Onion rings in air fryer or pan fried (vegan)

Onion rings may seem like a standard American side dish. Right up there with french fries.

But when you’re vegan, onion rings are a rare & special commodity. At restaurants, this appetizer staple is rarely vegan because of milk and/or egg in the batter.

So I pretty much only get onion rings when I’m at a vegan restaurant that happens to offer them, which sadly isn’t often.

But I don’t have to live an onion ring-free life anymore, because they can be made at home in the air fryer or pan fried.

Instead of dipping them into milk or egg, I dip slices of onion into a flour-based batter. Then I finish with seasoned panko.

If I’m feeling indulgent, they can be pan fried in oil. Or for a lighter take, they get beautifully crispy in the air fryer.

(I daresay I like them even better in the air fryer! But both are completely delicious.)

In this post:

Sweet onions are best for onion rings.

At Trader Joe’s, you can find bags that just say “sweet onions.” That’s what you want.

You can also look for types like Vidalia, Maui, Texas, or Walla Walla.

While you can use a yellow onion in a pinch, sweet really is best. They provide a milder flavor that doesn’t have the same bite and pungency of other types.

Step by step instructions

Here’s how to make this recipe at a glance. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.

1. Remove the ends & peel from a sweet onion. Turn the onion on its side, and cut it into ¼ to ½ inch thick slices. Pull the slices apart into rings.

2. Dip each ring into batter made with all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and water. Drip off any excess.

3. Dredge each ring in panko breadcrumbs seasoned with Cajun seasoning salt. (Slap Ya Mama is my preferred option.)

4. Put the breaded onion ring onto a clean plate. Continue until all of the onion rings are fully coated.

5. Cook the onion rings in either the air fryer or a skillet. (See the full directions in the recipe box below.)

6. Move the browned onion rings to a serving platter or bowl. Finish with a pinch of salt. Serve with ketchup or your preferred dipping sauce.

Aim for the consistency of waffle batter

When making the onion ring batter, I like to start by combining an even amount of flour and water (in addition to baking powder and salt).

Then add a Tablespoon of water at a time until the consistency is slightly thicker than pancake batter.

Panko is a must

While there are other breadcrumbs on the market, panko really is best for coating.

It’s a light & crisp type of Japanese bread crumbs that makes these fried onion rings great.

Panko works best when dry

As you add batter covered onion rings to the panko, it will dampen over time.

So I recommend starting with a smaller amount of panko, and then replenishing as needed, along with several dashes of seasoning salt.

If at some point the remaining panko on your plate is too damp, don’t be afraid to throw it away and start over with a clean plate & fresh panko.

Damp panko just doesn’t attach to onion rings well.

When breading, use one hand for wet & one for dry

By always dipping one hand into the wet batter and the other into the dry panko, you will have less mess & clean up while you bread the onion rings.

For optimum browning, don’t overfill

If an air fryer basket or skillet gets too full, the onion rings won’t brown as nicely.

You will most likely need to cook in batches.

For the air fryer, cooking in roughly a single layer works well. If you have an additional wire rack, that works too!

Remember that air fryers vary

Some air fryers cook hotter and faster than others. Check on the onion rings, and remove them when they have browned to your liking.

If it seems like the onion rings need some help browning, carefully flip them, and give an additional spray of oil. Then continue cooking until browned & crispy.

For beer battered onion rings, replace half the water in the batter with beer. (That’s what I do for beer battered fried pickles, and it works like a dream.)

Replace Cajun seasoning salt with any of these seasonings:

• Italian seasoning blend
• Fox Point seasoning
• Mixture of paprika/granulated onion/granulated garlic/dried basil
• For heat, add a pinch of cayenne

Obviously you can enjoy onion rings all on their own. But they’re extra fun when dipped in something tasty.

Here are some of my favorite dipping sauces for onion rings:

• Ketchup
• Ketchup + malt vinegar
• Barbecue sauce
• Vegan ranch dressing
• Vegan sriracha mayonnaise
• Cocktail sauce
• Thousand Island dressing
• Lemon garlic aioli
• Vegan honey mustard

Onion rings are wonderful as a snack. They can be a sandwich topper in place of raw or pickled onions.

Onion rings are also a terrific side dish with any of these recipes:

• Vegan chili dog
• BBQ jackfruit
• Rachel sandwich with seitan & coleslaw
• Vegan BBQ sandwich with Soy Curls
• Buffalo chickpea sandwich
• Vegan chicken salad sandwich
• Vegan Reuben jackfruit sandwich

Vegan onion rings are best fresh out of the air fryer or skillet. However, they can be stored and reheated later.

Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. They will keep for 3 or 4 days.

For reheating, I recommend using the air fryer.

Air fry at 400 degrees for about 4 minutes, or until the panko is crisp again.

Remember the time will vary depending on your specific air fryer & how many onion rings are in the basket.

Keep an eye on them, because they can quickly burn.