Make Better-Than-In-‘N-Out Animal Style Fries at home with this copycat Animal Style Fries Recipe!
Crispy French fries topped with melty cheese, caramelized onions, and homemade Animal Style sauce! Ready in just 30 minutes.
Animal Style Fries Recipe
Back with another copycat recipe, this time we’re doing Animal Style Fries!
So lots of crispy fries topped with melty cheese, caramelized onions, and homemade Animal Style sauce!
They’re delicious and very easy to make! Ready in just 30 minutes, these are perfect for parties, game night, and whenever you crave fast food but with better flavor!
What are Animal Style Fries from In N Out?
In n Out Animal Style fries are french fries topped with melted American cheese, caramelized onions and their signature Animal Style sauce.
They’re served exclusively at In n Out and they’re part of their “Not So Secret” menu along with other Animal Style foods like Animal Style burgers!
What is Animal Style Sauce made of?
Animal Style Sauce aka “In n Out sauce” is basically a Thousand Island-style sauce and it’s allegedly made with mayonnaise, ketchup, and sweet pickle relish.
Since this sauce is supposed to be tangy, salty, and slightly sweet, I recommend adding some sugar and vinegar to balance out the flavors!
In N Out adds this sauce to all their Animal Style foods, including these fries!
Animal Style Fries Ingredients
You’ll find the full recipe + ingredients in the recipe card down below but this is what you’ll need:
Fries. You can use frozen french fries, McDonalds fries or homemade french fries! I used frozen and baked them according to package instructions.
Onion. Use red onions for the caramelized onions.
Butter. Use unsalted butter, this is for the caramelized onions. Although you could technically use oil, I recommend butter because it gives the onions a much better flavor!
Brown sugar for caramelizing the onions. White sugar will also work but I like using brown because it has a slightly deeper flavor.
Water. This is to keep the onions from drying out while cooking and caramelizing!
Salt.
American cheese. Cheddar cheese slices will work too, just make sure to use slices that will mealt easily to get that gooey cheesy goodness!
Mayonnaise for the animal sauce.
Ketchup for the sauce.
Sweet pickle relish for the sauce.
Vinegar for the sauce. Both white and apple cider work.
How to make Animal Style Fries
You’ll find the full recipe with step-by-step instructions in the recipe card down below but this is what to expect:
STEP ONE: Caramelize the onions. Add the butter to a medium skillet over medium heat, allow the butter to melt and sizzle. Once sizzling, add in the onions and saute until soft and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes). Add the water and salt and keep sautéing until the onions have softened completely and most of the water has evaporated. Sprinkle with sugar and saute until caramelized and browned (2-3 minutes). You may add more water to keep the onions from sticking, if needed.
STEP TWO: Make the Animal Style sauce. In a medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, sugar, and vinegar. Mix until fully combined and set aside.
STEP THREE: Prepare the fries. If using frozen, cook according to package instructions. If using McDonald’s fries, reheat until hot (if desired). If using homemade, make your own french fries!
STEP FOUR: Assemble the Animal Style fries! Place your hot french fries in a large baking dish or a non-stick pan and top them with the cheese, caramelized onions, and sauce. Make sure the fries are hot or the cheese won’t melt! Serve and enjoy!
If needed, you can top the fries with the cheese and then bake at 350F (180C) for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and then top with onions and topping. Serve immediately.
HAPPY COOKING!! I hope you’ll love this homemade Animal Style Fries Recipe as much as I do!
PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! You can also tag me on Instagram @itsdamnspicy 🌈💘
More copycat recipes you’ll enjoy:
- Copycat Taco Bell Quesadilla
- Tom Cruise Cake Recipe (Coconut Bundt Cake)
- 5-Step King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
- Thin Mint Cookies

Copycat Animal Style Fries + Animal Style Sauce
Ingredients
For the Caramelized Onions
- 2 tbsp (30 g) unsalted butter
- 1 medium red onion (finely chopped)
- 2-3 tbsp (30-45 ml) water
- 1/2 tbsp (10 g) brown sugar
- Salt
For the Animal Style Sauce
- 1/2 cup (115 g) mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp (45 g) ketchup
- 2 tbsp (30 g) sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- Salt
For the Animal Style Fries
- 32 oz (910 g) french fries (frozen, McDonald's fries or homemade)
- 4 slices American cheese
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions. Add the butter to a medium skillet over medium heat, allow the butter to melt and sizzle. Once sizzling, add in the onions and saute until soft and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes). Add the water and salt and keep sautéing until the onions have softened completely and most of the water has evaporated. Sprinkle with sugar and saute until caramelized and browned (2-3 minutes). You may add more water to keep the onions from sticking, if needed.
- Make the Animal Style sauce. In a medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, sugar, and vinegar. Mix until fully combined and set aside.
- Prepare the fries. If using frozen, cook according to package instructions. If using McDonald's fries, reheat until hot (if desired). If using homemade, make your own french fries!
- Assemble the Animal Style fries! Place your hot french fries in a large baking dish or a non-stick pan and top them with the cheese, caramelized onions, and sauce. Make sure the fries are hot or the cheese won't melt! Serve and enjoy!If needed, you can top the fries with the cheese and then bake at 350F (180C) for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and then top with onions and topping. Serve immediately.
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