Animal Style Sliders

Enjoy these delectable animal style sliders from our friend Lauren Nagel of Bon Appeteach. This recipe features juicy burger patties topped with melty American cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a secret sauce that’s bursting with flavor. Perfect for game day parties or casual gatherings, these sliders bring the iconic taste of In-N-Out to your own kitchen, allowing you to savor the irresistible blend of sweet, savory, and tangy in every bite.

INGREDIENTS:

Burger Patties:

• 2 lbs. Ground Beef
• Hamburger buns (slider rolls)
• Mayo
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• French Onion Seasoning Packet

Toppings:

• American cheese slices
• Caramelized Yellow onions
• Butter  
• Dill pickles
• Tomato Slices 
• Lettuce leaves (I prefer shredded Iceburg lettuce for this recipe) 

Secret Sauce: 

• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Yellow mustard
• Sweet pickle relish
• Minced Onion
• Pickle Juice or White Vinegar 
• Worcestershire sauce
• Garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preparing the Secret Sauce: The secret sauce is the heart of the Animal Style Burger. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons of sweet pickle relish, 1 teaspoon of pickle juice brine or swap with white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, and minced onions. Mix it well and refrigerate until it’s time to assemble your sliders.Grill the Corn & Hatch Chile Peppers: Place the corn on the cob and the green chiles onto the grill grates and rotate them every 2-3 minutes as needed until the corn is tender and kernels are lightly charred and the skin on the hatch is fully blistered.

2. Caramelizing the Onions: Slice your yellow onions thinly. In a large skillet over medium heat, add a tablespoon of butter. Sauté the onions until they become golden brown and caramelized. Set the sautéed onions aside.Cut Corn: Cut the corn off the cob and place it in a bowl.

3. Making the Burger Patties: Begin by browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat with the French onion seasoning mix. Once browned and cooked through, drain any fat with a paper towel and let the beef cool to room temperature. Next, add in the shredded cheese (not the American cheese slices) and the mayo (trust the process) and mix to combine and set aside.

4. Assembling Your Sliders: To assemble your cheeseburger sliders, start with the bottom buns. Place the ground beef mixture right onto the base of the buns and top with the slices of cheese followed by the caramelized onions. Add the top bun layer and wrap each slider set in nonstick-coated foil.

5. Baking and Topping: Bake the sliders wrapped in foil directly on the oven racks at 350 F. for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is melty and gooey. Remove them from the oven and let them rest before carefully opening the foil packets to remove the top bun layer and add the tomato, pickles, lettuce, and of course the secret sauce. 

6. Serve and Enjoy: Place your Animal Style Cheeseburger Sliders on a serving platter alongside some crispy fries. Don’t forget to offer extra spread on the side for dipping. These sliders are best enjoyed with a classic chocolate milkshake or a side salad for a balanced meal.