Recreating the In-N-Out experience at home boils down to three key components: the fries, the special sauce, and the smash burgers. A shopping list focusing on fresh ingredients like meat, vegetables, and bread can keep the grocery bill manageable. While pantry staples like spices, vinegar, oil, and condiments are necessary, they’re often already on hand, minimizing additional costs.
Fresh ingredients for homemade In-N-Out burger, including lettuce, tomato, onion, potatoes, and ground beef.
The first step is preparing the fries. Start by boiling water with a generous amount of salt. Peel and slice russet potatoes into thin fry shapes. Adding vinegar to the boiling water helps season the potatoes, break down starch, and prevent them from falling apart. Boil for 8-10 minutes, then drain and place on a wire rack. Freezing the fries for a few hours allows for baking them at your convenience.
Sliced potatoes being prepared for homemade french fries, alongside a bowl of special sauce ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Drizzle a small amount of peanut oil onto a baking sheet and heat it in the oven. Add the fries to the hot oil, ensuring they are spread out to prevent steaming. After 15 minutes, flip the fries and drizzle with a bit more oil. Bake for another 15 minutes for crispy, delicious fries.
Crispy homemade french fries on a baking sheet, ready to be transformed into animal style fries.
To make animal-style fries, top the baked fries with low-fat American cheese, melt in the oven, and then add special sauce and caramelized onions.
For the special sauce, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle juice, smoked paprika, onion powder, and black pepper. The smoked paprika adds a depth of flavor that elevates the sauce.
Close-up of a homemade In-N-Out style burger with special sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Prepare the burger toppings by thinly slicing lettuce, tomato, and white onion. Season the tomatoes with salt. For the burger patties, use lean ground beef, forming them into balls and seasoning with salt and MSG. Smash the beef balls on a hot stove, cooking for 45-60 seconds per side. Top each patty with a slice of low-fat American cheese.
Assemble the burger by spreading special sauce on both halves of the bun. Add lettuce, tomato, the burger patties, and finally the thinly sliced onion between the patties, replicating the In-N-Out style.
Using lean ground beef and baking the fries instead of deep-frying significantly reduces the calorie count of the meal compared to the traditional In-N-Out version, while still delivering a satisfyingly delicious burger and fries experience.
