Crispy Fried Onion Rings
Enhance your meals with crispy, flavorful onion rings. Pair this savory deep-fried treat with steaks, burgers, and more!
Nothing hits quite like a stack of golden, crispy onion rings. This recipe delivers that irresistible crunch with a light, flavorful batter that lets the sweet onion shine. Whether you’re serving burgers, steaks, or fried chicken, these onion rings make the perfect savory side.
You can use sweet onions for extra flavor, but yellow or red onions work beautifully too. The batter is easy to mix up with pantry staples, and the rings fry quickly for a fast and satisfying treat.
What You’ll Like About Them
Perfectly crispy texture. The batter fries up light and crunchy with just the right amount of seasoning.
Simple ingredients. Uses everyday pantry staples — no special flours or coatings required.
Restaurant quality at home. These rival any diner or steakhouse onion rings, and you can make a big batch easily.
Great with everything. Serve alongside burgers, sandwiches, steaks, or enjoy as a snack with dipping sauce.
Ingredient Notes
- Onions – Use yellow, red, or sweet onions. Slice into ¼-inch thick rings and separate them carefully.
- Flour – All-purpose flour forms the base of the batter.
- Baking powder – Helps make the coating light and crisp.
- Salt and pepper – Season to taste. You can add a pinch of cayenne for heat.
- Egg and milk – Bind the batter and give it richness.
- Vegetable oil – Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point for frying, such as canola or peanut oil.
Steps to Make Crispy Fried Onion Rings
- Preheat your oven to 175°F to 200°F and line a large baking sheet with paper towels.
- Slice the onions into ¼-inch thick rounds and separate into individual rings.
- Heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy pan to 365°F.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, and baking powder. In another bowl, beat the egg with the milk until well combined. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until smooth to make a batter.
- Dip a few onion rings at a time into the batter, coating them evenly.
- Carefully place the rings in the hot oil without overcrowding. Fry for about 2 minutes, turning once, until golden brown.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place on the paper towel-lined pan. Transfer to the warm oven to keep crisp while you fry the rest.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy batter. Add cayenne pepper or smoked paprika to the flour mixture for a kick.
- Beer batter. Substitute the milk with beer for extra flavor and a lighter texture.
- Extra crispy. Double dip: coat in dry flour before battering for a thicker crust.
- Buttermilk batter. Use buttermilk instead of regular milk for added tang and tenderness.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve as a side with burgers, fried chicken, steak, or sandwiches.
- Add dipping sauces like ranch, spicy ketchup, or garlic aioli.
- Pair with barbecue or grilled meats at summer cookouts.
- Enjoy as a snack or appetizer with cold drinks and finger foods.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store leftover onion rings in a paper towel-lined container for up to 2 days.
Freeze? Not recommended, as the batter can lose its crispness after thawing.
To Reheat: Reheat in an air fryer or a 400°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes until crisp again. Avoid microwaving.
Crispy Fried Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 3 large onions, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
- Vegetable oil , for deep frying
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- Dash freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with paper towels and heat the oven to 175°F or 200°F.
- Separate the sliced onions into rings.
- Heat about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of vegetable oil to 365°F in a deep fryer or in a deep, heavy pan over medium-high heat.
- Combine the flour, salt, pepper, and baking powder in a mixing bowl; whisk to blend.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk until well blended. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir to blend.
- Dip several onion rings into the batter to coat, then drop them in the hot oil. Avoid overcrowding as it will lower the temperature. Fry the onion rings for about 2 minutes or until golden brown, turning to brown both sides.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the onion rings to the paper towel-lined pan and place them in the warm oven. They will stay crisp for 20 to 25 minutes. Repeat with the remaining onion rings.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
