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Animal style fries topped with melted American cheese, caramelized onions, and creamy sauce on a sheet pan
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Animal Style Fries (In-N-Out Copycat)

Crispy fries loaded with melty cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a tangy Thousand Island-style sauce. This easy copycat brings classic animal style fries home with bold, indulgent flavor.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Krista Teigen

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

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.

Notes

  • 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

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 1385mg | Potassium: 638mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 428IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 243mg | Iron: 2mg