The Ultimate In-N-Out Copycat Animal Style Fries Recipe

Crispy golden fries smothered in an irresistible animal style sauce might just become your new obsession.

Melted cheese drips along perfectly seasoned potato strips.

Caramelized onions add a sweet, savory crunch that transforms simple side dishes into something magical.

Creamy special sauce creates layers of tangy flavor unexpected in standard french fries.

Recreating this iconic californian fast food favorite feels like culinary adventure waiting to happen.

Restaurant-quality goodness emerges right from your own kitchen with minimal effort.

Grab a fork and prepare to dive into comfort food heaven.

Reasons To Love Animal Style Fries At Home

• Master Crispy Technique: Learn a pro-level two-stage frying method that guarantees perfectly golden, crunchy french fries with restaurant-quality texture.
• Build Restaurant-Style Layers: Create a mouthwatering combination of seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, caramelized onions, and signature sauce that transforms simple fries into a gourmet experience.
• Customizable Comfort Food: Easily adapt the recipe to personal preferences by adjusting sauce quantities, cheese types, or adding extra toppings for a personalized fast-food favorite at home.
• Quick Weekend Crowd-Pleaser: Impress family and friends with a copycat version of a beloved restaurant dish that brings excitement and deliciousness to casual gatherings or game day celebrations.

Ingredients List For Animal Style Fries Copycat

Main Ingredients:

• Russet Potatoes: A classic potato variety perfect for creating crispy and golden french fries.

• Ground Beef: Provides a savory protein layer with rich, meaty flavor.

• Cheddar Cheese: Adds creamy, sharp taste and melts beautifully over warm fries.

• Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Thousand Island Dressing, Yellow Mustard: Create a tangy, creamy animal style sauce with complex flavor profile.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that boost the overall taste of ground beef.
• Caramelized Onions: Offer a sweet and deeply rich flavor element to the dish.
• Pickle Relish: Provides a tangy, bright finishing touch to the fries.

• Vegetable Oil: Used for frying potatoes to achieve perfect golden and crispy texture.

Easy Instructions For Animal Style Fries Copycat

Step 1: Create Crispy Fries Base

Slice russet potatoes into thin, uniform french fries. Ensure each strip has consistent thickness to guarantee even cooking. Rinse potato strips in cold water to eliminate excess starch, then meticulously dry with paper towels to achieve ultimate crispiness.

Step 2: Fry Potato Strips First Time

Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large skillet until temperature reaches 350°F. Gently lower potato strips into hot oil, frying in small batches for 3-4 minutes. Strips should look golden but not completely crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Step 3: Prepare Signature Sauce

• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Thousand island dressing
• Yellow mustard

Blend ingredients until mixture becomes smooth and perfectly incorporated.

Step 4: Brown Savory Meat

Season ground beef with salt and black pepper. Cook in skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until meat turns brown and crumbly, approximately 5-7 minutes.

Step 5: Complete Frying Process

Return fries to oil heated to 375°F. Fry for 2-3 minutes until achieving deep golden color and maximum crispiness.

Step 6: Assemble Loaded Fries

• Seasoned ground beef
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Caramelized onions

Drizzle signature sauce generously across entire dish. Sprinkle pickle relish on top for tangy finish. Serve piping hot for best texture and flavor.

Top Tips For In-N-Out Animal Style Fries

• Slice Precisely: Use a sharp knife to cut potatoes into uniform strips for consistent cooking and professional-looking fries.
• Rinse for Crispiness: Cold water bath removes excess starch, ensuring crunchier exterior when frying.
• Double-Fry Technique: Two-stage frying process creates extra crispy exterior while maintaining soft interior.
• Control Oil Temperature: Use a cooking thermometer to maintain exact oil temperature for perfect golden-brown results.
• Drain Thoroughly: Let excess oil drip completely on paper towels to prevent soggy, greasy fries.

Tasty Changes For Animal Style Fries Copycat

• California Classic: Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version that keeps the signature flavor profile while offering a meat-free alternative.
• Spicy Southwest: Add jalapeños, swap cheddar for pepper jack cheese, and mix chipotle powder into the animal style sauce for a fiery kick that elevates the original recipe.
• Loaded Bacon Fusion: Sprinkle crispy bacon bits over the fries, incorporate bacon grease into the sauce, and top with green onions for a decadent, savory upgrade.
• Mediterranean Inspired: Replace beef with seasoned lamb, use feta cheese instead of cheddar, and incorporate tzatziki-style sauce for a global culinary transformation.

