Animal Style Double-Double Burger | In-N-Out Copycat

Animal Style Burgers are part of the Not So Secret Menu from In-N-Out Burger.

The inspiration for this copycat In-N-Out Animal Style Double-Double is legendary. 

I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, the original home of In-N-Out Burger, and remember going to the Baldwin Park store (I'm pretty sure the original location of the burger chain) with my dad to get burgers and fries. This was before MacDonald's or any other fast food chain took over the landscape.

For those of you who are not familiar with In-N-Out Burger, I'm so sorry. Let's get you up to speed! This recipe is for you! 

Just to point out how significant In-N-Out burgers are... I used to manage the Southern California region of a company where the president and vice presidents hailed from Minnesota, Dallas, and Houston. I can testify that every time (this is not an exaggeration) one of them would visit our region, they would head to an In-N-Out on their way in from the airport. In fact, our Houston-based VP would also pick up a dozen or so of the burgers on their way home. He was totally hooked.

Have I convinced you yet that you need to try one of these burgers? 

A Double-Double in In-N-Out vernacular means double meat, double cheese. There's nothing "secret" about that. The secret part is "animal style." 

An Animal Style Burger includes hand leafed lettuce, tomato, a mustard cooked beef patty, pickles, extra sauce, and grilled onions. Oh... the grilled onions! The best part of this burger! 

I think I've pretty much captured an Animal Style Double-Double here. I love the flavor of the sauce, and the grilled onions were beyond tasty. 

If you're not from In-N-Out country, you definitely need to give this burger a try. It may make you want to relocate.

After the recipe, be sure to check out the rest of the burgers for National Hamburger Day, hosted by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks. 

Animal Style Double-Double Burger Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground chuck
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 large onion, chopped coarsely
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• 2 soft hamburger buns
• 8 dill pickle chips
• 2 slices ripe tomato
• 4 leaves ice berg lettuce, cut to the size of the buns
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 4 slices American cheese

Instructions

1. Divide the ground chuck into four 2 ounce pieces, and press them into four inch patties. Salt and pepper both sides of the patties generously. 
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 12 inch skillet until shimmering over medium high heat. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Reduce the heat to medium low, and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are browned. Add a tablespoon of water, and cook the onions until the water has evaporated. Repeat two more times. Set the onions aside.
3. To make the sauce, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, sugar, and white vinegar.
4. Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 400 degrees F. Place the closed hamburger buns in the oven for 2 minutes, until browned.
5. Add 1/2 teaspoon of oil into the pan and place the cut sides of the hamburger buns into the pan and cook until toasted, about a minute or two.
6. Top the bottom of each bun with a generous amount of the sauce. Top the sauce with 4 pickle slices. Add a slice of tomato and lettuce.
7. Add 1/2 teaspoon of oil to the pan and heat over medium heat until the oil is simmering. Add the hamburger patties. Spread one tablespoon of mustard over each patty with a brush or spoon. Cook for about 3 minutes, until browned. Turn the patties over and cook for one minute more.
8. Top each patty with a slice of American cheese. Top two of the hamburger patties with half of the onions each, and then place one of the other patties on top of the onions. Transfer the stacked hamburger patties to the bottom buns and top with the top bun. Serve immediately.

Yield: 2 servings

Recipe adapted from Serious Eats 

July 28th is National Hamburger Day and to celebrate these fabulous foodie bloggers are sharing their favorite burger recipes! Check them out now:

• Animal Style Burgers from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Copycat Smashburgers from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Fajita Burgers from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Gourmet Burgers with Chiptole Mayo from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Hatch Green Chile Burger from Palatable Pastime
• Lamb Burgers with Feta Sauce and Minted Tomato Salsa from Caroline's Cooking
• Maple Mustard Turkey Burgers from Making the Most of Naptime
• Smash Burgers from Monica's Table