Easy Old Fashioned Onion Rings (Just 15 minutes!) • Zona Cooks

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These Old Fashioned Onion Rings are deep fried to a crispy golden brown with the perfect batter coating over delicious sweet onion rings. This recipe uses just 8 ingredients and takes just 15 minutes!

Why I love this recipe

This recipe makes a small batch side dish just right for 2 to 4 people. It makes a great homemade appetizer or a side of onion rings for your favorite burger or sandwich.

Need a main dish to go with these perfect onion rings? Try these Ribeye Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches, this Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Copycat Sandwich, or these Gyro Style Pita Sandwiches.

Old Fashioned Onion Rings on paper towel. — Old Fashioned Onion Rings

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Easy Home Cooking For Two – by Zona Cooks features 60 main dish recipes giving you two months’ worth of simple homemade food that will impress any night of the week. NEW LOWER PRICE Check Cookbook Price

Simple Ingredients

(amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

onion (I recommend Vidalia)

egg

all-purpose flour

black pepper

baking powder

cooking oil

seasoning salt

beer

For frying – vegetable oil or cooking oil

Substitutions

You can use other types of onion but I highly recommend using Vidalia onions.

Try adding some chili powder or cayenne pepper to spice it up a bit.

Equipment used for this recipe

How to make Old Fashioned Onion Rings

Step 1 – Peel the onion then slice it into rings and separate.

Step 2 – In a bowl, beat the egg well. Add pepper, baking powder, oil, and seasoning salt and mix well.

Step 3 – Pour in the beer and add the flour to the egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Let it rest for about 5 minutes.

slice onions on a plate and a bowl of beer batter.

Step 4 – Heat the oil to approximately 375 degrees F. An electric skillet works best for this so you can spread the onions out into a single layer to fry.

Step 5 – Dip some of the onion slices into the batter, allow the excess to drip off, and immediately add to the hot oil deep frying, attended 2-3 minutes on the first side, or until puffed and golden. Leave plenty of room, don’t crowd the cooking process.

Step 6 – Use tongs to turn them over and cook until golden on the other side.

Step 7 – Immediately drain on paper towels or a wire rack.

Step 8 – Repeat with the remaining onion rings, giving a few minutes in between batches to allow the oil to reach the proper temperature again. Mine took two batches.

Step 9 – Serve warm with Ranch dressing, Thousand Island dressing, Blue Cheese dressing, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Pro Tips

Reheating onion rings in the air fryer – Place the onion rings in the basket or on the rack over the baking sheet (depending on which kind of fryer you have). Air fry at 375 degrees F for 6 minutes, flipping over halfway through. Check for crispiness and air fry longer if needed.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge.

Recipe FAQs

Why are my onion rings not crispy?

You may have too much batter on them. It is important to allow some excess batter to drip off before adding to the hot oil.

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Yield: Serves 2

Old Fashioned Onion Rings

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 of a large onion (I recommend Vidalia)
1 egg
2/3 cup all purpose flour
Dash of pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 cup beer
For frying - vegetable oil or cooking oil

Instructions

Peel the onion then slice it into rings and separate.
In a bowl, beat the egg well. Add pepper, baking powder, oil, and seasoning salt and mix well.
Pour in the beer and add the flour to the egg mixture and mix thoroughly. Let it rest for about 5 minutes.
Heat the oil to approximately 375 degrees F. An electric skillet works best for this so you can spread the onions out into a single layer to fry.
Dip some of the onion slices into the batter, allow the excess to drip off, and immediately add to the hot oil deep frying, attended 2-3 minutes on the first side, or until puffed and golden. Leave plenty of room, don’t crowd the cooking process.
Use tongs to turn them over and cook until golden on the other side.
Immediately drain on paper towels or a wire rack.
Repeat with the remaining onion rings, giving a few minutes in between batches to allow the oil to reach the proper temperature again. Mine took two batches.
Serve warm with Ranch dressing, Thousand Island dressing, Blue Cheese dressing, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

Reheating onion rings in the air fryer – Place the onion rings in the basket or on the rack over the baking sheet (depending on which kind of fryer you have). Air fry at 375 degrees F for 6 minutes, flipping over halfway through. Check for crispiness and air fry longer if needed.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge.