Crispy Golden Onion Rings (Printable)

Golden and crispy battered onion rings, fried to a light and flavorful crunch. Perfect for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large yellow onions, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rings

→ Batter

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 cup cold sparkling water or cold beer

→ Coating

09 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (optional)

→ For Frying

10 - Vegetable oil for deep frying

# Directions:

01 - Separate onion slices into individual rings and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, paprika, and garlic powder.
03 - Gradually whisk in the cold sparkling water or beer until a smooth, thick batter forms.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F.
05 - Dip onion rings into the batter, letting excess drip off. For extra crunch, dredge battered rings in panko breadcrumbs before frying.
06 - Lower onion rings carefully into the hot oil and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp.
07 - Remove rings with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
08 - Serve hot with preferred dipping sauces such as ranch, ketchup, or spicy mayo.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're impossibly crispy on the outside and tender inside, with zero greasy aftertaste.
  • The batter is forgiving enough that even your first batch will look impressive.
  • Ready in about 30 minutes from start to serving, perfect for unexpected guests.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cold water—room-temperature water activates gluten and makes them chewy instead of delicate, which I learned the hard way after my first disaster.
  • Oil temperature is non-negotiable; I now always use a thermometer because eyeballing it has cost me too many batches of pale, soggy rings.
03 -
  • Keep your batter cold by resting the bowl in ice water between batches; warm batter creates dense rings.
  • Panko breadcrumbs add visual drama and a second layer of crunch that catches light and looks restaurant-quality.
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