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? ›

The sulfur compounds that give onions their characteristic taste and smell are soluble in water. Soaking raw onions in cold water for about 30 minutes before using them will leach out some of these compounds and make them milder in flavor.

Can vegans eat onion rings? ›

Onion rings can be made both vegan and non-vegan. Some manufacturers of pre-made rings that can be bought frozen in grocery stores or at fast food restaurants put whey powder or milk protein in them as a flavour enhancer. Others don't.

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.

Why do you soak onions in milk before frying? ›

There seems to be general agreement about preparation of fried onion rings, either for home consumption or in a restaurant: the onion rings should be soaked in cold milk and/or water before frying. It crisps them up. Rather like putting parsley in a plastic bag with the water left from rinsing it to perk it up.

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.

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.

Why do you put baking soda on onions? ›

Baking soda makes the onions more alkaline, which speeds up the browning reactions necessary for properly caramelized onions. But it also weakens the pectin that holds the onion's cells together, turning what should be soft but distinct pieces of browned onion into a nauseating stew of pea-green mush.

What does soaking onions in salt water do? ›

Wait 10 minutes, then serve. The salt softens the onion's fibrous texture and mellows the sharpness of their flavor. There are other ways to tame raw onion, of course. You could soak slices in lemon juice for 20 minutes, which lends a slightly pickled flavor, as in this Tomato and Herb Salad with Sumac.

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.

Why do some vegans not eat garlic? ›

For people with a sensitivity, removing garlic and onions from the diet may alleviate gastrointestinal problems. Another reason is that they are believed to overstimulate the mind. Many practitioners who have switched from a standard vegan diet to a Buddhist vegan diet report feeling more calm and serene afterward.

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.

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.

How do you make batter not stick? ›

It's all about pan prep

Your goal is to prevent your cake from sticking by creating a barrier between batter and pan (e.g., parchment, nonstick spray, or shortening and flour) prior to adding cake batter.

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