The Best Onion Ring Recipe

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The Best Onion Ring Recipe

Ingredients

Scroll down to the print-friendly recipe card for quantities and instructions.

  • Sweet or yellow onion – The larger the onion, the better when it comes to onion rings
  • Milk – use any kind of milk (1%, 2% or whole milk)
  • White vinegar – creates homemade buttermilk when added to milk
  • Sour cream – helps thicken the liquid so it clings to the onion rings
  • All-purpose flour – creates a light batter similar to a restaurant-style tempura batter
  • Salt – we use fine sea salt for most of our cooking
  • Black pepper – freshly ground black pepper will give the best flavor
  • Garlic powder – adds so much flavor to the batter
  • Oil for frying – use grapeseed oil, peanut oil, canola, or oil with a high smoke point

How to Make Onion Rings

Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to start cooking:

  1. Heat the Oil – Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat with about an inch of oil
  2. Make the Liquid Mixture – In a medium bowl, whisk the milk with the vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes. Whisk in the sour cream.
  3. Make the Dry Mixture – In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
  4. Dredge the Onions – Slice and separate the onion rings and dip each ring in the sour cream mixture, followed by the flour (using a fork will keep your hands clean). Repeat by dipping the rings a second time in the milk mixture and flour. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining onion rings.
  5. Cook the Onion Rings – Once the oil is hot enough for the onion rings to sizzle (375˚F on a thermometer), add them in a single layer (3-4 at a time) and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the outside is crispy and light golden brown. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.

Onion Rings Dipping Sauce

My husband used to work in Chilis restaurant where they served an ‘awesome blossom sauce’ and this is our version which is a delicious onion ring dipping sauce. It’s also really easy and you just stir the ingredients together.

  • Mayonnaise and Sour cream – creates a creamy base
  • Ketchup – adds a sweet and tangy flavor
  • Worcestershire sauce – adds wonderful umami flavor
  • Creamy horseradish – or substitute hot sauce to taste
  • Paprika and salt – you can add these to taste