Jalapeño Onion Animal-Style Fries
Crank up the heat with Jalapeño Onion Animal-Style Fries! Crispy fries loaded with spicy jalapeños, caramelized onions, melty cheese, and tangy sauce. Reliable for game day or BBQs.
Are you a fan of In-N-Out-Burger?
**raise both hands!**
We don’t know what it is about the simplicity of a cheeseburger, fries and a shake that make people giddy. Not only are their ingredients savory but all the workers are so darn friendly. Maybe that’s the real secret? Just good food and service.
If you’re a long time fan of In-N-Out Burger then you know about the secret menu. When we say “animal style” you know exactly what we mean. BUT! In case you don’t, you can order animal style fries which means it’s smothered with melted cheese, chopped onions, and a secret sauce. It’s LIFE CHANGING.
Well, today we want to share a fun twist on this nostalgic recipe by adding some jalapenos to the mix. We love heat and although we do love the original version this one packs some serious flavor.
In case you want to mix things up and have a fry party, definitely check out these juicy potato gem recipes: Crispy Ranch French Fries, Loaded Greek Baked Fries, or Sweet Potato Fries with Andouille Gravy.
Variations of Jalapeno Onion Animal-Style Fries
Jalapeño Onion Animal-Style Fries are a versatile, crowd-pleasing dish that can be customized to suit various tastes, dietary preferences, or occasions while preserving their signature crispy, spicy, and tangy In-N-Out-inspired appeal. Below are several creative variations to modify the fries.
Sweet Potato Jalapeño Animal-Style Fries: Swap regular fries for sweet potato fries for a nutrient-packed, slightly sweet base. Use fresh sweet potatoes cut into fries or frozen sweet potato fries. Coat with tapioca flour and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20-25 minutes for extra crispness. Top with caramelized onions, jalapeños, American cheese, and Animal-Style sauce as usual.
Bacon Jalapeño Animal-Style Fries: Add crispy bacon for a smoky, savory upgrade. Cook bacon until crispy, then crumble or chop into small pieces. Layer over the fries after the cheese melts but before adding onions and jalapeños. Proceed with Animal-Style sauce and garnishes.
Taco-Inspired Jalapeño Animal-Style Fries: Infuse Mexican flavors with taco seasonings and toppings. Season fries with a pinch of taco seasoning before cooking. After topping with cheese, onions, and jalapeños, add crumbled cotija cheese, diced tomatoes, and a sprinkle of Tajín alongside the Animal-Style sauce. Replace or supplement the sauce with a chipotle crema (chipotle peppers blended with sour cream or mayo).
Proper Storing
Separate Components: For best results, store the fries, caramelized onions, jalapeños, cheese, and Animal-Style sauce separately to preserve texture and freshness.
Prep 10 minutesCook 30 minutesTotal 40 minutesMakes 6
Ingredients
- 1 large Bag of Frozen French Fries
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Sweet Pickle Relish
- 1 tsp White vinegar
- 1 tsp Yellow mustard
- Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
- 6 oz American cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1/3 cup Whole milk
- 2 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1 medium Yellow onion, finely chopped
- 5 small Jalapenos, sliced into rounds
Method
- Preheat an oven to 425 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and place the frozen fries on the baking sheet. Cook for about 30 minutes or until the fries are golden brown.
- Meanwhile, make the animal sauce. In a medium mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, vinegar, mustard and ¼ tsp kosher salt. Set aside.
- Next, in a large skillet preheated to medium-high heat melt the butter. Add the onion,jalapenos, kosher salt and pepper. Cook the veggies until softened, about 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Set aside.
- In a heatproof bowl, microwave the cheese and milk in increments of 30 seconds stirring each time until the cheese has melted.
- To assemble the fries: remove the fries from the oven and garnish with cheese mixture, then jalapeno onion followed by the animal sauce. Serve immediately!
