October 29, 2023
Appetizers

Animal Style Sliders Recipe

Name: Animal Style Sliders Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 12 Slider Buns; 1 lb Lean Ground Beef; 1 tbsp Yellow Mustard; 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Black Pepper; 1/2 cup Shredded Cheese; 1 large Onion (sliced thin ); 1 tbsp Butter; 8 sliced American Cheese; 1 cup Shredded Lettuce; 2 small Tomatoes (sliced thin); 12 Pickles; 1/3 cup Mayo; 2 tbsp Ketchup; 1 tbsp Mustard; 1 tbsp Pickle Brine; 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce; 1 tbsp Minced Onion; 1 tbsp. Pickle Relish; 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Black Pepper; 1/2 tsp Paprika

Jump to Recipe

These Animal Style Sliders take everything you love about the iconic burger and pack it into a perfectly snackable bite. Juicy beef patties are topped with melty American cheese, sweet caramelized onions, tangy homemade animal-style sauce, and crisp pickles, all tucked inside soft slider buns for the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer or game day meal.

If you’ve ever visited the West Coast, chances are you’ve heard of In-N-Out Burger and its iconic Animal Style Smash Burger. These mouthwatering cheeseburger sliders have become a fast-food legend, and today, we’re bringing that amazing flavor straight to the comfort of your own home with our copycat recipe. Get ready to dive into the world of Animal Style Cheeseburger Sliders!

Love beef-based sliders? Check out this recipe for my classic pull-apart cheeseburger sliders, these Big Mac sliders, or try making Meatball sliders as well.

Why This Recipe Works:

Balanced Flavor Profile: The combination of ingredients in this recipe creates a well-balanced flavor profile. The special sauce adds a tangy, sweet, and savory element, while the caramelized onions provide a rich and sweet contrast. Together with the juicy burger patties, American cheese, pickles, and fresh lettuce, you get a symphony of flavors in every bite.
Texture Variety: Texture is crucial to this recipe’s success. The crispy lettuce and pickles provide a satisfying crunch, while the melty cheese and tender burger patties create a luscious, mouthwatering experience. The secret sauce ties everything together, enhancing the overall texture and making each bite enjoyable.
Customizable and Familiar: This recipe allows you to customize it to suit your personal preferences. You can adjust the level of doneness of the burger patties, add extra toppings like tomatoes or bacon, or modify the secret sauce to your taste. Additionally, the familiarity of In-N-Out’s Animal Style Burger makes this recipe a hit with those looking to recreate the flavors of a beloved fast-food favorite at home.

What Are Animal Style Sliders?

In-N-Out Burger, a beloved fast-food restaurant primarily found on the West Coast, is famous for its classic burgers and secret menu offerings. Among them, the Animal Style Burger reigns supreme. It’s a cheeseburger fried up in yellow mustard and loaded with extra toppings, including sweet caramelized onions, pickles, and a secret sauce that takes it to the next level. I have In N Out protein style copycat burger recipe you can make too!

Supplies Needed:

Skillet
Knife & Cutting Board
Aluminum Foil
Nonstick Spray
Baking Sheets
Mixing Bowl
Whisk

Ingredients:

To recreate these delicious cheeseburger sliders at home, gather the following ingredients:

Burger Patties:

Slider Rolls
Ground Beef (lean works best)
Mustard (saute the ground beef in a little mustard- this is iconic to the In-N-Out animal style burger)
Burger Sauce (see below how to make this)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (grate your own if possible)
Worcestershire Sauce
SPG (Salt, Pepper, Garlic)
Sautéed onions (optional)

Toppings:

American cheese slices
Dill pickles
Tomato Slices
Shredded Lettuce (I like romaine or iceberg)

Secret Sauce:

Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Yellow mustard
Sweet pickle relish
Minced Onion
Pickle Brine
Worcestershire sauce
Garlic powder
Salt and black pepper

Cooking Your Cheeseburger Sliders

1. Preparing the Secret Sauce

The secret sauce is the heart of the Animal Style Burger. In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons of sweet pickle relish or diced pickles, 1 teaspoon of pickle brine, 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and minced onions. Mix it well and set aside. You will use half for the burger mixture and half for the topping at the end.

2. Sautéed Onions

Slice or finely dice an onion and cook it until it’s a deep golden brown. I like to do just a nice golden brown saute to save time on traditional caramelizing (but you can caramelize if desired). Remove them from the pan and set them aside.

3. Making the Burger Patties

Begin by browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a little yellow mustard. Then add in the Worcestershire sauce and continue to cook until fully browned. If you have a lot of grease, fully drain it and let the ground beef cool slightly.

To this ground beef mix in 1/2 cup of shredded cheese, 1/2 of the prepared burger sauce (about 1/2 cup), and the cooked onions. Mix until fully combined.

4. Assembling Your Sliders

Slice the slider buns in half horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms intact as one connected sheet. Place the bottom half of the buns cut-side up on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Evenly spread the prepared ground beef mixture over the buns, pressing it into a uniform layer that reaches the edges, then top with an even layer of American cheese slices.

Place the top half of the buns, cut-side up, next to the assembled bottom buns on the same baking sheet. Brush the tops generously with melted butter, then sprinkle with sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Bake according to the recipe directions, then add the toasted tops to the sliders before serving.

The ground beef, onions, and sauce mixed together in a bowl.

5. Baking and Topping

Bake the sliders for 10 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and the buns are just slightly toasted. Check halfway through to be sure the top buns haven’t burned.

Finish the sliders off with lots of pickles, tomato, shredded lettuce, and a little more burger sauce. Add the bun tops back on.

5. Serve and Enjoy

Place your Animal Style Cheeseburger Sliders on a serving platter and pair with my traditional deli-style potato salad or these smoked baked beans. Don’t forget to offer extra sauce on the side for dipping.