black pepper.

The Cajun style option at Five Guys aims to infuse their burgers with some of the iconic heat and regional flavors of true Cajun cuisine. By offering it as a free topping choice, customers can decide just how much Cajun flavor they want added to their burger.

Ingredients in the Cajun Style Spice Blend

While the exact recipe for the Cajun style spice blend used at Five Guys is proprietary, some of the core ingredients most likely include:

Cayenne Pepper – Adds heat and a spicy kick.

Paprika – Provides a savory, smoky flavor.
Onion Powder – Extra onion flavor.
Garlic Powder – Provides an aromatic garlicky taste.

Black Pepper – Adds peppery spice.
Oregano – An herbaceous note.
Thyme – Earthy, minty flair.

This blend of spices perfectly balances the spicy edge from cayenne pepper and black pepper with the seasoning of paprika, onion, garlic, and herbs. It allows the Cajun style to pack a punch of flavor without being overwhelmingly hot.

How the Cajun Spice is Added

The Cajun spice blend is stored in shakers at the topping station of Five Guys locations. When a customer orders a burger Cajun style, the team member will grab the Cajun spice shaker and liberally season the burger patty while it’s still on the grill.

The spice rub is added mid-cooking so it really sticks to the burger and sears into all of the crevices of the patty. This helps the Cajun spice infuse its flavor directly into the meat itself as the patty finishes cooking. A fresh dash of the spice blend is also added onto the crown of the burger when constructing the full sandwich.

Resulting Flavor Profile

Choosing Cajun style packs a flavor punch that transforms a regular Five Guys burger into something more bold and adventurous. Here are some of the notable ways the Cajun spice changes up the burger profile:

Spicy Heat – The sizzling heat from cayenne and black pepper add a real kick, though not so much as to overwhelm the other flavors.
Savory Depth – Paprika, onions, and garlic make each bite taste meatier and more complex.

Smoky Undertones – Paprika’s smokiness comes through, almost like the patty was grilled over an open wood fire.
Herbaceous Notes – Hints of oregano and thyme lend an earthy tone.
Aromatics – Onion and garlic powders provide a robust, mouthwatering aroma.

These components come together to provide a hit of heat met with savory, smoky satisfaction. The spices also add textural interest through the crust they form on the patty.

Transforming the Other Toppings

Beyond just amplifying the flavor of the burger patty itself, choosing Cajun style also impacts how all the other toppings taste in combination.

For example, pairing Cajun spice with cheese like American or Swiss allows the creamy dairy to temper and contrast with the heat. Onions – whether grilled or crispy fried – gain even more punch and bite when combined with the blend of spices.

The juices from tomatoes or cooked bacon get a smoky infusion that complements the paprika. Lettuce and sauces like mayo or ketchup balance out the bold flavors with freshness and tang.

Cajun Fries

In addition to Cajun style burgers, Five Guys also allows guests to order Cajun style fries. The fries are tossed in the same Cajun seasoning blend used on the burgers to add a kick of heat and zesty flavor.

The Cajun fries pair perfectly with Cajun style burgers to deliver maximum spice and satisfaction. Some guests even take the fries a step further by getting them “extra Cajun” for an even more intense dose of seasoning.

Reasons Customers Love Cajun Style

Here are some of the biggest reasons customers opt to order their Five Guys burgers Cajun style:

It adds exciting flavor and heat compared to a regular plain burger.

The blend of spices is flavorful without being overwhelmingly spicy.
It adds crisp, textured bits to the patty from the spice crust.
Cajun style pairs well with lots of favorite toppings.

ordering Cajun style costs nothing extra.
It provides a taste of authentic Cajun cooking.
Kids and adults alike enjoy the bolder flavor.

Tips for First-Timers

For customers trying Cajun style for the first time, here are some useful tips to get the best experience:

Start with just a “dash” of Cajun seasoning and add more to taste.
Cool off the heat with cheese, sauce, onions or other favorite toppings.

