Animal-Style Fries
If you’re an In-N-Out lover, you’re going to love this copycat at-home recipe for sheet pan Animal-style Fries! So delicious and easy!
Crispy oven-baked fries topped with caramelized onions, special sauce, and melty cheese are the perfect side to any burger dinner! Prepare to bring In-N-Out straight to your kitchen with these delicious fries.
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Copycat In-N-Out Animal-Style Fries
Being from California, it’s practically a rite of passage to have grown up eating In-N-Out. They truly do have one of the best and most affordable fast food burgers, period.
Unpopular opinion: Their fries are terrible. They’re always soggy or burnt to a crisp–there is no in-between! The only way I enjoy them are Animal-Style.
So, instead of lamenting their sad and soggy fries, I made this easy copycat animal-style fries recipe to enjoy at home with crispy fries.
It’s an absolute game changer and I love serving these fries alongside grilled burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled brats, and more!
Animal-style fries are the perfect side dish for easy weeknight dinners, backyard BBQs, or game day gatherings–feed a crowd in style!
What are Animal-Style Fries?
In-N-Out is a national chain restaurant that’s mostly found in the Western United States, but there are a few locations scattered throughout the country (now in Texas too, woo!).
Animal-style fries are a “secret” menu item at In-N-Out. Instead of a regular basket of fries, your fries come topped with grilled onions, special burger sauce, and lots of cheese.
If you haven’t had them, this is the only way to eat In-N-Out fries, in my opinion!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Feeds a crowd – Doing a good old fashioned burger cookout in the backyard? These animal-style fries are the perfect side because you can make as many as you need on one baking sheet!
Quick & easy – All you need to do is bake up some frozen fries, mix the sauce, cook down an onion, and throw it all together. This is an easy side dish recipe for busy weeknights.
Better than In-N-Out – Sorry In-N-Out, your fries are trash! These animal-style fries have all the classic flavors but over some crispier and more delicious fries.
How to Make Animal-Style Fries
All you need is a baking sheet and a skillet to make animal-style fries. I do recommend air frying the frozen fries if you’re able! The fries have a better texture.
Tools Needed
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Frozen french fries. Choose your favorite here!
- American cheese. Kraft singles or any brand of American cheese is best for animal-style fries.
- Onion. I like using yellow onion because they caramelize well.
- Burger sauce. I make my burger sauce with mayo, ketchup, mustard, finely diced onion, relish, and a bit of paprika.
The Process
- Cook the fries. Cook the fries according to package instructions. I prefer to air fry them when I can!
- Caramelize the onion. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and once the butter is melted and foamy, add the diced onion. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is deeply golden. Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix the burger sauce. Combine all the burger sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Bake the fries. Spread the cooked fries out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Arrange the cheese slices over the top. Bake for 5-8 minutes, until the fries are hot and the cheese is melted.
- Finish. Top the fries with the caramelized onions. Drizzle all over with the burger sauce and serve animal-style fries right away.
What to Serve with Animal-Style Fries
Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve alongside animal-style fries:
- Steakhouse Burgers
- Grilled Tri-Tip
- Beer Can Chicken
- Grilled Chicken Wings
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
- Banh Mi Hot Dogs
If you love In-N-Out, these Animal-Style Fries are perfect for whipping up in no time! It’s the perfect easy side dish for any bbq or gathering. If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!
More Side Dish Recipes to Try
Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad
Hawaiian-Style Mac Salad
Mom’s Classic Potato Salad
Butter Boiled Corn On the Cob
Tomato Orzo
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(In-N-Out Copycat) Animal-Style Fries
Ingredients
Burger Sauce
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup finely minced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons dill or sweet relish
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Fries
- 32 oz frozen french fries
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 6-8 slices American cheese
Instructions
- Cook the fries. Cook the fries according to package instructions. I prefer to air fry them when I can!
- Caramelize the onion. While the fries cook, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and once the butter is melted and foamy, add the diced onion. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is deeply golden. Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix the burger sauce. Combine all the burger sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat an oven to 400 F.
- Bake the fries. Spread the cooked fries out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that the fries are all fairly close together. Arrange the cheese slices over the top to mostly cover the fries. Bake for 5-8 minutes, until the fries are hot and the cheese is melted.
- Finish. Top the fries with the caramelized onions. Drizzle all over with the burger sauce and serve right away.
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