Rating: 3.62
(81)

Onion Rings

February 1, 2024

There’s something undeniably satisfying about biting into a perfectly crispy onion ring. The crunch of the golden coating, the soft sweetness of the onion inside, and the salty finish make them a favorite at diners, barbecues, and anywhere comfort food reigns.

Making onion rings at home is easier than you might think, and the results are so much better than anything you’ll get from the freezer aisle. Start with the right onion, sweet varieties like Vidalia or Walla Walla work beautifully thanks to their mild flavor and natural sugars. Slice them thick for hearty rings, or thinner if you prefer more crunch to onion ratio.

The secret to truly crispy onion rings lies in the batter and the technique. For the best crunch, you’ll want to coat the onion slices in a light flour dusting first. This helps the batter stick. Then dip them into a simple batter made with flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and sparkling water or beer, the bubbles help create that light, airy crust. Season generously with salt and a pinch of paprika or garlic powder for extra flavor.

For an even crispier shell, some prefer a panko coating after the batter, totally optional, but it adds amazing texture. Fry in small batches in hot oil (around 350°F/175°C), and don’t overcrowd the pan. A few minutes on each side is all it takes for that perfect golden-brown finish.

Once fried, transfer the rings to a wire rack or paper towels to drain, and sprinkle with a touch more salt while they’re hot. Serve immediately with your favorite dips, classic ketchup, spicy mayo, or ranch dressing all work beautifully.

Whether you’re serving them alongside burgers, using them to top a sandwich, or just enjoying them on their own with a cold drink, homemade onion rings are a surefire way to make any meal feel special. They’re crispy, fun, and totally crave-worthy, and once you try making them yourself, you might never go back to store-bought.

Onion Rings
Onion Rings
3.62 from 81 votes
Delicious crispy onion rings with a flavorful coating
Servings 4 people
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 onion large,
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs
  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Peel the onion and cut it into 1/2 inch thick slices. Separate the slices into rings.
  • In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  • Pour the buttermilk into another shallow bowl.
  • Dip each onion ring into the flour mixture, then dip it into the buttermilk, and then back into the flour mixture. Make sure each ring is coated evenly.
  • Place the breadcrumb in a separate shallow bowl and coat each onion ring with breadcrumbs.
  • In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
  • Fry the onion rings in small batches until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Transfer the cooked onion rings to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  • Serve the onion rings hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 8gFat: 10gFiber: 3g
Calories: 300kcal
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Appetizers, easy snacks, Onion Rings
Cooking Method: Fried
Time: <30 Min
Level: Easy
Tried this recipe?Mention @coolinarco or tag #coolinarco!
Join the Conversation
  1. 5 stars
    Just wow, these are the best onion rings I’ve ever had! Crunchy and flavorful!

  2. User avatar dann.schiller says:

    2 stars
    I don’t know, mine turned out soggy… maybe I didn’t fry them long enough?

  3. 4 stars
    I used sweet onions instead and they were delicious! A bit different vibe tho.

  4. User avatar Humma Kavula says:

    3 stars
    Onion rings are the best! But I don’t get why everyone uses buttermilk, can’t you just use regular milk?

  5. 5 stars
    These onion rings were a hit at my party! Crunchy and delicious! 😍

  6. User avatar mariano.wolf76 says:

    4 stars
    WOW!!! Those look delicious! I’m drooling over here! Gonna try this and hope mine look as good!

  7. 4 stars
    Yum! Perfect crispy texture! I added some garlic powder to the batter for extra flavor.

    1. User avatar santos.kihn4 says:

      5 stars
      Garlic powder? That’s a great idea! I’ll have to try that next time. Makes everything taste better!

    2. 2 stars
      Sounds good and all, but is garlic powder even healthy? I mean, aren’t we just adding calories?

  8. 2 stars
    Didn’t work for me. The batter didn’t stick to the rings at all. 😩

  9. User avatar mildred.lind19 says:

    3 stars
    Why are we using buttermilk? Can’t we just use regular milk? Seems like extra work.

    1. 4 stars
      Buttermilk gives it a better flavor and helps with the crunchiness! Regular milk won’t do that. Trust me, it’s worth it! 😊

  10. User avatar clarisa.kessler1999 says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Sprinkled some cheese on top after frying, game changer!

