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Copycat In-N-Out Animal Style Fries is delicious, cheesy loaded fries. Simple ingredients make these French Fries one of our favorite copycat recipes.

Animal Style French Fries on a plate
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In and Out Fries Animal Style is a must when you visit the famous fast food restaurant in California. French Fries are taken to the next level with caramelized onions, melted cheese and the animal style sauce.

We love making copycat recipes from our favorite restaurants. Since we don’t have an In-N-Out close by, my kids insisted I make their favorite fries at home. They all agreed that this recipe was delicious and even tasted better.

French Fries Recipes are the perfect snack or side to many different meals. You must make our Taco Bell Nacho Fries Recipe, Homemade French Fries or Air Fryer French Fries.

What are Animal Fries at In and Out?

If you have an In-N-Out Fast Food Restaurant nearby you, then you must get their French Fries Animal Style secret menu item. They take their fries and top them with their famous secret sauce, caramelized onions and slice cheese.

This really takes Regular Order French Fries to the next level. You will need a fork to eat them so you can grab all the ingredients in one bite. Delicious, flavorful fries and now you can make them at home.

Ingredients

Ingredients needed - french fries, american cheese, white onion, butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, white vinegar
  • Frozen French Fries – Use any type of Frozen Fries that you prefer
  • American Cheese – Feel free to change the cheese to pepper jack cheese or Monterey Jack Cheese.
  • White Onion – We like use a vegetable chopper to chop the onions. You can even learn How to Freeze Onions.
  • Butter – We used unsalted butter
  • Special Sauce – The combination of Mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish and white vinegar makes a delicious to top the French Fries. Feel free to substitute the tablespoons white vinegar with apple cider vinegar and add in an teaspoon yellow mustard.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

How to Make In and Out Animal Style Fries

  • Step 1 -Prepare the French fries based on the package instructions.  You can either oven bake, fry or air fry the French fries.  
  • Step 2 – While the fries are cooking to golden brown, stir the sauce together and pan fry onions.  
  • Step 3 – Mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.  
  • Step 4 – Melt the butter or vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Then top the melted butter with the chopped onions.  Sauté the onions in the butter until they are caramelized (3-5 minutes).  
  • Step 5 – Then place the fries on a plate, cover with the slices of American cheese melted slices, grilled onions and the sauce. 
  • Step 6 – Serve immediately while warm and enjoy! Season with Kosher salt and black pepper before serving.

Expert Tips

  • Baking Sheet – We recommend to cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper before cooking the French Fries.
  • Cheese – If you decide to use shredded cheese, we recommend to shred the cheese from bulk cheese. We think this shredded cheese melts better and taste even better.
Animal Style French Fries on a plate

How to Make In and Out Sauce

The ingredients for Copycat In-N-Out sauce recipe is very simple. There is no need for ingredients that you can’t pronounce.

The ingredients we use you probably already have and combining these ingredients you will want to spread it on everything. Some say this sauce is similar to thousand island dressing.

Blend the ingredients in a bowl and chill for at least an hour before serving. This is the perfect sauce to make ahead of time.

  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • Relish
  • White Vinegar

How to Use the Secret Sauce

Use this animal sauce in many different ways.

  • Use it as a Marinate – This sauce would be great to marinate your chicken breast or chicken thighs in. Just place chicken in a zip lock bag and spoon in some sauce. Let it marinate overnight and then grill or bake your chicken.
  • Burger Bowl – I like to eat burger with no bun and make a burger bowl. I line a bowl with lettuce, dice up the burger and drizzle this sauce over the top. It gives it amazing flavor and I know exactly what is in the sauce.
Animal Style French Fries on a plate

What to Serve with Animal Style French Fries?

These Animal Style are the perfect appetizer to serve for game day or hanging out on the weekend. You can also serve as a side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Type of Fries to Use?

We make this recipe with frozen French Fries. But you can make Homemade Russet Potatoes with Baked French Fries or Easy Homemade French Fries if you prefer.

How to Store Leftover Animal Style French Fries

These fries are best served fresh. We do not recommend storing left over style french fries as they will turn soggy. You can refrigerate the sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week. The sauce is also great served as an animal style burger or as a dipping sauce.

More Copycat Recipes

We love to hear from you. If you make Animal Fries In N Out Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.

In-N-Out Animal Style Fries Recipe

5 from 22 votes
Copycat In-N-Out Animal Style Fries is delicious, cheesy loaded fries. Simple ingredients make these French Fries one of our favorite copycat recipes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10
Cuisine American
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Calories 325

Equipment

Ingredients

FOR THE SAUCE: 

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Instructions

  • Prepare the french fries based on the package instructions.  You can either bake, fry or air fry the french fries.
  • While the fries are cooking, prepare the sauce and fried onions.
  • Mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Then top the melted butter with the chopped onions.  Sauté the onions in the butter until they are caramelized (3-5 minutes).
  • Then place the fries on a plate, cover with the American cheese slices, caramelized onions and the sauce.
  • Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

These fries are best served fresh.  
You can refrigerate the sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 325kcal, Carbohydrates 30g, Protein 4g, Fat 22g, Saturated Fat 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat 4g, Monounsaturated Fat 10g, Trans Fat 0.2g, Cholesterol 14mg, Sodium 669mg, Potassium 428mg, Fiber 4g, Sugar 2g, Vitamin A 152IU, Vitamin C 7mg, Calcium 100mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi, Iโ€™m Carrie Barnard โ€” a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families โ€” without the stress.

5 from 22 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. garrett says:

    5 stars
    No more getting take out!!

  2. Kaylon says:

    5 stars
    Yay for a tasty In and Out Copycat recipe!

  3. Karina says:

    5 stars
    We don’t have In-N-Out in our area, and this simple yet delicious fries recipe, along with your other easy copycat recipes, made my kids love my cooking more. And the dishes are better and healthier.

  4. Roger says:

    5 stars
    5 star

  5. Lucy says:

    5 stars
    Tasted just like in-n-out! so good.

  6. Gavin says:

    5 stars
    Just like the real thing, thank you!

  7. Lizzy says:

    5 stars
    Tasted just like the real thing!

  8. Haylee says:

    5 stars
    Best recipe ever!

  9. Christina says:

    5 stars
    Tastes just like the ones from In and Out! Yum!

  10. Aeil says:

    5 stars
    Carrie
    This is a superbly addictive style of fries
    Quick easy great finger appetizer
    Thank you so much
    Five stars all day