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Stack of golden, crispy Onion Rings Recipe dripping with sauce and sprinkled with parsley on parchment paper.

Onion Rings Recipe

Thick, sweet onion rings recipe with a shatter‑crisp batter. The secret? Ice‑water (plus a splash of pickle juice) to mellow and firm the onions, cornstarch for crunch, and laser‑accurate 375°F oil.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Soak Onions 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American, Diner-Style
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

Onions
  • 2 large sweet onions - Vidalia Walla Walla, etc.
  • 4 cups ice water - Enough to fully submerge rings
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice - Optional boosts flavor
Batter
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cornstarch - Extra crispiness
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon fine salt - Divided: 1 teaspoon in batter ¼ teaspoon finishing
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper - Freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon paprika - Smoked or sweet
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 ½ cups cold beer or buttermilk - Keep very cold
For Frying
  • 2–3 qts vegetable or peanut oil - 3 in. deep in pot

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottomed pot / deep fryer (3 inches of oil depth)
  • 1 Candy/deep-fry thermometer (Must read to 400°F)
  • 1 Wire cooling rack (Keeps rings crispy)
  • 1 Sheet pan (under rack) (For draining)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (Batter)
  • 1 Slotted spoon/spider (Lifting rings from oil)
  • 1 Paper towels (Drying onions (not for draining fried rings))

Method
 

  1. Cut onions into thick rings and separate them.
    Thick onion rings and a chef’s knife on a white cutting board over a marble surface.
  2. Soak rings in ice water 30 min, then drain and pat dry.
  3. Whisk dry ingredients, add cold beer/buttermilk, rest 10 min.
    Hand dipping an onion ring into breadcrumbs; bowls of flour, batter, and crumbs on a marble counter.
  4. Heat oil to 375°F, dip rings, fry 2–3 min in small batches.
    Golden onion rings frying in bubbling oil; tongs lift one while cooked rings cool on racks nearby.
  5. Transfer to wire rack, season with salt, serve hot.
    Breaded onion rings arranged on a wire rack over a light gray surface, ready to fry.

Nutrition

Serving: 5ringsCalories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 6gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 640mgPotassium: 190mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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