Double Double Animal Style Cheeseburger

So, no big deal or anything, but I’ve pretty much mastered the cheeseburger.

I mean, this burger is life changing. It’s completely addictive. You’ll never be content with another cheeseburger again.

Basically, what I’m saying is that life as you know is over.

This new life that you’re going to be living is full of things like juicy meat, gooey cheese, sweet, melty caramelized onions, and butter soaked buns. Did I mention the secret sauce? It’s not really very secret, because I’m totally going to run up and down the streets shouting about this sauce. It’s good, you guys.

So, that’s what’s going on in my world. Running through town like a mad woman, burger juice dribbling down my chin, screaming about secret sauces and the most perfect onions you’ve ever had in your life and no, I don’t even care if you don’t like onions, because these onions are not your average onion. These onions melt in your mouth. These onions are sweet and salty and soft and perfect.

The burger? It’s thin, man. You squish the crap out of it when you put it on the griddle, but no worries. You’re going to double your burgers up…plenty of meat to go around. Oh, did I forget to tell you how you’re going to squirt mustard on your burger patties before you grill them? It’s ridiculous, you guys. Just plain ridiculous.

So. That’s where we at. Best. Dang. Cheeseburgers. Ever.

It should be noted that this recipe is based off of a copycat version of the Double Double Animal Style Burger from In-N-Out. I live in the middle of Illinois where there is a serious lack of In-N-Outs. I don’t know how this compares, but I do know that this burger is my soul mate.

Update: I keep getting emails about the fabulous looking waffle fries. The recipe goes like this: purchase a bag of Alexia Waffle Fries, preheat the oven and cook fries according to package directions. Easy and so, so good. We love Alexia! Try their sweet potato fries if you haven’t already!

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Double Double Animal Style In-N-Out Copy Cat Burger

These are hands down the best cheeseburgers I've ever had! They're juicy, melty, and full of flavor. Have a napkin handy, because you're sure to make a mess of yourself with these amazing burgers! Don't be frightened if this looks like a lot of steps - these burgers cook in no time are super easy to whip up!

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

For the burgers:
16 ounces ground beef, 75/25 if possible
8 slices American cheese, from the deli (not the plastic wrapped kind)
6-8 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard (not the fancy kind)
salt, to taste
2 onions, diced
1/2 cup water
4 cheap, store brand hamburger buns
6 tablespoons butter, divided
pickles, lettuce, tomatoes - I prefer my burger plain, but add toppings if you must
For the secret sauce:
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons white vinegar

Directions:

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet and add the diced onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. When the onions are soft and beginning to brown, add 1/4 cup of water and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the water has evaporated. Repeat with the remaining 1/4 cup of water. After about 30 minutes of cooking the onions should be golden brown, soft, melty, and pure perfection. Sprinkle with salt. Set aside.
While the onions are cooking prepare the secret sauce. Stir together the ketchup, mayo, and vinegar. Set aside.
Heat a griddle or large cast iron skillet to medium. Melt the remaining butter on the hot griddle and place the buns, cut side down, on the griddle. Cook until golden brown. Spread around 1 tablespoon of the sauce on the bottom of each bun. Set aside.
Turn the heat to high. While the skillet is heating, form the meat into 8 small balls of meat, loosely compacted. Place the balls of meat a few inches apart on the griddle and sprinkle the tops with salt. Let cook one minute. Flip the balls over and immediately take a small plate (or flat spatula that doesn't have holes for the meat to squish through) and press the meat flat, forming a thing patty the same diameter as your bun. Squirt about one teaspoon of mustard on each patty. Cook for 1-2 minutes and flip again. Immediately place the cheese on each patty and top half of the pattys with a heaping spoonful of the onions. Cook 1 minute or until patties are cooked through and cheese is beginning to melt.
Use a spatula to pick up one of the patties without the onions and place it on top of a patty with the onions. Let cook for 30 more seconds to meld everything together.
Remove from griddle to the grilled buns. Top with lettuce, tomato, and pickles, if desired.