Pair Cajun fries for the full flavor experience.
Complement the spice with a cold soda, shake or juice.
Add crispy bacon for extra smokiness.

Order a smaller Little Hamburger to sample the style.
Skip additional salt as the blend is well seasoned.

Heat Level

Five Guys Cajun style brings just enough heat to excite the palate, without overloading on extreme spice for most people. The level of heat can vary slightly depending on how much Cajun seasoning is applied to each patty.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Five Guys Cajun style registers around a 4 or 5 heat level. It offers a solid kick but is not as hot as pure cayenne pepper or habanero spice.

However, heat perception is also subjective and can vary from person to person. Those especially sensitive may find the Cajun style burger registers closer to a 6 or 7 on the heat scale. It likely won’t burn mouths, but provides a tingling, glowing spiciness.

Cajun Style vs. Hot Sauce

For customers craving even more heat, Five Guys also offers hot sauce as a free topping option. So how does the flavor differ between Cajun style and hot sauce?

While Cajun style offers a blend of savory spices and moderately spicy chile heat, hot sauce is a straight hit of intense chile pepper heat. The hot sauce lacks the depth of the spice blend, but packs triple the amount of heat.

Those who find Cajun style isn’t enough can add hot sauce to really turn up the burner. Some devoted spice lovers even order their burgers Cajun style and with hot sauce to maximize the amount of heat and flavor.

Regional Tastes

Since Cajun seasoning has its roots in Louisiana cooking, that may influence its popularity among Five Guys locations in different regions.

The Cajun style option is likely most popular at Five Guys locations in Louisiana and other Southern states like Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The flavor profile resonates with the regional tastes and food culture.

In other parts of the country like the Midwest, Northeast and West Coast, the Cajun style seasoning provides more of a novel, exotic heat and spice experience.

Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

Five Guys Cajun style seasoning helps add big flavor, but also contains potential allergens to be aware of.

The spice blend contains garlic and onion powder, so those with allergies to these should avoid. It is also made in facilities that process wheat, milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.

For vegetarians and vegans, the Cajun style itself is meat-free and safe, though it is cooked on the same grills as beef patties.

Those on gluten-free, dairy-free or other restrictive diets should inquire about ingredients and cross-contamination concerns when ordering.

Nutritional Info

Adding Cajun spice does not significantly alter the nutritional values of a Five Guys burger on its own. The calorie, fat, protein and carbohydrate content stay relatively constant whether Cajun style or regular.

Keep in mind that pairing Cajun burgers with fried items like bacon or French fries will increase the fat, sodium and calorie counts compared to a plain burger with a fresh veggie topping.

Those monitoring their sodium intake may want to skip adding extra salt along with the Cajun style, as the seasoning itself provides plenty of flavor.

Calories in a Cajun Burger

Burger	Calories
Little Hamburger Cajun	440
Hamburger Cajun	670
Cheeseburger Cajun	790
Bacon Cheeseburger Cajun	960

Where to Find Cajun Style

The Cajun spice shakers can be found at any Five Guys locations that offers the burgers cooked to order on an open grill line. Customers just need to request Cajun style when placing their burger order.

For those ordering online via mobile app or third party delivery services, there will also be a checkbox option to order a burger Cajun style.

Keep in mind that some international Five Guys locations may not offer Cajun style depending on regional tastes and availability of ingredients.

Conclusion

The Cajun style offered at Five Guys provides the perfect way to give their juicy burgers an extra blast of heat and regional flavor. By combining spices like garlic, paprika and cayenne, it packs a punch without being overly hot.

Adding zesty Cajun flavor also complements other toppings like cheese, mushrooms, bacon and fried onions for a fully decked-out burger experience. Customers love that it costs nothing extra to transform a plain burger into something daring and adventurous.

Order a Five Guys burger Cajun style for a taste of Louisiana’s signature heat fused with the fresh flavors of a hand-pattied beef burger hot off the grill.