Crispy Fried Onion Rings Recipe

The word "synergy" was so overused in the early 2000s that it almost lost its meaning. Most oft tossed about by business people hoping to sound like they had lots to say — when in fact they had little to offer — it's a buzzword we're glad has largely lost its buzz. But when it comes to onion rings, there really is no word other than synergy, the phenomenon of a result being greater than the sum of its parts. Because hey, take a bite of a raw onion, a spoonful of panko breadcrumbs and flour, and a slug of vegetable oil? Not so good. Put those and a few other choice ingredients together properly? Pure bliss for the taste buds.

And chef and recipe developer Hayley MacLean should know! "My family is full of onion ring lovers, and I am constantly on the hunt for the crispiest, most onion-filled recipes I can find," she explains. "So I finally decided to just make my own with all the best elements of those I have tried so far!" As it turns out, it's not too hard to make homemade onion rings, so follow this recipe to get the crispiest, most delightful onions rings possible.

To make superb onion rings at home, you'll need vegetable oil for frying, large sweet onions, cut into ¼-inch rounds, some all-purpose flour, baking powder, seasoned salt (plus extra for seasoning), milk, a couple of lightly beaten eggs, and panko bread crumbs. "To spice these up a bit, some paprika or garlic powder can be added to the dried mixture," MacLean says.

Start off by heating the oil in a deep fryer or deep skillet to 365 F, ideally tracking the temperature with a thermometer.

Next, carefully separate the rings from each other, keeping only the larger rings for use here. Then combine the flour, baking powder, and seasoned salt in a medium-sized bowl. Coat each onion ring in the flour mixture and set them aside.

Combine the remaining flour mixture with the milk and egg, and beat well until no lumps remain. Pour the panko bread crumbs into a shallow bowl, then dip each onion ring into the batter and shake off the excess. Now dip the onion rings into the panko bread crumbs to fully coat them.

"What really makes these onion rings extra crispy is using both a batter and panko bread crumbs," MacLean says. "Usually onion rings are known for being either breaded or battered, but by making a simple, thin batter to really help the panko adhere to the onion it makes them absolutely perfect."

Deep fry the onion rings a few at a time for 4 to 5 minutes, flipping halfway, or until golden brown. "The most important trick when making sure these onion rings are perfectly crispy and golden brown is to flip them before they are totally cooked on the first side," says McLean. "The top side will continue to cook once [they're] turned over, so flipping them just before they turn that wonderful golden brown on the first side brings them to the perfect doneness all the way around once finished frying."

When fried fully, remove the onion rings to a wire rack to allow the excess oil to drain. Then season them with more seasoning salt, if desired, and serve immediately. "Ketchup is the classic condiment to accompany these onion rings, but it is also fun to switch up your dipping choices with a mayo-based fry sauce, barbecue sauce, or even tartar," MacLean says. "Mixing some sriracha or another hot sauce in with your ketchup can also make a fun, spicy alternative. As for what to serve these onion rings with, a classic burger or hot dog is the go-to, but really they make a fun treat all on their own."