Make these old-fashioned, crispy onion rings in the oven. Delectably crisp on the outside, soft in the inside, and seasoned just right to bring you to onion heaven.
Heaven Exists in the Shape of Onion Rings
You're going to get addicted to these healthy onion rings. Why?!
- Satisfyingly crispy. Crispy coating juxtaposed by a soft onion that slightly slips out when you take a bite. Just like you remember.
- Not deep fried. No fuss of hot oil and clean up - use your oven/air fryer.
- Great for entertaining. Works splendidly as an appetizer or snack when you have company over.
Crispiest Onion Rings (Baked)
Equipment
- Metal wire rack
- Baking tray
Ingredients
Onion Rings
- 2 large onion (red or white) chopped into ¼ inch slices
- ¾ cup plain flour
- ½ cup plain, unsweetened milk
- 1 egg beaten well
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs unsalted
Seasonings
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 475 F/ 250 C. Prepare a baking tray with a rack placed on top, set aside.
- Chop onions into slices. Take 3 shallow bowls. One bowl will have just flour, another with the beaten egg and milk, and the last will have the panko crumbs/all seasonins well mixed together.
Assemble Onion Rings
- Take an onion slice and coat in the flour. Then, dip into the egg/milk mixture. let excess liquid drip off. Dip onion into the panko breadcrumbs until slice is all covered. Place on cooling rack. Repeat until all onion slices are coated.
- Bake Onion Rings
- Place tray with onion rings on the rack into the oven. Bake for ~20 minutes or until golden brown. Flip halfway at the 10 min mark, so all sides are evenly crispy. Add additional seasonings after baking to taste.
- Serve with ketcup, mayo, or garlic aioli.
Not The "Real" Thing - Something to Be Happy About
Look, these baked onion rings aren't fooling anyone into believing these are the classic fried onion rings. REAL fried onion rings have a satisfying greasy spurt of oil when you take a bite. In the background, carnival music and the ominous creaking of rides that were assembled way too quickly.
My baked onion rings are for the people who want a crispy snack and honestly, have some time to kill. These are also for people willing to spend a bit of time cooking them just for it all to be gobbled up in minutes.
Most importantly, this is for the people who want a delicious salty, crispy option that's NOT the "real" greasy thing! And that's a good thing!
Ingredients in To Make Baked Onion Rings
Everyday items to whip up this addicting treat!
- Large onions (red or white)
- Unseasoned panko breadcrumbs (so you can control salt level)
- Eggs
- Flour
- Salt, paprika
Red or White Onion for Onion Rings?
I'm a fan of red onions because they're sweeter and don't fall apart as easily. White onions are the classic, though. Both are fine, as long as you get LARGE onions to yield big onion rings.
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How to Cut Onions Without Crying
Chill the onions in the fridge before cutting, or cut them under cold running water. This can help reduce the tears.
Personally, I don't do these things though - I'm lazy and just wear swimming goggles when cutting onions.
Dredging Onion Rings Without Getting Fingers Messy
When dredging/coating anything, usually your fingers will get clumpy and coated with liquid/breadcrumbs. If you're not into that, you'll have an easier time if you use chopsticks to dredge/coat the onion rings instead of your fingers.
Save those chopsticks next time you get take out!
FAQ
Preheat your oven well, evenly coat the rings with breadcrumbs, and use a wire rack on the baking sheet for optimal air circulation during baking.
Classic choices like ketchup and mayo work, but you can also try spicy aioli, barbecue sauce, or a tangy yogurt-based dip for variety.
Make sure to pat the onion rings dry before coating them. This helps the batter adhere better, ensuring a crispy result.