recipe based off of this fun experiment

Beef, Buns In My Oven Favorites, Cheesy, Main Dish

42 comments »

42 Responses to “Double Double Animal Style Cheeseburger”

Becky @LovetobeintheKitchen March 3, 2013 @ 11:22 pm (#
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Oh my goodness! I want this right now! Your pictures are so amazing I can almost taste it.
Kim @ Soliloquy Of Food & Such March 3, 2013 @ 11:44 pm (#
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I can’t wait to try this. I’m a messy eater to begin with, I may need a lobster bib for this one!
shelly (cookies and cups) March 4, 2013 @ 7:52 am (#
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Is it possible for a burger to have 2 soul mates? Because, you know, I’m pretty sure that it’s mine too.
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life March 4, 2013 @ 8:36 am (#
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Forget finding an In and Out ever again…your version looks amazing!! You have me convinced to let the sauce dribble down my chin and then run around telling everyone how awesome it is!!!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel March 4, 2013 @ 8:52 am (#
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I want it to be summer so bad right now! You have me seriously wanting to fire up the grill. And can you believe I’ve never had in n out?! I don’t think it exists in the northeast.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious March 4, 2013 @ 8:59 am (#
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I can’t believe you created an in-n-out copycat! You are a freaking genius!
Amber March 4, 2013 @ 9:30 am (#
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This looks amazing! Not what I need to be craving before working out! I want one!
Cookbook Queen March 4, 2013 @ 9:42 am (#
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Oh, for the love of life, these need to happen at my house. I deserve them, don’t I?
Megan {Country Cleaver} March 4, 2013 @ 10:55 am (#
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I’ve only ever had In n Out once in my life – and it is THAT life altering. Woman, you’re killin’ me. I am going to jump through this screen and devour all the burgers!!
Tanya Schroeder March 4, 2013 @ 11:16 am (#
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I’ve never had an In and Out Burger, but who cares now that I have this!! This really is good looking burger for us carnivores!
GLORIA RICHARDS March 4, 2013 @ 12:47 pm (#
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These sound totally outrageous!!!!! I will definitely try this recipe soon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! (I loooove hamburgers)
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts March 4, 2013 @ 12:49 pm (#
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I’d totally hit that with my mouth.
- Karly — March 27th, 2013 @ 9:18 am
  
  I don’t know how I just now came across this comment, but it seriously made me bust out laughing.
Jen @ Savory Simple March 4, 2013 @ 12:49 pm (#
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I’ve never had this burger (no In-N-Out in Maryland) but it looks AMAZINGLY good!
Annie @ Annie's Noms March 4, 2013 @ 1:23 pm (#
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Oh wow, never had an In-N-Out burger, but this looks divine! I need to make these now!
Joanne March 4, 2013 @ 1:57 pm (#
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I for real need those onions in my life. On bean burgers. (don’t hate me)
Ali | Gimme Some Oven March 4, 2013 @ 3:14 pm (#
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That’s crazy — this is the second time I’ve heard about this burger in a week! We don’t have In ‘n’ Out here in Kansas City, but it sure sounds good.

Great photos!
Rebekah @ Making Miracles March 4, 2013 @ 3:27 pm (#
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Drool… these look amazing.
carrian March 4, 2013 @ 3:47 pm (#
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hOLY DELICIOUS! My hubby loves in-n out
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust March 4, 2013 @ 4:25 pm (#
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Okay, so I’m doing a 48-hour cleanse and that is most definitely not on the list. BUT I WANT TO MARRY IT.
Meghan @ The Tasty Fork March 4, 2013 @ 4:58 pm (#
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Holy Cow! (Seriously!!) This looks amazing! I wish I was eating this for dinner instead of what I’m making. Where do you live in IL?? I can show up by dinner time – I’ve got a ledfoot.
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats March 4, 2013 @ 5:15 pm (#
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Im a burger FANATIC. Cant even wait to try these!!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie March 4, 2013 @ 5:23 pm (#
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This looks so amazing, I think I might die. Seriously. AMAZING.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts March 4, 2013 @ 7:59 pm (#
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Yep, this looks life changing! So juicy, and perfect!
Stephanie March 4, 2013 @ 8:07 pm (#
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Um, fantastic… Recipe for the waffle fries too? pleeeease?
- Karly — March 5th, 2013 @ 9:24 am
  
  Sure!
  
