Easy Cheeseburger Salad with Animal Sauce (In-N-Out Style!)

Cheeseburger salad is one of my favorite ways to turn classic burger flavors into an easy meal. In-N-Out is one of my favorite fast food spots, and I just love their animal sauce spread, which is an addictive combination of sweet and savory. This burger salad is my In-N-Out-inspired version with caramelized onions, pickles, pepperoncini peppers, and that famous spread. Perfect for an easy, filling lunch or dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheeseburger salad

Servings: servings

Author: Jean Choi

Ingredients

Animal Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp sweet relish
1 tsp yellow mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Caramelized Onions

2 tbsp butter
2 large onions diced
Salt and pepper to taste

Beef

1 lb ground beef
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce this one is gluten free
1 tsp yellow mustard
4 slices cheddar cheese or American cheese

Salad

6 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup dill pickle slices
1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers or banana peppers

Instructions

Make the animal sauce by stirring all of the ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp sweet relish, 1 tsp yellow mustard, Salt and pepper
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter starts bubbling, stir in the onions and season with salt and pepper.
2 tbsp butter, 2 large onions, Salt and pepper
Continue to slowly cook and caramelize the onions for 15-20 minutes. If you see that the onions are getting dried and browned on the bottom, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of water. You may need to do this 2-3 times. Once the onions are fully caramelized, remove from heat and set aside.
Add ground beef to a large skillet over medium high heat, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned half way, then stir in garlic powder, worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard.
1 lb ground beef, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, 2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp yellow mustard
Cook until fully browned, then spread out in an even layer in the skillet. Top evenly with cheese slices, then cover for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted. Remove from heat.
4 slices cheddar cheese
Assemble the salad: Divide the shredded lettuce into bowls. Add ground beef topped with melted cheese. Add pickles, pepperoncini, and caramelized onions. Drizzle with animal sauce, and serve. Enjoy!
6 cups shredded iceberg lettuce, 1/2 cup dill pickle slices, 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers

Notes

The caramelized onions take a bit of time, but they are what give the salad that distinct In-N-Out flavor, so don't skip them.
The animal sauce doubles as the cheeseburger salad dressing and gets even better after a few hours in the fridge, so feel free to make it ahead of time.
Have extra sauce? Try it on these guacamole stuffed burgers or as a dip for these air fryer zucchini fries!
If you're meal prepping, store the lettuce, beef, onions, and animal sauce separately until you're ready to eat. This keeps everything fresh and crisp.
The animal sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
You can save the cooked ground beef for 3-4 days in the fridge, then heat it back up in the microwave or on the stove top with the cheese until cooked through and melted.
The caramelized onions can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days and heated up just before serving.

Nutrition