Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (2024)

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ByAmanda CarlisleUpdated on

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The tastiest, most amazing Easy Onion Rings Recipe. Plus it can be made vegan & gluten free!

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (1)

One of those guilty pleasures of live is a delicious batch of onion rings. I used to be scared to make my own, but since I have discovered this Easy Onion Ring Recipe all bets are off. These onion rings are crispy, simple to make, and oh so tasty! The added bonus is the recipe is vegan and easily adapted to be gluten free too! That just means that more of your family and friends can enjoy this incredible side dish with you!

Supplies

Nothing fancy needed to make these onion rings. You will need a pot or 2 inch deep skillet for frying them in. A deep fryer could be used instead, but it isn’t necessary.

You will also need

  • Vegetable Oil for frying
  • Medium or Large sweet onion
  • sharp knife
  • flour (gluten free or regular)
  • Fizzy Water (unflavored) or beer
  • chili powder
  • pepper
  • paprika
  • seasoned salt

How to

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (2)

In a medium bowl add the flour and seasonings; stir. Then, grab a can of sparkling water or a beer; something with some fizz. I honestly always just grab a lemon or plain sparkling water. I have never noticed the lemon flavor transfer to the onion rings.

Pour the water or beer into the flour while stirring. You are looking for a thick pancake batter consistency. This is going to be the batter for your onion rings.

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (3)

Slice your onions about 1/2 to 1 inch thick. Honestly how thick your onion rings are is a personal preference. There isn’t a wrong way. Heat the oil in your fryer to 350 – 375 (See more frying tips below).

Dip each onion ring into the batter with a fork. Coat is and allow the excess to drip off. Once coated drop it into the hot oil of the fryer.

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (4)

Each onion ring should fry between 2 -3 minute until golden brown. You can fit several in a pot or skillet to fry at once. Just try not to overcrowd your pan.

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (5)

Remove when golden brown and crispy and place on a paper towel covered plate to drain. Salt lightly while hot and serve.

Frying Tips

A couple tips to help your frying go smoothly.

  • You only need about 2 inches of oil in your pot, skillet, or fryer.
  • Make sure the oil is at 350 – 375 degrees before you drop in your first onion ring.
  • Adding the onion rings will drop the temp of the oil, so don’t over crowd.
  • Onion Rings fry fast! Takes only about 2 -3 minutes for them to be brown and crispy.
  • Have tongs or a fork to pull out your onion rings quickly. One of these cooking spiders is perfect.

Onion Ring Sauce

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (6)

Every onion ring needs a good sauce to dip them in. I love this Copycat Outback Bloomin Onion Sauce. Not only is it easy to make, but there is a vegan version too if you need it. Plus, you can make it a day or two ahead and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to enjoy it! Get the recipe here.

Gluten Free

To make these Gluten Free Onion Rings all you have to do is replace the flour with your favorite gluten free flour blend. I used King Arthur Gluten Free Flour (personal preference), but any brand would work.

Also, if you choose to use beer instead of sparkling water you will need a gluten free beer.

Vegan

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (7)

Yes, you read that right. I had no idea how hard it was to find a good vegan onion ring until I was trying to for a family member! This recipe is written vegan. No substitutions need to be made. There is also a vegan version of the dipping sauce recipe too!

FAQ

People see that these can be made gluten free or vegan and they automatically think that they could be better. That is so far from the truth! These are some of the best onion rings I have ever eaten hands down.

Are they crispy?

Yes! These have a beer type batter and they are super crispy and delicious.

Can I change the seasoning?

TOTALLY! The seasoning in the batter is totally customizable. Switch it up with a little extra spice, or some onion powder for an extra kick.

Can these be made in an air fryer?

Because these are beer battered they can not. However, if you accidentally make too many, they are amazing reheated in the air fryer.

Do I need to use a special kind of onion?

Technically no, however they do taste the best with a sweet onion like a vidalia.

Easy Onion Rings Recipe

The tastiest, most amazing Easy Onion Rings Recipe. Plus it can be made vegan & gluten free! No special equipment needed!

Print Recipe

Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (8)

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Total Time:25 minutes mins

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 onion large, sweet
  • 2 cups flour or gluten free flour mix
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups sparkling water or light beer

Instructions

  • Heat oil in skillet or deep fryer to 350 – 375 degrees

  • In a medium bowl mix flour and spices. Pour in the sparkling water or beer until a batter forms. You want it the consistency of a thick pancake batter.

  • Slice your onion into rings. Typically between 1/2 – 1 inch thick dependign on preference. Seperate the individual rings.

  • Dip each ring into the batter, shaking off any excess. Then drop the ring into the hot oil.

