Crispy onion rings are definitely one of the most loved snacks, together with french fries. I adore them; I’ve eaten many varieties and homemade versions many times, and today, finally, I found the definitive recipe to make them at home. The onion rings are very crispy, tasty and not greasy, thanks to the egg-free batter and the perfect breading. However you cook them they’ll turn out super crispy: you can fry them, bake them in the oven or prepare them in the air fryer. They cook in just a few minutes and are truly fabulous—great on their own or paired with a sauce, perfect as an appetizer, side dish or a vegetarian (even vegan!) main. They disappear fast and the best part is you can also freeze them raw to always have a stash in the freezer, so you can enjoy them whenever you want!
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 50 pieces
- Cooking methods: Frying, Oven, Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 3 onions
- as needed extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil (for cooking)
- 1 cup water
- 5/8 cup flour
- 3/8 cup cornstarch
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste paprika
- to taste parsley
- to taste garlic powder
- 9 cups corn flakes
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3/8 cup cornstarch
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste paprika
- to taste parsley
- to taste garlic powder
Steps
Crispy onion rings are very simple and quick to prepare. First peel the onions, slice them into slices at least 1/2 inch thick and separate the individual rings.
Make the coating by mixing crushed corn flakes, cornstarch, flour, paprika, parsley, pepper and garlic powder.
Prepare the batter by mixing flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, paprika, parsley and garlic powder, then add the cold water.
Dip a few onion rings at a time into the batter and coat them well, remove them one by one and pass them through the coating.
Do the same for all the onion rings and cook them as you prefer. I fried some in hot vegetable oil over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, turning them halfway through and then draining them on paper towels.
Others I cooked in the air fryer at 392°F for 10–12 minutes, spraying them first with a little extra virgin olive oil. You can also bake the onion rings in a preheated conventional oven at 392°F for 15–20 minutes. In any case, they turn out super tasty and crispy.
Tips:
Onion rings can be kept at room temperature for a few hours or in the fridge for a couple of days. For the coating and batter you can use the spices/herbs you prefer. The best onions to use are white and yellow onions. You can also use sparkling water—just make sure it is very cold (I put it in the freezer for about ten minutes). Onion rings are perfect to freeze raw; then cook them directly from frozen, do not thaw them first.
Other recipes with onions HERE