    1. 5 stars
      I love the idea of adding cheese! Must try that next time. 🧀😋

  11. User avatar kirstie.shields37 says:

    5 stars
    These onion rings are AMAZING! The best I’ve ever made!

  12. User avatar virgen.rippin93 says:

    3 stars
    Followed the recipe but they turned out soggy… made me sad. Maybe my oil wasn’t hot enough? 😞

  13. 5 stars
    These onion rings are amazing! So crispy and delicious. Will make again!

  14. 1 star
    This recipe is a waste of time. Just buy frozen! 😒

    1. User avatar mariano.crooks17 says:

      5 stars
      I totally disagree! Fresh onion rings taste way better than frozen! It’s worth the effort! 😋

    2. User avatar Corrupted Shade says:

      2 stars
      But frozen is so much easier tho… I ain’t got time to be frying stuff at home! 🙄

  15. 5 stars
    Who needs fast food when you can make these yourself? So good!

  16. User avatar claud.keeling1984 says:

    4 stars
    Easy to make! Impressive snack for my friends. ❤️

  17. User avatar robt.watsica says:

    4 stars
    Yummy! I didn’t have paprika, so I used chili powder instead, still good. 😋

    1. User avatar kandace.weber15 says:

      4 stars
      Chili powder? That’s interesting! I might try that next time. Glad you liked them! 😄

  18. User avatar sadie.parker84 says:

    3 stars
    Onion rings? Good but potato fries better any day! 😂

  19. User avatar lurlene.kuvalis1990 says:

    5 stars
    These onion rings were a hit! So crispy and delicious. Will definitely make again!

  20. User avatar Falmer Archer says:

    1 star
    This seems too complicated. Can I just buy frozen ones?

  21. 5 stars
    These were amazing! Crispy and tasty. Will definitely make them again!

  22. 5 stars
    These rings are crunchy and delicious, but why do you need to fry them? Can’t you just bake them?

    1. User avatar pat.homenick98 says:

      5 stars
      Frying gives them that perfect crunch! You could bake them, but they won’t be the same. Trust me!

    2. User avatar veola.hagenes89 says:

      4 stars
      Baking would make them dry, I think. Frying is where the flavor is! But if you wanna try baking, go for it!

  23. User avatar shanon.hamill37 says:

    3 stars
    They looked good but I burnt mine! Oops! 😅

    1. 4 stars
      Burnt food happens to the best of us! Just try reducing the heat next time. Good luck! 😊

  24. User avatar Supreme Kai says:

    3 stars
    They’re ok, but I think they could use a bit more seasoning. I added garlic powder.

  25. User avatar Lumberjack says:

    1 star
    Onion rings? Who needs em! Just eat the onions raw! 😒

  26. 2 stars
    I tried this recipe and the onion rings came out soggy. What did I do wrong?

  27. User avatar shelby.effertz85 says:

    4 stars
    I think they could use more spices. Maybe some garlic powder next time?

  28. User avatar dannie.upton71 says:

    5 stars
    These onion rings are the best! So crispy and flavorful!

  29. User avatar carlos.strosin says:

    4 stars
    Delicious! My kids loved them and they were easy to make. Thanks for sharing!

  30. 4 stars
    Onion rings are not healthy. But I like them anyway!

  31. User avatar malia.halvorson says:

    5 stars
    Yum! I made these with a spicy dip and my family loved them! 🔥💖

  32. User avatar theo.ritchie1963 says:

    3 stars
    Easy to make, but greasy. Should’ve used less oil or cooked in the oven instead.

  33. User avatar pamela.luettgen17 says:

    3 stars
    So much oil! I felt guilty eating these… but they were good.

  34. User avatar alona.grimes says:

    1 star
    I thought you needed to soak the onions in water first or something? This felt off. 🤷‍♂️

  35. User avatar graham.gulgowski1978 says:

    5 stars
    These are fantastic! I made them last night and my family couldn’t get enough. Definitely a keeper!

  36. User avatar karena.blanda29 says:

    5 stars
    Onion rings r 2 die 4! Love that u don’t need a deep fryer.

    1. 5 stars
      I’ve never tried making onion rings without a deep fryer, but this sounds great! Can’t wait to try it!

  37. User avatar Brooks Hamill says:

    2 stars
    I followed the recipe but they turned out soggy. Frustrating!

  38. User avatar Ernest Ferry says:

    1 star
    Why use buttermilk? Isn’t milk enough? Idk if I’ll try this recipe.

