This Air Fryer Animal Fries recipe will show you how to make the In N Out Burger classic at home. Crisp fries are drenched in cheese, Thousand Island dressing, diced onions to make an indulgent side dish packed with flavor.
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Why this Copycat In-N-Out Burger Animal Fries Recipe is a Keeper
If you love animal style fries from In-N-Out Burger, this copycat recipe will let you make animal fries at home. These homemade golden fries are topped with a zesty sauce, complete with sweet caramelized onions and American cheese on top. Here are some reasons why you’ll want to try making In-N-Out’s animal fries for yourself:
- 20 Minute Side: Have this air fryer side dish ready in just 20 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Party Pleaser: These easy animal style fries are made with fresh potatoes, and are sure to be a hit at your next party.
Want to make burgers and fries? Try these: Air Fried Pickles, Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes, and Air Fryer Steak Bites.
How Do I Get Crispy Fries?
To make sure your fries are crispy, toss them while air frying to evenly distribute the starch content.
Ingredients You’ll Need for In-N-Out Animal Style Fries
- Potatoes: These homemade fries can be made with 2 large russet potatoes. However, any kind of potatoes will be great in this recipe for in-n-out animal-style fries. You can make thick-cut potato wedges, or cut thin for shoestring fries.
- American Cheese Slices: American cheese is recommended for this recipe, as it melts easily.
- Onions: Sautee to allow the onions to caramelize. Caramelized onions are brown and soft, and will give the fries a sweet and savory flavor.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
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Variations and Substitutions for In N Out Animal Fries
- Cheese: You can use other kinds of cheese, such as cheddar cheese or pepper jack.
- Thousand Island Dressing: Buy a bottle of Thousand Island dressing, or whisk ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise together. This will make the base of the animal sauce.
- Frozen Fries: You can also use frozen French fries to make In-N-Out animal-style fries if you don’t want to make fries at home. Cook frozen fries according to package directions.
- Oven: If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the fries in the oven. After cutting, spread the French fries in an even layer on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes on each side at 425 degrees.
Special Equipment Needed for Air Fryer Animal Fries
- Air Fryer: Cook the fries in the air fryer to get all the flavor of your fast food favorites, without any of the grease.
- Chopper: Use a potato chopper to easily slice the potatoes into fries.
Copycat Animal Fries Pro Tip
Rinse or soak the potatoes to remove excess starch and help the outside cook extra crispy.
How to Make In-N-Out Copycat Animal-Style Fries
These fries topped with caramelized onions, copycat In-N-Out sauce, and melted American cheese taste like they came from the secret menu of your favorite fast food chain restaurant. Just toss them in the air fryer until they’re nice and crispy, then add all your favorite seasonings. Read on to learn how to make an order of French fries at home with this easy recipe.
These are the basic steps for making copycat animal fries. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prepare the Fries
Peel your potatoes and cut them into long strips. Spray the basket of your air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.
2. Air Fry Potatoes
Place the fries in the air fryer for 15 minutes and cook. Shake them halfway through at the 7-minute mark, then continue to cook. While the fries are cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter in the skillet.
3. Caramelize the Onions and Season Fries
Spread the cooked french fries out. Add the onions to the butter and sauté on medium heat until they are brown and crisp. Remove from skillet and set aside. When the fries are done cooking and golden brown, season them with House Seasoning Blend. Arrange the seasoned fries on a serving plate and layer the slice of cheese over the hot fries to melt the cheese. Once fries are ready and the cheese is melted, add cooked onions and sauce on top of the cheese. Season with a pinch of salt if desired.
Animal Fries FAQs
Store the fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should be good for 1-2 days.
When air frying French fries, it’s best to season before cooking to ensure that the seasoning will stick.
Reheat the fries on the stovetop for 3-5 minutes. Or Cook for 5 minutes in the oven. Broil for 5 minutes. Watch it closely.
Expert Tips to Make Animal Fries in the Air Fryer
- Bacon: Crumble bacon on top of the fries for some texture.
- Hot Sauce: Add hot sauce to give a kick to your fries. You can also try adding relish, or season the fries with salt and pepper.
- Melted Cheese: What’s better than cheese? Namely, more cheese. Add a few more slices of American cheese, or try your favorite.
What to Serve with Animal Fries
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Air Fryer Animal Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
- 2 Russet Potatoes, large
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1 White Onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon House Seasoning Blend
- 4 slices American Cheese
- ½ cup Thousand Island Dressing
Instructions
- Peel your potatoes. Cut them into long, fry shaped length.
- Spray the basket of your air fryer with nonstick cooking spray
- Place them in your Air Fryer for 15 minutes at 370 degrees. Shake them halfway through at the 7-minute mark, then continue to cook.
- While the fries are cooking, heat a skillet over medium high heat. Melt butter in skillet.
- Add onions to the butter and sauté until they are golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- When the fries are done cooking, season them with House Seasoning Blend. Arrange the seasoned fries on a serving plate. Layer the American cheese over the fries.
- Add cooked onions on top of the cheese and drizzle dressing over the top.
Expert Tips
- Bacon: Crumble bacon on top of the fries for some texture.
- Hot Sauce: Add hot sauce to give a kick to your fries. You can also try adding relish, or season the fries with salt and pepper.
- Melted Cheese: What’s better than cheese? Namely, more cheese. Add a few more slices of American cheese, or try your favorite.
This is really delicious and really easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, will surely have this again! Loved it!
Oh my goodness–talk about comfort food… these are our new favorite!!!
These tasted just like the real thing, so good!
The fries come out so nice and crispy in the air fryer. Then the onion and cheese on top are heaven! Yummy and perfect snack for watching games.
This recipe is awesome. And bacon makes it even better.
The Thousand Island made these over the top!! New family favorite!!