In-n-Out Double Double Animal Style Burger
About This In-N-Out Double Double Animal-Style Burger Recipe
This homemade Double Double Animal-Style Burger tastes just like the real thing—two thin patties griddled with mustard, melty American cheese, chopped caramelized onions, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a generous layer of the signature “Animal Style” sauce. It’s messy, nostalgic, and unbelievably delicious. If you’ve never had the original, this recipe will show you what all the hype is about.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It tastes exactly like the iconic In-N-Out version, but even fresher.
Uses simple ingredients you already have at home.
The caramelized chopped onions and mustard-seared patties bring authentic drive-thru flavor.
Easy to scale for a crowd or customize (extra cheese, no tomato, no onion slice).
The sauce alone is worth making—it works on fries, sandwiches, everything.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ground beef (80/20 for juicy patties)
American cheese
Hamburger buns
Yellow mustard
Lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles
Pantry staples for the Animal Style sauce
Onions + oil for caramelizing
How to Make It
Start by whisking together the simple Animal Style sauce and set it aside. Slowly caramelize diced onions until golden and jammy—this step gives the burger its signature flavor. Form thin patties and season them before searing on a hot grill or skillet, spreading mustard on the raw side for a true Animal-Style crust. Add cheese and chopped onions on top as they finish cooking. Toast the buns, then assemble with sauce, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and your double cheesy patties.
Tips for Success
Caramelize low and slow: Rushing the onions won’t give you the deep, sweet flavor you want.
Weigh the patties if possible: Thin, even patties (around 2.5 oz) cook quickly and mimic the original texture.
Mustard on the raw side only: It helps create the signature tangy crust when flipped.
Toast the buns in oil: It adds flavor and prevents sogginess.
Assemble quickly: Serve immediately so everything stays hot, melty, and crisp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a single instead of a double?
Yes—simply form larger patties and follow the same cooking method.
Do I have to caramelize the onions for an hour?
For an authentic taste, yes. But you can shorten the time to 20–25 minutes for a lighter caramelization.
Can I prep anything ahead of time?
Yes! The sauce and caramelized onions can be made 1–3 days in advance and refrigerated.
Can I cook the patties in a skillet instead of a grill?
Absolutely. A skillet gives an amazing crust and is actually closer to the original In-N-Out style.
What to Serve With This Burger
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In-N-Out Double Double Animal-Style Burger
Ingredients
- 20 oz ground beef (80/20 blend recommended for juiciness) for 8 2.5 oz patties, you can make normal-sized patties as well
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
- Yellow mustard
- 8 slices American cheese
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 4 slices tomato
- 4 slices onion
- Pickles
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar (optional- makes a sweeter sauce)
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 large onions, diced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, sugar, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and golden brown, about 45-60 minutes.
- Season with salt to taste and set aside.
- Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions and form them into patties (each burger will have 2 patties). Each patty should weigh about 2.5 oz. Smash the patties out thin and round the edges.
- Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper.
- NOTE: If you want to make a normal burger (not a double patty), form the beef into normal sized patties and continue the recipe.
- Preheat a grill or pan over medium-high heat.
- Toast the hamburger buns by grilling/pan-frying in olive oil.
- Oil the grill liberally and then add the patties. Spread a squirt of yellow mustard on the raw side of the patties. Cook the patties for 2-3 minutes and then flip.
- During the last minute of cooking, add one slice of American cheese on top of each patty and a spoonful of chopped onions and allow to melt. Remove from grill/pan.
- Spread a generous amount of the Animal Style sauce on the bottom half of each bun. Place pickles and a lettuce leaf. Add burger patty, tomato, then burger patty, and then drizzle sauce again and top with toasted bun.