    1. User avatar filiberto.mitchell19 says:

      5 stars
      Buttermilk adds a tangy flavor and helps the batter stick better! It’s worth a try, trust me!

  39. 3 stars
    I tried this recipe and it was a bit too salty for my taste. Maybe less salt next time?

  40. User avatar Dominic Vernius says:

    5 stars
    Best onion rings I’ve ever had! Crispy and golden, just like at the fair. Definitely making these again!

  41. User avatar clorinda.raynor2020 says:

    1 star
    I burnt mine. Guess I’m not cut out for frying. 😩

  42. 3 stars
    Ok, but you seriously need to keep an eye on them while frying. I burned a batch.

  43. User avatar Dr. Isaias Murazik says:

    4 stars
    The frying was tough for me! I got scared of the hot oil, but they were worth it.

  44. User avatar maurice.schoen2004 says:

    2 stars
    I found this recipe complicated. Why do we have to do so many steps?

  45. User avatar elliot.treutel31 says:

    4 stars
    I used regular milk instead of buttermilk and they turned out fine. Still tasty!

  46. User avatar Slartibartfast says:

    5 stars
    Yum! Made them for my kids and they gobbled them up! 🍟

    1. User avatar Tom Bombadil says:

      5 stars
      That’s awesome to hear! Kids love crispy snacks! 🎉 Did you serve it with any dipping sauce?

  47. User avatar jovan.reilly says:

    2 stars
    Just okay. I’ve had better onion rings at restaurants. 😕

  48. User avatar delena.keebler9 says:

    2 stars
    I don’t get why people like onion rings so much. They just taste like fried onions to me. Wasn’t impressed.

  49. 3 stars
    Tasted good, but my batter didn’t stick well. What did I do wrong?

    1. 4 stars
      Maybe you rushed it? You gotta let them soak in the buttermilk longer. That helps the batter stick better!

    2. 3 stars
      I had the same problem once! Try using less flour on the first dip or more breadcrumbs. Or maybe your oil wasn’t hot enough!

  50. 4 stars
    Super easy to make! I loved the crunchy outside and soft inside. Yummy!

  51. User avatar steve_maga says:

    5 stars
    These onion rings were super easy to make and tasted amazing! A total hit at my party!

  52. User avatar maryann.lind1954 says:

    4 stars
    I did this recipe but forgot the pepper. Still turned out pretty good!

  53. 3 stars
    Pretty good, but I feel like they needed more seasoning. Maybe add some garlic powder next time?

  54. User avatar lachelle.mckenzie70 says:

    3 stars
    Good recipe but too many steps. You could do it easier!! Just batter and fry, no need for all this mixing.

  55. User avatar kam.terry51 says:

    5 stars
    YUM!!! BEST onion rings ever! I could eat the whole batch by myself! 🥳

    1. User avatar caroll.satterfield96 says:

      5 stars
      So glad you liked them! They really are addictive! Have you tried them with ranch dip? 🤤

    2. User avatar nathanial.marvin12 says:

      2 stars
      Best onion rings? Really? I don’t think so, they usually are too greasy for me…

  56. 4 stars
    I love onion rings!! But they hurt my eyes when slicing onions 😂

  57. User avatar alan.abshire87 says:

    2 stars
    I tried making these but mine turned out soggy. Maybe I shouldn’t have used too much buttermilk?

  58. User avatar jestine.harber12 says:

    2 stars
    Onion rings r good, but I prefer them frozen and microwaved.

    1. User avatar abe.gleason85 says:

      4 stars
      Frozen onion rings are easy, but homemade ones are way better! They taste so much fresher!

    2. User avatar Ryuu Shenlong says:

      2 stars
      I dunno, microwaving ain’t the same as frying. Plus, ain’t they not crisp if you do that?

  59. User avatar Cinderella Haley PhD says:

    4 stars
    Not bad for a first try! A bit messy tho – oil everywhere.

    1. User avatar stephan.breitenberg20 says:

      5 stars
      Messy kitchen means good food, right? Just gotta clean it up after! 😂

    2. User avatar ArabianNights says:

      4 stars
      Yeah, oil can be tricky! But they look delicious! Don’t worry, practice makes perfect!

  60. 5 stars
    My mom used to make these all the time! Brings back memories. ❤️

3.62 from 81 votes
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