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These loaded animal style fries are the perfect copycat of the popular In-N-Out recipe. Crispy fries topped with gooey cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a tangy homemade Thousand Island-style sauce. They’re everything you love about classic fast food, but easy to make right at home with simple ingredients. Whether you’re serving them for game day, a casual dinner, or a fun weekend treat, this recipe comes together with minimal effort and delivers big, indulgent flavor every time.
Here in Minnesota we are sadly starved of In-N-Out’s greatness, but luckily, I can make my favorite copycats at home. These animal style fries are a favorite I make with homemade French fries when I want something a bit more filling. I slowly cook the onions in butter until they turn deeply golden and jammy. Once they’re ready, I layer them over hot fries with melty American cheese. They’re finished off with a quick, tangy sauce made from mayo, ketchup, relish, and mustard. It’s all about building those layers while everything is still warm, so the cheese melts perfectly and the sauce seeps into every bite. I usually serve these straight from the pan when they’re at their crispiest, and they never last long.
Tips for Beginners
- Low and slow = better onions. Take your time with the onions and keep the heat at medium or lower. You’re looking for a deep golden brown color and a soft, jammy texture. Rushing them will burn the edges before the natural sugars have time to develop.
- Crispy fries are non-negotiable. Make sure your fries are fully cooked and crisp before adding toppings. They should be golden with slightly firm edges so they can hold up under the cheese, onions, and sauce without turning soggy.
- American cheese melts best. Use sliced American cheese for that classic, ultra-smooth melt. It melts evenly over the fries and creates that signature gooey layer you just don’t get with shredded cheese.
- Assemble while everything is hot. Layer the fries, cheese, onions, and sauce right away while everything is still hot. This helps the cheese melt fully and allows the sauce to slightly soak into the fries for the best flavor in every bite.
Animal Style Fries (In-N-Out Copycat)
Ingredients
- 2 medium yellow onions diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp salt
- Pinch of black pepper
For the Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp mustard
- ½ tsp vinegar
- pinch garlic powder optional
- pinch onion powder optional
For the Fries
- 26-32 oz homemade french fries or frozen fries
- 6 slices American cheese
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add in the onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Give the onions a stir. Then, continue to cook for 35-40 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the onions are softened, caramelized, and have developed a rich brown color.2 medium yellow onions, 2 tbsp butter, ½ tsp salt, Pinch of black pepper
- While the onions are cooking, make the sauce by whisking all ingredients together in a bowl.½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish, 1 tsp mustard, ½ tsp vinegar, pinch garlic powder
- Make the fries according to package directions or the homemade recipe.26-32 oz homemade french fries
- Top the fries with the American cheese slices. Then, place the sheet pan back into the warm oven until the cheese is melted.6 slices American cheese
- Once the onions are done, add them on top of the fries. Then, drizzle the sauce over the top.
Becky’s Tips
- Swap the fries for waffle fries or crinkle-cut fries for a different texture and better sauce-catching edges.
- Add cooked ground beef to turn these into a cheeseburger-style version that’s even more filling.
- Use light mayonnaise in the sauce if you want to lighten it up without losing that creamy texture.
- Stir in or sprinkle chopped pickles on top for an extra pop of tang and crunch
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Animal Style Fries Step by Step
Gather all the ingredients together.
Caramelize the onions: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add 2 diced medium yellow onions, then sprinkle with ½ tsp salt and a pinch of pepper. Stir to coat the onions in the butter. Cook for 35–40 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the onions are very soft, deeply golden brown, and jammy in texture. They should shrink down significantly and develop a rich, sweet aroma. Lower the heat if they start to brown too quickly.
Make the sauce: While the onions cook, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish, 1 tsp mustard, and ½ tsp vinegar in a small bowl. Add a pinch of garlic powder and onion powder, if using. Mix until smooth and creamy—the sauce should be thick but pourable.
Cook the fries: Prepare 26–32 oz. frozen fries according to package directions, or make your homemade French fries. Cook until the fries are golden brown and crispy on the outside, not soft. This helps them hold up under the toppings.
Melt the cheese: Transfer the hot fries to a sheet pan if needed, then top with 6 slices American cheese, spacing them evenly over the fries. Place the fries back into the warm oven for a few minutes, until the cheese is fully melted, glossy, and draped over the fries.
Assemble the fries: Spoon the caramelized onions evenly over the cheesy fries.
Finish with sauce: Drizzle the sauce over the top.
Serve immediately while everything is hot, melty, and slightly saucy but still crisp underneath.
How to Store and Reheat
You can get a head start by making the caramelized onions up to 3 days in advance and keeping them in the fridge. You can also mix the sauce 3–4 days ahead so it’s ready to go.
If there are any leftovers, store the fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days, but they’ll lose some of that crisp texture once everything soaks in.
Skip freezing altogether since the fries turn soft and soggy after thawing. To reheat, spread the fries on a baking sheet and warm them in a 375°F oven until heated through, then add a fresh drizzle of sauce right before serving to bring everything back to life.
Serving Suggestions
When I’m serving these animal style fries, I usually keep things fun and casual. They’re perfect for game day spreads, weekend hangouts, or even a laid-back dinner. I love pairing them with taco cups for an easy, crowd-friendly combo that feels like a full snack board. I’ve also made these with cottage fries when I want a heartier, steakhouse-style twist, and they hold up really well under all the toppings. If I’m turning this into more of a meal, I’ll add a batch of cheeseburger sliders on the side. They’re the perfect match and give you that full fast-food-at-home vibe.
More Loaded Fries
- Cheese Fries: These cheese fries keep things simple with crispy fries smothered in a rich, homemade cheese sauce for the ultimate comfort food bite. They’re a great base recipe and perfect if you want something similar to animal style fries without all the extra toppings.
- Chili Cheese Fries: These chili cheese fries take loaded fries to the next level with hearty homemade chili, melty cheese, and bold toppings. They’re perfect for game day or when you want something more filling and indulgent than classic animal style fries.
- Carne Asada Fries: Carne asada fries layer crispy fries with juicy grilled steak, melted cheese, and fresh toppings like jalapeños and tomatoes for a bold, flavor-packed twist. If you love loaded fries with a little more substance, this is a great upgrade.