Best Pairings For Animal Style Fries Copycat

• Flavor Fusion Beverage Pairing: Classic cola or craft root beer complements the rich, savory notes of animal style fries, cutting through the creamy cheese and tangy sauce with refreshing carbonation.
• Comfort Drink Match: Cold craft beer with hoppy undertones balances the heavy, meaty flavors, providing a crisp counterpoint to the indulgent fries and enhancing overall taste experience.
• Culinary Companion Sip: Fresh lemonade with slight tartness helps cleanse the palate between bites, offering a bright contrast to the hearty, rich ingredients and refreshing the taste buds.
• Flavor Harmony Suggestion: Creamy milkshake – specifically vanilla or chocolate – provides a cool, sweet counterbalance to the salty, umami-packed fries, creating a classic diner-style meal combination.

Storing Animal Style Fries Copycat The Right Way

• Store leftover animal style fries in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 2 days, understanding they will lose crispiness.
• Keep animal style sauce in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, allowing easy reheating and quick meal preparation.
• Separately freeze cooked ground beef and caramelized onions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months, maintaining individual ingredient quality.
• Wrap unused shredded cheddar in plastic wrap or store in a sealed plastic bag, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for approximately one week.

Answers About Animal Style Fries Copycat Recipe

• Can I bake the fries instead of deep-frying?

No, deep-frying is crucial for achieving the authentic crispy texture and golden color of In-N-Out style fries. Baking won’t deliver the same restaurant-quality result.

• What type of ground beef works best?

Use ground beef with 80/20 fat content for optimal flavor and juiciness. The higher fat percentage ensures the meat remains tender and flavorful when cooked.

• How do I get perfectly caramelized onions?

Slowly cook thinly sliced onions in butter over low heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The slow cooking process breaks down sugars, creating a rich, sweet caramelization.

• Can I make the animal style sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the sauce up to 3 days in advance.

In-N-Out Copycat Animal Style Fries Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Culinary magic meets California charm in this In-N-Out copycat animal style fries recipe, where crispy golden potatoes get drenched in a creamy, tangy sauce that elevates comfort food to gourmet heights. Cheese, caramelized onions, and secret sauce promise a mouthwatering experience you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat and Protein:

• 1/2 lb ground beef

Potatoes and Starch:

• 4 large russet potatoes

Sauce and Toppings:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup thousand island dressing
• 1/2 cup caramelized onions
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tbsp pickle relish
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying)

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Instructions

1. Slice russet potatoes into thin, uniform french fries, ensuring consistent thickness for even cooking.
2. Rinse cut potato strips in cold water to remove excess starch, then thoroughly pat dry with paper towels to achieve crispy texture.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 350°F, preparing for initial frying of potatoes.
4. Carefully lower potato strips into hot oil, frying in batches for 3-4 minutes until golden but not fully crisp, then remove and drain on paper towels.
5. Allow fries to cool for 10-15 minutes while preparing additional components.
6. Craft animal style sauce by whisking mayonnaise, ketchup, thousand island dressing, and yellow mustard until smooth and well-incorporated.
7. Season ground beef with salt and black pepper, then cook in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, approximately 5-7 minutes.
8. Return fries to oil for second frying at 375°F, cooking 2-3 minutes until deeply golden and crisp.
9. Transfer hot fries to serving plate, immediately topping with seasoned ground beef.
10. Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over warm meat and fries.
11. Add caramelized onions across the surface for rich, sweet flavor.
12. Drizzle prepared animal style sauce over entire dish.
13. Garnish with pickle relish for tangy finish.
14. Serve immediately while fries remain hot and crispy.

Notes

• Double-fry technique ensures ultra-crispy exterior with soft interior, preventing soggy fries and maximizing restaurant-quality texture.
• Pat potatoes completely dry before first frying to eliminate moisture and guarantee golden, crunchy results.
• Use fresh, cold oil for each frying batch to maintain optimal temperature and prevent oil degradation.
• Ground beef can be substituted with plant-based crumbles for vegetarian version, maintaining similar flavor profile and texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 1020
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 1000 mg
• Fat: 57 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 39 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 92 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg