Animal Style Fries (Printable)
Crispy fries topped with melted cheese, caramelized onions, and tangy signature sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fries
01 - 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch fries
02 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for baking) or oil for frying
03 - Salt, to taste
→ Toppings
04 - 1 cup shredded American cheese or cheddar cheese
05 - 1 large onion, finely diced
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Animal Style Sauce
07 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
08 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
09 - 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
10 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
11 - ½ teaspoon distilled white vinegar
12 - ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
13 - Pinch of paprika
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F if baking. Toss the potato strips with vegetable oil and a generous pinch of salt. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 25–35 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy. Alternatively, deep-fry in hot oil at 350°F in batches until golden, 4–6 minutes, and drain on paper towels. Salt while hot.
02 - Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté, stirring frequently, until deeply golden brown and caramelized, about 10–15 minutes. Add a splash of water if the onions begin to stick.
03 - In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, white vinegar, sugar, paprika, and black pepper until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
04 - Arrange the hot fries on a serving platter. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and place under a broiler for 1–2 minutes to melt, if desired. Top with the caramelized onions and generous spoonfuls of the Animal Style sauce. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce is so good you will want to put it on everything from burgers to scrambled eggs.
- You get all the indulgent fast food satisfaction with ingredients you can actually pronounce.
02 -
- Soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for thirty minutes before cooking makes a huge difference in crispiness.
- The sauce tastes even better if you make it ahead and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours.
03 -
- Dry the soaked potatoes thoroughly with a clean towel before oiling them, because moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
- Salt the fries the second they come out of the oven or fryer while the oil is still warm so the seasoning adheres properly.