Now you can recreate the famous In N Out Animal Sauce at home with just a few simple ingredients! This tangy, creamy, and slightly sweet sauce will take burgers and more to the next level of deliciousness.
If you've been to an In-N-Out Burger, you're most likely a fan of their legendary Animal Style burger made with their signature sauce.
The key ingredient that makes this burger so irresistible is their signature Animal Sauce.
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In-N-Out Animal Sauce is a must-try for any burger lover, and now you can make it right at home with just a few ingredients.
This creamy spread is both tangy and slightly sweet and elevates the flavor of the burger.
Now you don’t have to make a trip to the west coast for this tasty condiment.
This easy copycat recipe for In-N-Out Animal Sauce will quickly become a favorite.
The secret sauce is versatile, customizable, and perfect for everything from fries to sandwiches, and even veggies!
It goes without saying that this sauce is delicious on burgers but be sure to try it on chicken, beef and more. Scroll down for my tasty suggestions for ways to use this irresistible sauce.
So get ready to make this legendary sauce with just five basic kitchen ingredients.
With this recipe and these tips, you can elevate your meals and enjoy that signature Animal Style flavor in your own kitchen.
Next time you're craving a deliciously tangy sauce, be sure to whip up a batch of In-N-Out Animal Sauce and enjoy all the ways you can use this special sauce.
Be sure to check out lots more awesome sauces that you can make too!
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How to make copycat in-n-out sauce
This is a quick overview of how to make an in-n-out burger spread recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Step 1: In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, and sugar.
- Step 2: Whisk together until well blended.
Hint: You can use the sauce immediately but I recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using so the flavors blend and intensify.
Expert recipe tips
- Adjust the flavor - Give the sauce a taste and adjust the sweetness or acidity to your personal preference by adding more sugar or vinegar as needed.
- Chill - For the best flavor, refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors blend and intensify
- Consistency – If the sauce is too thick for you, add a bit more vinegar or a few drops of water to get the desired consistency
- Double the Recipe – You can easily double this recipe to make a larger amount
- Whisk – For the smoothest creamiest texture, whisk, don’t stir, the sauce. Ingredients will combine better if whisked.
Substitutions
The ingredients in my recipe are traditional for the inspired animal sauce recipe but you can make substitutions if you want to customize the sauce or if you are missing an ingredient.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar will add a milder, slightly fruity tang, making it a great alternative to white vinegar.
- Barbecue Sauce - For a deeper, smoky flavor, you can replace ketchup with a small amount of your favorite barbecue sauce. Just taste as you are adding it because barbecue sauce can sometimes be sweeter and have a strong tangy flavor.
- Chopped Pickles - In a pinch, you can finely chop regular sweet pickles, dill pickles or cornichons to make your own relish.
- Dill Pickle Relish - If you prefer a more savory flavor, you can use dill pickle relish instead of sweet relish. This will give your sauce a tangier flavor.
- Greek Yogurt - For a lighter version, you can swap the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt. This will change the texture slightly, but the sauce will still have its classic tanginess and creaminess.
- Lemon Juice - If you don’t have vinegar on hand, a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice will add a similar acidity.
- Tomato Paste - If you're low on ketchup, tomato paste can work in a pinch. Just be sure to add a teaspoon of sugar to balance the acidity.
- Vegan Mayo - If you prefer for a plant-based version, vegan mayo will work nicely as a substitute for regular mayo.
Variations
Here are some variations you can try or get creative and add your favorite stir-ins.
- Caramelized Onion - Stir in chopped caramelized onions for a sweet note
- Chipotle Sauce or Powder - Add a spicy sauce or powder for a kick of heat and spice
- White Onion - Add minced white onion for added texture and flavor
- Worcestershire Sauce - Add Worcestershire sauce for a savory note
- Yellow Mustard - Stir in a dollop of yellow mustard for added tang
Creative Uses for In-N-Out Animal Sauce
This sauce is not just for burgers! Here are some creative ways to use this addictive sauce:
- On Burgers - The obvious choice is to spread the sauce on a homemade hamburger or cheeseburger and make it an "Animal Style" burger. Spread this tangy condiment on both the top and bottom buns, and give your burger a rich, tangy kick.
- With French Fries and Onion Rings - In-N-Out serves their fries with Animal Sauce too and it’s definitely a delicious combination. The sauce is a perfect dipping companion to crispy French fries, and onion rings too, and you can even drizzle it over the fries too.
- As a Sandwich Spread – Give your sandwiches or wraps a burst of flavor when you add in n out sauce. This sauce pairs especially well with chicken, turkey and veggie sandwiches.
- With Grilled Cheese - Take your grilled cheese to the next level! Spread a bit of Animal Sauce on the inside of the bread before cooking for a tastier, more exciting sandwich.
- On Tacos – Animal Sauce works surprisingly well as a taco sauce and adds a creamy, zesty flavor. It is especially flavorful on grilled chicken, beef and crispy fish tacos.
- As a Dip for Veggies – Use this sauce as a dip with your favorite raw veggies like carrots, celery, or cucumber.
- On a Salad - Drizzle some Animal Sauce over your salad in place of a typical dressing. It’s full of flavor and make a delicious creamy salad dressing on your greens.
- As a Chicken Fingers Dipping Sauce – Kids love their chicken nuggets and will love dipping them in animal sauce too.
Equipment
- Whisk
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
Storage
- Store the homemade sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
- Give the sauce a quick stir before using
- As always, check out more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Ingredients
It takes just five basic ingredients to make this creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Mayonnaise - The creamy base of the sauce.
- Ketchup - Adds sweetness and a little tang.
- Sweet pickle relish - Gives the sauce its signature sweet and sour bite
- White vinegar – Balances the flavors with a touch of acidity
- Granulated sugar – Adds a hint of sweetness to round out the sauce
Related
Love making homemade sauces at home? You'll want to give these recipes a try too!
What to serve with
These are some of my favorite recipes to serve with this in and out sauce:
Copycat In-N-Out Animal Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
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Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, and sugar and whisk until well blended.
- You can use the sauce immediately but I recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using so the flavors blend and intensify.
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