Animal Style Loaded Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen fries
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 slices American cheese
Animal Sauce
- 3 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp gochujang
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp finely diced onion, reserved
- 1 tbsp chopped pickles
- Pinch of salt
Optional Garnish
- Chives
Instructions
- Finely dice the onion and set aside a few tablespoons for the sauce.
- Heat a pan with a bit of oil and cook the remaining onions on low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until deeply caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.
- For the sauce, combine mayo, ketchup, gochujang, mustard, rice vinegar, sugar, reserved diced onion, chopped pickles, and salt. Mix thoroughly until creamy and smooth.
- Lightly oil your air fryer basket and cook the frozen fries according to the package instructions. (Frozen fries work great, they're just as good as fresh and way more convenient.)
- Once cooked, place the hot fries on a plate and immediately top with cheese, letting it melt. Add your sauce and caramelized onions over top.
- Optionally garnish with chives.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Why I Love Animal Style Loaded Fries
I grew up in Los Angeles, and even though I live in New York, which is one of the most diverse food cities in the world, the one thing I can’t get is In-N-Out, especially those amazing Animal Style Loaded Fries. Making them at home is the only way, and there’s something about these that just makes me (and hopefully you) feel at home. The layer of golden fries with the melted (although fake) American cheese, the onions, and that famous animal sauce is so nostalgic to many people, and I think that these are one of the tastiest side dishes you can get. They’re impossible to stop eating once you start, and you might want to use your hands instead of a fork for these because you can shovel them in faster!
What Makes the Sauce So Special
I love a great animal sauce, but in this recipe, I added a little bit of gochujang, which helps bring a slight kick to the mayo, ketchup, and mustard base, which is already great, but is lacking a little bit of that heat! In my opinion, sometimes there is too much sauce on a standard Animal Fries, and you have to cut it with peppers or hot sauce, but when the flavor is built into the sauce, those extra toppings aren’t even necessary! You don’t even need to use it with just fries! I like to have this with my weeknight ground beef or add as a condiment to any meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Animal Style Loaded Fries
Main Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen fries
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 slices American cheese
Animal Sauce
- 3 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp gochujang
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp finely diced onion (reserved)
- 1 tbsp chopped pickles
- Pinch of salt
Optional Garnish
- Chives
How to Make Animal Style Loaded Fries
Finely dice the onion and set aside a couple tablespoons for the sauce.
In a pan over low heat, caramelize the rest of the onion with a bit of oil for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a bowl, mix together mayo, ketchup, gochujang, mustard, vinegar, sugar, reserved onion, chopped pickles, and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
Lightly oil your air fryer basket and cook the frozen fries according to package instructions.
While hot, plate the fries and immediately top with American cheese slices to melt. I also like to use a blowtorch to help if the fries aren’t hot enough.
Spoon over the gochujang animal sauce and caramelized onions.
Optionally garnish with chopped chives and serve immediately.
Tips & Variations
If you don’t have an air fryer, bake your frozen fries at 425°F (220°C) for 20–25 minutes or until golden and crispy.
If you want to take the extra step, I love to add extra ground beef or crispy bacon bits for an even tastier bite!
I know some of you may not like the processed American cheese, and if you don’t, feel free to use any cheese of your choice!
If you’re hosting a party, keep everything warm separately and assemble right before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to caramelize the onions for 30 minutes?
Yes! That’s where the depth of flavor comes from. They turn sweet, rich, and turn into a jammy texture. If you’re in a rush, you can sauté on medium for 10–15 minutes, but the longer the better.
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can prep the sauce and onions in advance, but wait to cook and assemble the fries right before serving. That way they stay crispy and fresh.
What kind of fries work best?
Shoestring or crinkle cut are great for getting that crispy exterior and soaking up the sauce. However, use whatever fries you’d like! I’ve made this with curly fries and they’ve turned out amazing.
Can I skip the gochujang?
You can, but it adds a unique heat that makes the sauce stand out. If you want a milder version, reduce the amount or swap in sriracha or just omit!
Try These Next
Want more crowd-pleasing dishes? Try my Gochujang Bacon Noodles.
Looking for something rich and crispy? Don’t miss my Sticky Sweet Pork Belly Bites!
Craving another comfort food? You’ll love my Japanese Carbonara Udon!