  Recipe: Buy a package of Alexia Waffle Fries, preheat oven and bake according to package directions. Serve hot.
  
  Easy peasy!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet March 4, 2013 @ 8:27 pm (#
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Ok so I have never even heard of In-n-out or their burgers but I definitely need to try this. Can I get those waffle fries as well? They look gooooood!
- Karly — March 5th, 2013 @ 9:24 am
  
  They are good! They’re just frozen Alexia waffle fries, baked in the oven. Yum!
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above March 5, 2013 @ 9:32 am (#
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These look delicious. I just pinned it. We have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this and any other posts with everyone. It runs from Tuesday night through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
We hope to see you there.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Lokness @ The Missing Lokness March 5, 2013 @ 4:04 pm (#
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Nommm…. Your burger looks very good! Need to try one day. In-N-Out is definitely one of the go-to places when I have visitors in town. Who doesn’t love a simple cheese burger?
Mackenzie March 6, 2013 @ 9:49 pm (#
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Oh my husband would LOVE this! We moved to TX from CA about 2 years ago and are missing our In and Out Burgers! Thanks!
Mackenzie
Ashton March 7, 2013 @ 9:10 am (#
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This seriously looks UNREAL!
Tonia@thegunnysack March 7, 2013 @ 8:12 pm (#
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I’ve never eaten an In and Out Burger! We don’t have it here in MN but those sure look good!
Jenn March 8, 2013 @ 11:20 am (#
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I’ve never had an In and Out burger but this looks delish!! And that sauce…. yum!
terri March 8, 2013 @ 2:28 pm (#
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Making these delicious looking burgers tonight. Can i use rice vinegar instead of white? I have 4 kinds of vinegar but no white
Melissa @ No. 2 Pencil March 9, 2013 @ 8:02 am (#
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This looks absolutely amazing! Yum
Charity March 19, 2013 @ 6:00 pm (#
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Made these tonight and they are as delicious as they look! Yummy yumm! One thing I will try next time is to half the amount of vinegar in the secret sauce. It was a bit too wangy for me and I love wangy usually. Thanks for a tremendous recipe!
Heather March 25, 2013 @ 9:08 am (#
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I recently moved to Chicago from California and miss In-N-Out like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve tried all the “amazing” burger places in Chicago and nothing comes close. I’m so excited to try this recipe. It looks incredible!
- Karly — March 25th, 2013 @ 9:33 am
  
  You’ll have to let me know how it compares! And I hope you’re enjoying all the snow today!
Bridgett April 10, 2013 @ 7:53 pm (#
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I live in northern Illinois, the closest sounding thing to In-and-Out we have (that sounds like the descriptions I’ve read anyway) is Culvers, which is divine. Question: has bacon ever come into play in this recipe? I bet that would be fantastic. I gotta go clean up some drool now.
laurasmess April 19, 2013 @ 6:21 pm (#
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Oh wow. I’ve never been to In-N-Out (they don’t even exist over here in Australia) but I’ve heard how amazing their burgers are. Continuously. Every friend who’s visited the USA has raved about them! So… that said… it’s awesome to find a recipe of a ‘copycat’ In-N-Out burger so that I can try it in the comfort of my own home. Love the idea of the thin, mustard-doused crispy patties and melty cheese. Sounds so delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe and your tips! xx
Megan April 25, 2013 @ 1:03 pm (#
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These are amazing! I tweeked the special sauce a little by adding a few drops of Worcestershire and omitting the vinegar (I am in the UK at this time and the store close to me didn’t have white vinegar). The mustard on the Burgers while you cook them is genius and I shall do that anytime I cook burgers now. Thanks for the amazing recipe!