Name: Dive Into Delicious: How to Make It Animal Style at Home
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 80/20 ground beef; Soft hamburger buns (brioche or potato rolls); Yellow mustard; American cheese slices; Dill pickle slices; 2 large yellow onions; Iceberg lettuce; Thick-cut tomatoes; ; 1/2 cup mayo; 3 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp sweet relish; 1 tsp white vinegar; Pinch of sugar

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you.

If you’ve ever bitten into a juicy, beefy burger smothered in grilled onions and creamy, tangy sauce and thought, “This must be illegal,” chances are you’ve experienced the god-tier pleasure of IN-N-OUT’s legendary ANIMAL STYLE. But what if you could skip the drive-thru and create that same flavor bomb right in your kitchen? In this flavorful guide, I’ll show you exactly how to recreate ANIMAL STYLE like a pro and share some wild twists you might love even more.

Get ready for sizzling secrets behind the sauce, crispy beef patties, and insider tips that’ll elevate your burger nights forever.

The Secret Sauce of My Sunday Nights: Why I Fell for Animal Style

From Georgia Supper Tables to California Drive-Thrus

Growing up in a tight-knit town in Georgia, meals were our soundtrack. I can recall Sundays when Aunt Lulu’s baked turkey ham would compete with Grandma’s peach cobbler for “dish of the day.” But when I took my first post-culinary-school job in California, I met a different kind of culinary classic: ANIMAL STYLE. One night, post-shift and running on fumes, I pulled into an IN-N-OUT drive-thru with a coworker. He said two words: “Trust me.” The rest was burger history.

That first bite into ANIMAL STYLE was transformative—tangy, savory, perfectly messy. Juicy smashed beef patty, melty cheese, a generous slather of secret sauce, and sweet, caramelized onions hugging crisp lettuce between a toasted bun. Boom. That was it. I knew I needed to soul-chef this into my home kitchen.

What Makes It “Animal Style”?

Let’s set it straight: ANIMAL STYLE isn’t just a cool name—it’s a specific way of ordering a burger (or fries) at IN-N-OUT that dials everything up. For burgers, it means a mustard-grilled beef patty, extra pickles, grilled onions, melty American cheese, and a healthy splatter of their famous spread (aka the not-so-secret sauce).

Where the regular IN-N-OUT burger keeps it clean and classic, ANIMAL STYLE delivers layered, unapologetic flavor. The grilled onions bring out a deep sweetness, the mustard seared on the patty adds tang and umami, and the spread gives it that creamy, zesty slap you didn’t know you needed.

Fun twist? I’ve seen folks take it further with toppings inspired by garlic noodles or even a drizzle of honey chicken sauce over their fries—we’re deep in flavor land, y’all.

Make It Animal Style at Home

Ingredient Rundown: Stuff You’ll Need

Building an ANIMAL STYLE burger at home isn’t complicated—it’s just about balancing a few bold flavors. Here’s what you’ll need:

80/20 ground beef (for optimal fat content)
Soft hamburger buns (preferably brioche or potato rolls)
Yellow mustard
Slices of American cheese
Dill pickle slices
Yellow onions (at least two large ones)
Iceberg lettuce (for that classic crunch)
Tomatoes (fresh and thick)
For the spread:
- ½ cup mayo
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp sweet relish
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- Pinch of sugar

No American cheese? Use mild cheddar or Colby Jack. Can’t find sweet relish? Chop up bread-and-butter pickles for a similar vibe.

For a fusion twist, mix some kimchi and spicy aioli into your burger for a Korean-inspired ANIMAL STYLE revival.

Timing Breakdown

This burger recipe is surprisingly swift considering the intense flavor payoff. Here’s the ideal timeline:

Step	Time
Grill onions (low & slow)	20–25 minutes
Prep sauce and toppings	10 minutes
Cook burger patties	5–7 minutes
Assemble and toast buns	5 minutes

Total time? Around 35–40 minutes, making it faster than a trip through Friday night traffic in Austin.

Step-by-Step: Bringing The Beast to Life

Start your pan on medium-low and throw in sliced onions with a splash of oil and tiny pinch of salt. Stir occasionally until they go deep golden brown—don’t rush. Meanwhile, mix your spread ingredients in a bowl and stash it in the fridge.

