Copycat In-N-Out Animal Style Fries
In-N-Out Animal Style Fries pile melted American cheese, tangy burger sauce, and browned onions onto hot fries. It’s a simple copycat recipe with classic In-N-Out flavors in every bite. Save yourself a trip to the restaurant and make this delicious side dish or snack at home instead.
You might also enjoy my Copycat In-N-Out Animal Sauce with fries or onion rings, as a burger topping or even with grilled veggies. Try these Garlic Parmesan Fries or Hasselback Potatoes, both of which are air fryer recipes. Also, check out these easy Potato Side Dishes and these Sauce Recipes you’ll want to slather on everything.
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These animal fries recreate the restaurant order with a thick layer of cheese and its familiar sweet-tangy sauce. Browned onion adds a touch of sweetness to the cheese and burger sauce.
🍽️ Recipe Name: Copycat In-N-Out Style Fries
⏲️ Ready In: 40 minutes
👥 Serves: 4
🔥 Calories: 700 per serving (estimated)
🥕 Ingredient Highlights: French fries, American cheese, onion, sweet relish, ketchup, mayonnaise
📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian, contains dairy and gluten
👩🍳 Difficulty: Easy
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Why You’ll Love It
- Restaurant copycat: Copycat In-N-Out animal style fries recreate the cheese, spread, and onion combination from the In-N-Out menu.
- Frozen-fry shortcut: There’s no peeling, cutting, soaking or deep-frying potatoes.
- Distinctive topping: Tangy burger sauce, melted American cheese, and browned onion give these fries their familiar animal style flavor.
- Casual snack: Serve them as a side with burgers or make them the main snack for movie night or game day.
What is In-N-Out Animal Style?
In-N-Out created its first Animal Style burger in 1961 after customers requested it. The original customization included a mustard-cooked beef patty, pickles, extra spread and grilled onions. My recipe has the spread and grilled onions with melted cheese over French fries.
In-N-Out Animal Fries Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
- Frozen French fries: Restaurant-style or shoestring fries are closest in shape to In-N-Out fries.
- Olive oil or butter: I used oil, but you can use either one to cook the onion.
- Yellow onion: Finely diced onion softens quickly and spreads evenly over the fries.
- American cheese: This melts smoothly and creates the familiar fast-food cheese layer.
- Mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and mustard: These make the thick, sweet-tangy burger sauce.
- Parsley: Not part of the restaurant topping, but you can add a sprinkle to garnish if you like.
Substitutions and Variations
- Air fryer fries: I like this version. I cook the fries in the air fryer following the package directions, then transfer them to an oven-safe dish before adding the cheese. They come out just as crisp and delicious.
- Use homemade fries: Thin-cut homemade fries are closest to the restaurant style. Cook them until crisp before adding the cheese.
- Tater tot swap: Replace the fries with the same weight of cooked tater tots.
- Sweet potato switch: Use frozen sweet potato fries for a sweeter base.
- Cheeseburger fries: Scatter cooked ground beef over the melted cheese before adding the sauce.
- Bacon topping: Add cooked crumbled bacon with the browned onions.
- Add some heat: Add sliced jalapeños before serving.
- Cheddar swap: Replace the American cheese with mild cheddar or Colby Jack. These cheeses have a firmer melt.
How to Make In and Out Animal Fries (Step-by-Step Directions)
STEP 1: Cook the fries until extra crispy.
STEP 2: Whisk the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet relish and mustard until smooth to make the sauce.
STEP 3: Cook the onion in oil or butter until soft and browned.
STEP 4: Spread the cooked fries over an oven-safe sheet pan. Cover them with the cheese slices.
STEP 5: Broil until the cheese melts.
STEP 6: Spoon sauce over the cheese. Add the browned onions on top.
Kim’s Tips
- Bake the fries until crisp: The sauce softens their surface quickly. Undercooked fries go soggy fast.
- Dice the onion finely: Small pieces cook evenly and spread more easily over the fries.
- Use less sauce first: I spoon on enough to cover most of the cheese and serve the rest on the side. Too much sauce makes the fries soggy before they’re eaten.
- Use foil under the broiler: Parchment can scorch near the heating element.
- Watch the cheese closely: American cheese melts quickly under a high broiler and can scorch within seconds.
How to Store
- Refrigerator: Store leftover fries in an airtight container for up to 1 day. Keep unused sauce in a separate container for up to 1 week.
- Freezing: Don’t freeze assembled fries. The sauce can separate and the fries lose their crisp texture after thawing.
- Reheating: Remove as much sauce as possible. Bake the fries at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes or air fry at 375°F for 4 to 5 minutes. Add reserved sauce after reheating. Don’t reheat in a microwave because this makes the fries soft.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these fries with Tex-Mex Sliders and one of these Simple Green Salads. They’re also delicious paired with Grilled Chicken Tenders or Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders. You might like to whip up this tangy Copycat Chic-Fil-A Coleslaw too.
Copycat Animal Style Fries FAQs
Yes. Make the sauce up to 1 week ahead and refrigerate it in a sealed container. Cook the onions the day before and warm them briefly before adding them to the fries.
Return the cheese-covered fries to a hot oven until the cheese melts. Check them often so the fries don’t brown too much.
Yes. Use half the fries, sauce and onion with three or four cheese slices.
More Copycat Recipes to Try
- Pasta e Fagioli is a delicious Olive Garden copycat recipe.
- Have you ever tried making Copycat Big Mac Sauce?
- If you’re a fan of Chic-Fil-A, try my Chic-Fil- A Sauce too!
- These delicious Copycat Crumbl Coconut Lime Cookies are so good!
- Copycat Chipotle Guacamole is just like the real thing.
Copycat In-N-Out Animal Style Fries
Ingredients
For the In-N-Out Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the Fries
- Cook the fries according to package directions. You want them extra crispy, so they don't get soggy when topped with cheese and sauce.
Prepare the Sauce
- Mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Cook the Onion
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add onion and salt and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the onions are browned, set aside.
Broil the Animal Fries
- Preheat the oven to broil on high and transfer the fries onto a baking sheet.
- Add 7 slices of American cheese on top of the cooked French fries and broil for a few minutes, just until the cheese melts, watching closely.
- Remove from the oven.
Add the Toppings
- Spread most of the In-N-Out sauce over the melted cheese, and top with the cooked onions.
Garnish and Serve
- Grind over a little black pepper and/or add fresh chopped parsley, if liked.
- Serve immediately with the reserved sauce on the side.
Notes
- Sauce amount: The recipe makes about a cup of sauce, so you may have extra for dipping.
- Cheese coverage: Tear the slices as needed to cover gaps between the fries.
- Frozen fry brands: Make sure to follow the package directions because cooking temperatures and times vary.
- Parsley garnish: Parsley is optional and isn’t part of the original restaurant topping. I like the pop of color it adds but you can omit it if preferred.
Nutrition Information
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Final Thoughts
This copycat In-N-Out animal style fries recipe recreates the fast-food order with crisp fries, melted American cheese, burger sauce and browned onions. Using frozen fries and sliced cheese means you don’t need to cut potatoes or make a cheese sauce from scratch. Animal style fries are delicious with burgers, hot dogs, or chicken tenders.
