Copycat In-n-Out Animal Sauce Recipe

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy: This animal sauce comes together in just 5 minutes with no cooking required – simply mix the ingredients in a small bowl, and you’re done!
• Tastes like the real deal: The flavor is spot-on compared to In-n-Out’s secret sauce, making it perfect for recreating animal style burgers and fries at home.
• Versatile dipping sauce: Use it on burgers, as a dipping sauce for Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders, or 7 Ingredient Easy Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Fries – the possibilities are endless!
• Customizable: Easily adjust the recipe to suit your taste buds by adding more sweet pickle relish for sweetness or a bit of yellow mustard for extra tang.

What Is Animal Sauce?

Animal sauce is the famous secret sauce used at In-n-Out Burger, a popular fast-food chain that originated in California. It’s similar to Thousand Island dressing but with its own unique flavor profile that makes their animal style burgers and fries so craveable.

This sauce is part of their “secret menu” items and has developed a cult following among burger enthusiasts. The tangy condiment combines creamy, sweet, and slightly acidic notes that perfectly complement beef patties and crispy fries.

Recipe Ingredients

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Ingredient Notes:

• Real Mayo – The creamy base of this sauce that gives it that rich, velvety texture. Use full-fat mayo for the best flavor and authentic taste.
• Ketchup – Adds sweetness and that signature orange-pink color to the sauce. Any brand works fine, but use a good quality one for the best results.
• Sweet Pickle Relish – Provides little bursts of sweetness and texture that’s essential to capture the authentic taste of the original sauce. Don’t substitute with dill pickle relish unless you add extra sugar.
• White Vinegar – Adds that necessary tang that cuts through the richness of the mayo and ketchup. This acidity is what makes the sauce so balanced.
• White Granulated Sugar – Just a touch of sugar enhances the sweetness and helps balance the tangy vinegar. Don’t skip this ingredient as it brings all the flavors together.

Substitutions and Additions

• Mayo substitutes – For a lighter version, you can use light mayo, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich. For a vegan In-n-Out sauce, swap regular mayo for vegan mayo.
• Vinegar options – If you don’t have white vinegar, you can substitute white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, though the flavor will be slightly different.
• Relish alternatives – If you only have dill pickle relish, you can use it but add an extra ½ tablespoon of sugar to compensate for the tartness.
• Add-ins – For variations on the classic sauce, try adding a dash of Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of garlic powder, or a squeeze of lemon juice to customize the flavor profile.

Recipe Tips

• Room temperature ingredients – For the smoothest blending, let your mayo come to room temperature before mixing.
• Taste test – After mixing, give it a taste and adjust any ingredients as needed to match your preferred flavor profile.
• Resting time – While you can use this sauce immediately, letting it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld together for a more authentic taste.
• Smooth texture option – If you prefer a smoother sauce without the relish chunks, you can pulse the ingredients in a food processor for a few seconds.

Storing Tips

• Storage: This homemade animal sauce should be stored in the refrigerator since it contains mayo.
• Refrigerator: Keep your sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. A small jar or plastic container with a tight lid works perfectly.
• Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this sauce as the mayo can separate and the texture will change significantly when thawed.
• Reheating: This sauce is served cold and doesn’t require reheating. Just give it a good stir before using if it’s been sitting in the fridge.