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These Animal Style Fries are my go to In-N-Out copycat when the craving hits and I do not want to leave the house. Crispy fries, melty American cheese, that tangy sweet “secret” sauce, and buttery grilled onions all piled together. They taste shockingly close to the In-N-Out “secret menu” favorite, and you can have them on the table in under 30 minutes.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Tastes just like In N Out! My family and I loved it! Instead of using 2 lbs of fries, I used 1 lb which is enough for 3 people and 1 whole onion because we love onion. Kept the same measurement for the sauce (2 lb fries). Will be definitely making this again when I’m craving animal fries!” – Eden
Why I Love These Fries
My husband grew up in California just minutes away from an In-N-Out. If you ask him what he misses most about California, he will tell you it’s three things: the beach, Disneyland, and In-N-Out Burger. Thankfully, he’s married to someone who loves recreating copycat recipes, and I have made these Animal Style Fries for him many, many times. He swears this In-N-Out copycat tastes like the real deal.
In-N-Out Animal style fries are a cult favorite among fast food lovers. Even though they’re on the “secret menu,” they’re hardly a secret. They’re basically fries topped with melted American cheese, In-N-Out style sauce, and grilled onions, and they are seriously addictive. These are so good with a Classic Burger or Blue Cheese Burger, Dirty Dr Pepper soda, and Homemade Milkshake.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Frozen fries: Traditional, crispy, or shoestring all work, just cook them until truly crisp.
- American cheese slices: This is the classic In-N-Out copycat choice, Kraft Singles or Velveeta slices both melt well.
- Onion (white or yellow): Finely diced, then cooked in butter until golden with crisp edges.
- Butter (or vegetable oil): Helps the onions turn deeply golden and flavorful.
- Salt: A pinch on the onions helps pull out moisture so they brown better.
- Sauce base: mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sweet pickle relish for that signature tangy sweet “secret sauce” flavor.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Make it closer to In-N-Out: stick with American cheese slices and don’t skip the onions.
- Cheese swap (still delicious, less copycat): cheddar, pepper jack, or a shredded blend works, but it won’t taste as much like the original.
- Fries choice: air fryer fries get extra crisp, baked fries work great too, and homemade fries are amazing if you have time.
- Sauce tweaks: Want it tangier? Add a tiny extra squeeze of mustard. Want it sweeter? Add a little more relish. Want it creamier? Add a small spoonful of mayo.
- Fun add ons: chopped pickles, sliced jalapeños, or bacon if you’re not aiming for a true In-N-Out copycat.
How to Make Animal Style Fries
- Cook the fries until golden and crisp (air fryer is my favorite, but bake or fry works too).
- Dice the onion finely so it cooks fast and gets those browned edges.
- Sauté the onion in butter over medium-high heat with a pinch of salt until deep golden brown with a few dark, crisp bits.
- Mix the secret sauce in a small bowl (mayo, ketchup, relish, mustard).
- Melt the cheese: spread fries on a lined baking sheet, top with cheese slices, then broil briefly until melted.
- Assemble: drizzle sauce over the cheesy fries, spoon on the grilled onions, and serve right away.
Recipe Tips
- Go crisp or go home: Animal Style Fries are best when the fries are very crisp before you add toppings.
- Broil fast: Keep a close eye when broiling, cheese can go from perfect to scorched quickly.
- Onion trick: The pinch of salt helps the onions release moisture so they brown and crisp better.
- Sauce consistency: If your sauce feels too thick, a tiny splash of pickle juice (or water) can loosen it.
- Serving tip: Serve immediately. Once sauced, fries soften quickly, which is true to the real In-N-Out experience too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Animal Style Fries are an In-N-Out “secret menu” item made with fries topped with melted American cheese, In-N-Out style secret sauce, and grilled onions.
Nope. The classic In-N-Out version does not include bacon. The crispy browned onions sometimes make people think there’s bacon, but it’s just onion magic.
It’s a simple mix of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and sweet pickle relish. That combo nails the tangy sweet flavor in this In-N-Out copycat recipe.
In-N-Out uses American cheese. For the best copycat flavor, use Kraft Singles or Velveeta slices.
Yes. The sauce is even better after it sits for a bit in the fridge, which makes this recipe super prep friendly.
Make sure your fries are extra crisp, and assemble right before serving. If you’re feeding a crowd, keep fries hot in the oven and top in batches.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make ahead:
Sauce – Make up to 5 days ahead and store in the fridge in a sealed container.
Onions – Cook up to 3 days ahead, reheat in a skillet to bring back some crisp edges. - Storage: Assembled Animal Style Fries do not store great because the sauce softens the fries. If you have leftovers, store fries, sauce, and onions separately when possible.
- Reheating: Reheat fries in the oven or air fryer until crisp again, then add cheese and toppings fresh.
More Easy Fry Recipes
Craving fries? We’ve got you covered (or should I say “smothered?). Give some of these tasty fry recipes a try!
When I want Animal Style Fries without the drive thru line, this In-N-Out copycat hits every time: crispy fries, melty American cheese, tangy secret sauce, and buttery grilled onions. If you make them, I would love for you to leave a rating and a comment so I can hear how they turned out for you. 💛
Animal Style Fries (In-N-Out Copycat)
Ingredients
- 1 (2-pound) bag frozen French fries
- 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil
- 1 cup finely chopped white or yellow onion
- pinch sea salt
- 6 slices American cheese, (Kraft or Velveeta brand)
- ½ cup In-N-Out Sauce
In-N-Out Sauce
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
Instructions
- Prepare fries according to package directions. I like them best when made in an air fryer. If baking, you can bake them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to be ready for broiling them with cheese later.
- While the fries are baking, sauté onions.
- Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions to the pan and sprinkle with salt. Saute until the onions become golden brown with crisp edges. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the In-N-Out sauce by combining all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside until ready to add to the fries.
- When fries are heated, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper if you haven't already. Put the fries close together and place the slices of cheese over the top so they cover most of the surface of the fries.
- Turn the oven to broil. Place pan under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.
- Remove the cheese-covered fries from the oven. You can leave them on the baking tray or place them on a serving platter. Add a few scoops of the prepared In-N-Out sauce over the top.
- Spoon the cooked onion over the top of the sauce and serve.
Notes
- For the most authentic In-N-Out copycat flavor, use American cheese slices.
- Cook fries until extra crisp before adding toppings, this helps prevent sogginess.
- A pinch of salt on the onions helps them release moisture so they brown and crisp better.
- Broil briefly and watch closely, cheese melts fast.
- Sauce can be made ahead and tastes even better after chilling.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Tastes just like In N Out! My family and I loved it! Instead of using 2 lbs of fries, I used 1 lb which is enough for 3 people and 1 whole onion because we love onion. Kept the same measurement for the sauce (2 lb fries). Will be definitely making this again when I’m craving animal fries!