Animal Style Burgers (In-N-Out Copycat)

Name: Animal Style Burgers (In-N-Out Copycat)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 onion; 1 lb. ground beef; 1-1.5 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 Tbsp yellow mustard; 4 lices American cheese; 4 hamburger buns; 1/2 cup special sauce; lettuce; tomato; pickle slices; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup ketchup; 1/4 cup Greek yogurt; 3 Tbsp dill pickles; 2 Tbsp yellow mustard; 2 Tbsp onion; 1/2 tsp of each: smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp of each: garlic powder; 1/2 tsp of each: onion powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp liquid sweetener; 1/4 cup almond milk

User Reviews

5

12 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings
4 servings
Calories
381 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

Animal Style Burgers (In-N-Out Copycat)

Heidi Hunt

Report

Animal Style Burgers mimic the iconic In-N-Out version with seasoned ground beef patties topped with melted American cheese, caramelized onions, and a creamy special sauce made from mayonnaise, ketchup, Greek yogurt, and finely chopped pickles. The burger buns are toasted for added texture, and fresh toppings like lettuce, tomato, and pickles add brightness. Mustard is spread on the patties to complement the rich flavors, resulting in a substantial and flavorful burger experience.

Description

The Animal Style Burgers are crafted from lean ground beef patties flattened and cooked undisturbed to ensure proper browning before adding yellow mustard on top. American cheese slices melt over the patties, adding a creamy, mild flavor. The caramelized onions are cooked carefully with added water to develop sweetness and soften their texture. Toasting the buns on the inside adds a slight crispness that holds up well to the juicy burger. The special sauce combines mayonnaise, ketchup, Greek yogurt, diced pickles, mustard, and spices, balancing tanginess and creaminess for a complementary topping.

The assembled burger is layered with lettuce, tomato slices, and pickles, providing freshness and crunch alongside the savory components. This makes for a filling meal option that showcases multiple textures and flavors in each bite.

Use hamburger buns of your choice; the recipe macros use Pepperidge Farm Sweet Hawaiian Buns. Adjust seasoning on the beef patties to taste for salt and pepper.

Share:

I Made This!

1 person made this

Print

139 people printed this

Save this

5 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings

For the Burgers:

1 onion thinly sliced, large, 200g
1 lb. ground beef 96% lean
1-1.5 tsp salt or to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper or to taste
2 Tbsp yellow mustard divided, 30g
4 lices American cheese I used Kraft, 2% fat
4 hamburger buns I used Pepperidge Farms Hawaiian Buns
1/2 cup special sauce see below, skinny, 120g
lettuce toppings: 4 lettuce leaves, 4 tomato slices, 8 slices no sugar added pickles
tomato
pickle slices

Skinny Special Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise light, 115g
1/4 cup ketchup 60g
1/4 cup Greek yogurt nonfat, plain, 60g
3 Tbsp dill pickles finely chopped, 45g
2 Tbsp yellow mustard prepared, not powdered, 30g
2 Tbsp onion finely diced, 30g
1/2 tsp of each: smoked paprika
1/2 tsp of each: garlic powder
1/2 tsp of each: onion powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp liquid sweetener or sub granular sweetener of choice
1/4 cup almond milk or other milk of choice - add more or less milk for a thinner or thicker sauce, plain, unsweetened

Add Ingredients to Grocery List

Recommended Tools for this Recipe

Instructions

Keep Screen Awake

For the Caramelized Onions:

Spray a medium-sized skillet with cooking spray and set to medium heat. Add the onion and spray the tops of the onions with cooking spray as well. Cook, stirring frequently, until starting to brown. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water and continue cooking and stirring.
Repeat this step 1-2 more times until onions are cooked to liking. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

For the Buns:

Open the bun and spray the inside of both sides with cooking spray. Place the buns (inside facing down) onto a skillet set to medium heat. Grill for 1 minute or until toasted to liking.

For the Burgers:

Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4-oz. each). Shape into a burger. Dampen your hands and flatten as much as you can. Sprinkle patties generously with salt and pepper.
Spray a skillet with cooking spray and set to medium heat. Add the burgers and cook, undisturbed for 3-4 minutes.
Spread yellow mustard on top of each patty (about 1/2 tablespoon each or to preference). Then flip burgers so that the mustard side is facing down and continue cooking until beef is done to your liking.
Add a cheese slice to each burger after flipping.

For the Special Sauce:

Add all the ingredients to a small food processor or blend and blend to desired consistency.

To Assemble:

Spread 1 tablespoon of Skinny Special Sauce to the bottom bun. Then add the pickles, tomato slice, lettuce, burger, and caramelized onions. Top with another tablespoon of Skinny Special Sauce and then the top bun. Serve with fries and more Special Sauce and enjoy!

Notes

Select your preferred hamburger buns; recipe nutrition is calculated with Sweet Hawaiian Buns.
Carefully caramelize onions by adding small amounts of water to prevent burning and develop sweetness.
Toast buns inside down in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray for about 1 minute or until lightly browned.
Spread mustard on patties during cooking to infuse flavor below the cheese.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Serving 1 burger w/ fixings Calories 381kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 34.3g (11%) Protein 35.2g (70%) Fat 11.4g (18%) Saturated Fat 0.8g (4%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 6.4g (13%)