  • Allow each ring to fry for 2 -3 minutes or until golden brown. You can fry several rings at once, just try not to over crowd your pan.

  • Once the rings are cooked use a fork or tongs to remove from the hot oil and place on a paper towel lined plate to rest.

  • Lightly salt while warm and serve with dipping sauce

Gluten Free

  • Use a gluten free flour and a gluten free beer or sparkling water.

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Amanda Carlisle

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Easy Onion Rings Recipe - Vegan & Gluten Free Options (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep batter from falling off onion rings? ›

A trick for getting your breading to stick better and not fall off as much when frying is to cover the breaded onion rings with a damp paper towel for 10-15 minutes after breading while the oil heats up. This helps it get a little bit tacky and stick better so less of it falls off in the hot oil.

What is the best oil for onion rings? ›

Canola oil or Vegetable oil are the best to use for deep frying. PRO TIP: The onions should rise to the top of the oil almost immediately if the oil is at the right temperature. If it's not hot enough, the onion ring will sink (and likely stick) to the bottom and the batter will fall off.

Why do you soak onions before making onion rings? ›

Soaking the onions helps dilute their sulfur content, taking away that pungent, raw bite and leaving you with a pleasant, milder onion that still has some snap to it.

Can vegans eat onion rings? ›

Usually, they aren't vegan. Some may be vegan, but buttermilk is often used in battering them, as well as eggs. This is how they get crispy, so vegan ones may not be as crispy either! ... For breadcrumbed onion rings dredge in flour, eggs then breadcrumbs.

What is the best flour for batter? ›

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy. This is why rice flour is often used when making tempura because it produces a very thin and crispy, dry crust.

What does soaking onions in milk do? ›

We've often heard the claim that soaking sliced or chopped raw onions in liquid can mellow their harsh taste by drawing out the pungent sulfur compounds known as thiosulfinates that are produced when the onion is cut.

Why are my onion rings not crispy? ›

Don't skip the frying thermometer though—it's important to make sure you're frying at the right temperature so your onion rings come out crispy, crunchy, and delicious. If the oil isn't hot enough, your onion rings can turn out soggy; too hot, and the oil can start to smoke.

Can you use peanut oil to make onion rings? ›

Fry the Onion Rings

Preheat the oil to about 375 degrees. I am using Peanut oil because it has a high smoke temperature and I want this oil hot. If you are allergic to peanuts, any other high temperature oil will do.

Should I use butter or oil for onions? ›

You can use either oil or butter to caramelize onions — but ideally, you use a combination of both! I like to use olive oil, and this cooking fat tolerates heat particularly well. Meanwhile, butter adds a distinctly rich flavor to the caramelized onions.

Is it better to soak onions in water or vinegar? ›

You can get rid of the strong taste by soaking sliced onions in ice water for 20 to 30 minutes or by sprinkling them with an acid such as vinegar. Onions soaked in ice water will get very crisp while those sprinkled with vinegar will soften a bit, but they will lose the strong taste and become sweeter.

What food is surprisingly vegan? ›

18 Snacks and Foods You Didn't Know Were Vegan
  • Sriracha Mayo. I'm just as surprised as you are that Flying Goose's brilliant sriracha mayo is completely plant-based. ...
  • Hackney Gelato Dark Chocolate Sorbetto. ...
  • Lotus Biscoff Spread. ...
  • Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate. ...
  • Ritz Crackers. ...
  • Jacob's Cream Crackers. ...
  • Oreos. ...
  • Twiglets.
Jan 11, 2023

Why is garlic and onion not vegan? ›

Yes. Garlic and onion are plants so they are vegan. There might be some vegans who might not eat onion and garlic, but this is most likely due to personal likes and dislikes. Additionally it also might be due to some religious beliefs and practices which we will discuss later in the article.

Can vegans eat tater tots? ›

The majority of tater tots are vegan, and we're grateful that Sonic's are. These deep-fried potatoes are soft and pillowy. It goes great with any sauce, but we love it best with tangy ketchup. Or, sprinkle them with a packet of salsa and something sweet to drink, like a Cherry Slush.

How do you keep batter from falling off? ›

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating.

Why does my batter keep falling off? ›

You don't start dry

The first step to breading chicken is crucial: Make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy, meaning it will not adhere properly to the chicken.

How do you keep batter from falling off when frying? ›

Seal the plate gently with a length or two of plastic cling wrap. Don't pull it too tight, but make sure that all of the edges are sealed. Place the plate into the refrigerator and let the food sit for at least 60 minutes. This helps the coating to harden a bit, which will keep it on the food.

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