Onion Rings
Published December 27, 2022
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Homemade Onion Rings! They’re extra crispy and deeply flavorful. Made with fresh yellow onion slices, a seasoned breading, and crunchy panko bread crumbs. A diner style cousin and flavor boost to french fries that’s sure to satisfy!
Crispy Onion Rings
When the craving for onion rings strikes sometimes you just don’t want to leave the comfort of home to get them. Or perhaps you have a hungry crowd to feed and want to impress with this crave-worthy appetizer or side dish.
Luckily making onion rings at home is easier than you may think and once you learn the method it’s a breeze from then on out.
You follow a simple breading process to coat the onion rings, then deep fry in hot oil in batches until beautifully golden brown and crisp. You’ll just need a little patience to work in batches.
From there serve with your favorite sauces. Excellent choices are fry sauce, ketchup, ranch dressing, or bbq sauce. Then just prepare for them to disappear as quickly as you put them out!
Note that I’ve shared other options to cook them if you’d prefer not to deep fry. You can bake in the oven or cook in an air fryer as well.
With any of the three options though you’ll end with something completely delicious!
Onion Rings Recipe Ingredients
- Large yellow onions
- All-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Baking powder
- Buttermilk
- Egg
- Panko bread crumbs
- Vegetable oil
How to Make Onion Rings – Deep Fry Method
- Pour vegetable oil into a pot. Heat to 365 degrees. Meanwhile prepare onion rings.
- In a shallow dish whisk together flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and baking powder.
- Dredge onion slices in flour mixture, shake off excess (I just do two at a time and tap together to remove extra flour back into dish). Transfer onion rings to a baking sheet, reserve remaining flour mixture.
- In liquid measuring cup whisk together buttermilk and egg. Pour mixture into remaining flour mixture and whisk to blend (mixture should be similar to the consistency of pancake batter, if needed add a little more flour to thicken or buttermilk to thin).
- Pour panko into a separate shallow dish.
- Working with a few onion slices at a time, dip into batter mixture coating each side, shake excess batter back into dish, then transfer to panko and press and coat each side in panko.
- Transfer to preheated oil and fry until golden brown (they should only take about 20 to 30 seconds per side). Fry no more than 10 at a time.
- Drain onto paper towel lined baking dish. Repeat process until all of the onion rings have been used up.
Helpful Tips
- I recommend using a deep fry thermometer to test and monitor temperature of oil for the best result.
- Fry in batches in a single layer so they aren’t over-crowded and fry evenly.
- You can keep them warm in a 225 degree oven on a baking sheet while you work through all the batches.
- Serve warm shortly after frying for best taste and texture.
Baked Onion Rings
- If you are looking for a healthier alternative to oil frying baking is a great option.
- Omit baking powder from recipe.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Prepare the onion rings as directed to cover with mixtures then spray with olive oil or vegetable oil cooking spray.
- Place on greased baking sheet, spray with olive oil or vegetable oil cooking spray.
- Bake until golden brown and crisp, turning halfway through, about 13 – 16 minutes.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Onion rings can also be cooked in the air fry rather than deep frying.
- To do so preheated an air fryer to 375 degrees. Omit baking powder from recipe.
- Dredge the onion rings in mixtures as directed then spray with olive oil or vegetable oil cooking spray.
- Air fry in batches until golden brown and crips, about 11 to 14 minutes.
More Tasty Diner Style Recipes to Try
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Onion Rings
They're extra crispy and deeply flavorful. Made with fresh yellow onion slices, a seasoned breading, and crunchy panko bread crumbs. It's a diner style cousin of french fries that's sure to satisfy!Makes approximately 50 onion rings.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow onions (about 12 oz each), sliced 1/3 inch thick, separated into individual rings
- 1 cup (5 oz) all-purpose flour (scoop an level to measure)
- 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper (or to taste)
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 cups Panko bread crumbs, or more if needed
- 6 cups vegetable oil or peanut oil, for frying
Instructions
- Pour vegetable oil into a pot. Heat to 365 degrees over medium heat (and monitor temperature). Meanwhile prepare onion rings.
- In a shallow dish whisk together flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and baking powder.
- Dredge onion rings in flour mixture, shake off excess (I just do two at a time and tap together to remove extra flour back into dish). Transfer onion rings to a baking sheet, reserve remaining flour mixture.
- In liquid measuring cup whisk together buttermilk and egg. Pour mixture into remaining flour mixture and whisk to blend (mixture should be similar to the consistency of pancake batter, if needed add a little more flour to thicken or buttermilk to thin).
- Pour panko into a separate shallow dish.
- Working with a few onion rings at a time, dip into batter mixture coating each side, shake excess batter back into dish, then transfer to panko and press and coat each side in panko.
- Transfer to preheated oil and fry until golden brown, turning halfway through frying (they should only take about 20 to 30 seconds per side). Fry in batches no more than 10 at a time to not overcrowd.
- Drain onto paper towel lined baking dish. Repeat process until all of the onion rings have been used up.
- Serve warm with ketchup or fry sauce if desired.
Notes
- Nutrition estimate based on 6 Tbsp oil being absorbed.
- Serve with ketchup, fry sauce, ranch, or bbq sauce.
- For a homemade fry sauce mix 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 3 Tbsp ketchup, 3/4 tsp apple cider vinegar, and 2 pinches garlic powder and paprika. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts
Onion Rings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 412
Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 9g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 645mg28%
Potassium 278mg8%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 148IU3%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 130mg13%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.