Copycat In-N-Out Animal-Style Fries

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Difficulty: Intermediate

Servings: 4 Servings

m a California girl through and through, and always make it a point to take visitors to In-N-Out Burger for juicy burgers and thick milkshakes. Their fries are a point of contention with many, since they aren’t as crisp when compared to their fast-food competitors, but there’s one way to order them that elevates them to cult status: getting them animal-style.

This not-so-secret, off-the-menu option means that the fries are topped with slices of American cheese and caramelized onions, then smothered in secret sauce. I like to think of them as french fry nachos with a burger twist, and I’ve cracked the code to making them at home.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for the baking sheets
2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
Kosher salt
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
32 ounces frozen french fries (do not thaw)
6 slices American cheese

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions, season with salt, and cook until starting to soften, about 10 minutes. Cover and continue to cook, stirring every 5 minutes, until the onions are dark golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes more. Meanwhile, heat the oven and make the sauce.
Arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat to 425ºF. Coat 2 rimmed baking sheets lightly with oil and set aside. Stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, mustard, and vinegar together in a medium bowl until combined.
About 20 minutes before the onions are ready, divide the fries between the baking sheets and spread into an even layer. Bake until the fries are light golden brown and crisp, stirring the fries halfway through and switching the baking sheets between racks, about 25 minutes total or according to package directions.
Season the fries with salt. Pile the fries onto 1 of the baking sheets, arranging them so they sit in about 2 layers. Place the cheese in a single layer over the fries. Bake on the upper rack until melted, about 1 minute. (At this point, you can slide the cheese fries onto a serving platter if you don’t want to serve them directly on the baking sheet.) Sprinkle the onions over the cheese and drizzle with the sauce. Serve immediately.