Roll your ground beef into 3.5 oz balls and heat a cast-iron skillet screaming hot. Once it’s ready, smash those patties down and squirt a spiral of mustard on the raw side. Flip when they’re crispy on the bottom, add cheese, and let it melt. Toast your buns in butter, layer lettuce, tomato, pickle, grilled onions, burger, then spoon on that glorious spread.

Want to try this method on a smash burger? Go for it—it works wonders.

Twists on the Classic Animal Style Burger

From Smash to Stack: Creative Variations

The beauty of ANIMAL STYLE is how adaptable it is. Feel like stacking it high with an extra patty? Double it, no questions asked. Want to ditch the bread? Wrap it in lettuce and go protein-style (a classic IN-N-OUT menu hack).

For fusion fans, I’ve fused ANIMAL STYLE toppings with pepper steak macros and it was a winner. Or take notes from the viral grinder salad movement and toss ANIMAL toppings into a grinder-style bun.

And don’t sleep on adding a touch of sesame oil and sweet chili for a sesame chicken-inspired version.

Making It Kid-Friendly (Or Light)

Kids usually love the sweetness of the onions and the creamy sauce—just tone down the mustard if needed. For a lighter version, swap the mayo-based spread for Greek yogurt, and grill leaner ground turkey with a splash of Soy sauce for added umami.

Want a health-driven angle? According to the National Institute of Health, choosing lean meats and watching sodium intake are smart moves for heart-conscious cooking—so feel free to adjust the cheese, sauce, and salt to suit your family’s needs while keeping the joy on the plate.

Mistakes to Avoid and Tips for Success

Common Pitfalls When Making It Animal Style

First off—don’t rush the onions. Proper caramelization takes time, and without that deep sweetness, the whole balance falls off. Also, please don’t skip the mustard crust on the patty—it’s not just mustard, it’s essential flavor layering.

Another misstep? Cold buns. Your burger deserves warm, toasty buns that hold the juices without falling apart. Don’t underestimate that part.

If you’re ever tempted to skimp on the spread, don’t. It’s the glue that holds the whole ANIMAL STYLE experience together in every juicy bite.

Raymond’s Flavor Tips

A few tweaks I’ve picked up along the way:

Add a splash of apple cider vinegar to your grilled onions for a subtle tang.
Toast buns with garlic butter for an extra punch.
For texture, throw in homemade fried shallots on top.
Want heat? Mix a bit of sriracha into your spread.

And for something truly bold, try cross-styling flavors with this copycat Big Mac approach or mold it into crispy wraps using honey chicken drizzle.

FAQ: Your Animal Style Questions Answered

What exactly is Animal Style?
Animal Style is a specific custom way to order at IN-N-OUT that includes a mustard-grilled patty, extra spread, grilled onions, pickles, and cheese—all in addition to the regular toppings.

What is the difference between Animal Style and regular IN-N-OUT?
A regular burger skips the grilled onions, extra pickles, mustard-seared patty, and secret sauce overload. Animal Style takes everything to the next flavor level.

How does IN-N-OUT make Animal Style?
They grill the beef patty with mustard, add grilled onions, pickles, and extra spread to the usual lettuce, tomato, buns, and cheese setup.

What is Gorilla Style at IN-N-OUT Burger?
It’s a lesser-known hack where your fries are loaded with Animal Style toppings and chopped burger bits—think of it as loaded fries on a burger-level flavor blast.

Conclusion

There’s something magic about ANIMAL STYLE—it breaks every “keep it simple” burger rule and still wins hearts. Whether you’re recreating that California dream at home or building a flavor mashup inspired by Korean beef, this recipe opens the door to bold, unforgettable eating.

So skip the drive-thru. Put that skillet to work, toast those buns, and drizzle that spread like the chef you are. Because food should bring joy—and ANIMAL STYLE brings it by the double-patty load.

Looking for more mashup-inspired meal greatness? Dive into our full lineup on PlantPoweredRecipe and bring those viral trends straight to your table.

Dive Into Delicious: How to Make It Animal Style at Home