Crispy Gluten-Free Onion Rings

These gluten-free onion rings taste like they came straight from a restaurant. They're battered and crispy, not to mention gluten-free and dairy-free!

Feel like you're at the pub with these homemade gluten-free and dairy-free onion rings! Thick cut onion slices coated in a fluffy and crispy batter then shallow fried in heart-healthy avocado oil—what could be better?! 

These easy gluten-free onion rings are crispy, crunchy, and delicious when dipped in your favourite sauce. They are made in a traditional wet batter that is fried without breadcrumbs. Serve as an appetizer, side, snack, you name it! Want to learn how you can make them in just under 30 minutes? Keep on reading!

Want more appetizer ideas? Check out my Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread, Fig & Prosciutto Pizza, or Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• How to Serve Gluten-Free Onion Rings
• Storage and Freezing Instructions
• Tips for Success
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Apps & Snacks You'll Love
• Recipe
• Reviews

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Quick & easy to make. You can have homemade onion rings in just under 30 minutes!
• Tastes like restaurant quality, but a little healthier. At home, you can control the ingredients. This means you can use gluten-free flour, dairy-free milk, and heart-healthy avocado oil.
• Freezer-friendly. Prepare ahead so you can have gluten-free onion rings for when the craving strikes! These onion rings store great in the freezer and can be reheated in just a few minutes. 

Ingredients Needed

Here is everything you'll need to make these easy gluten-free onion rings:

These onion rings can be served as an appetizer, side, snack, you name it! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, AND delicious. What more could you ask for? Here are a few notes on the ingredients:

• Avocado oil: This is my favourite oil for frying. It is relatively unprocessed and better for your heart and health when compared to common frying oils like canola, sunflower, or grapeseed. 
• Yellow or white onion: You can really use whatever type of onion you have on-hand. This recipe makes batter for 1 medium-large onion. If yours are smaller, use 2 onions. 
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is often used in these types of airy batters. It retains a nice crunch when fried and is good for dusting the onions before battering. Use tapioca starch if you don't have cornstarch.
• Gluten-free all-purpose flour: The use of flour along with the cornstarch gives the batter a little more structure. As usual, my favourite flour is Bob Red Mill's 1:1 Baking Flour (blue bag).
• Baking powder: This reacts with the wet ingredients to make the coating airy, crispy, and crunchy. It's an integral ingredient.
• Salt: These onion rings really need a good pinch of salt for bring out their flavour.
• Spices: black pepper, paprika, onion powder, cayenne: These are my favourite spices, but add any more that you like. You can also increase the cayenne for more heat. 
• Egg: Egg helps the batter to bind together and to the onion rings.
• Milk: Thins out the batter and activates the baking powder. This recipe will work with any milk you have, lactose-free or dairy-free as well. If you find as you go that the batter starts to become a bit thick, add a splash of additional milk to make it more workable. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions for how to make gluten-free onion rings.

Prep

Pour the avocado oil into a medium size, heavy bottom pot. Turn the heat to medium and allow the oil to heat up while you prep. It should only be about 2 inches deep.

(1) Peel the onion and slice into thick rings, just over ½" wide. Separate all of the rings.

(2) In a medium-size bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: cornstarch, flour, baking powder, salt, and spices. Stir with a fork to mix evenly. One at a time, place each onion ring in the bowl and use the fork or your hands to ensure it is evenly coated on the inside and outside. This will absorb the natural moisture from the onion and help the batter adhere better. Place dusted onions on a plate.

Once all of the onions are dusted, whisk the egg and milk into the dry ingredients. You should have a slightly thick and bubbly batter.

Frying

To test that the oil is ready, drop a small amount of batter into the pot. It should bubble and brown over 30 seconds. If it does not bubble, the oil is not hot enough. If it instantly browns or even blackens, the oil is too hot. Lower the heat and move the pot to the side for a few minutes.

(3) One at a time, take a dusted onion ring and dip it into the wet batter, using a fork to flip and ensure all sides are coated. Let any excess drip off before gently placing in the hot oil. Repeat with as many onion rings as will fit in the surface area of your pot. 

(4) They should brown on the bottom within about 30 seconds. Once brown and bubbled on the bottom, gently flip the onion rings using a fork or tongs. 

(5) Allow to cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until the entire onion ring is nice and golden. 

(6) & (7) Use a strainer or spider skimmer to remove the onion rings to a plate lined with paper towel.

Repeat with the rest of the onion rings in as many batches as necessary. If the wet batter starts to thicken too much, add a splash of milk to thin it out as needed.

Once finished, remove the oil from the heat. Allow to cool completely and discard, or strain and save in a closed container to re-use the oil for future frying.

How to Serve Gluten-Free Onion Rings

There are so many ways to enjoy these homemade gluten-free onion rings. Here are some suggestions for how to serve them:

• Plain. Enjoy the crunch of restaurant quality onion rings on their own.
• Dip in ketchup.
• Dip in chipotle mayonnaise. 
• Alongside other game day apps. These gluten-free and dairy-free onion rings will be delicious alongside some other football apps such as Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks, Crispy Air Fryer Fried Pickles, Gluten-Free Jalapeño Poppers or Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. Check out all of my gluten-free appetizer recipes here!

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Leftover gluten-free onion rings can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. To make onion rings crispy again, reheat in a 400ºF air fryer for 3-5 minutes or oven for 5-7 minutes until warm and crispy again.

If you are not going to eat the onion rings within 2 days, I recommend freezing them. Place completely cooled onion rings in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 400ºF air fryer for 4-7 minutes or oven for 5-10 minutes until warm and crispy again. Enjoy when the craving strikes!

Tips for Success

• Cut the onions thick. You want the most bang for your buck in each onion ring!
• Once the wet and dry ingredients are mixed, start frying. The wet ingredients will activate the baking powder. For the most airy and crispy results, don't let it sit too long. Start frying right away!
• Don't overcrowd the frying pot. You want to be able to see each onion ring so you can judge when they need to flip or be removed based on the colour.
• Freeze if not eating within 2 days. These gluten-free onion rings hold up great in the freezer. They reheat quick per the instructions in the previous section. I recommend freezing if not consuming after frying for optimal texture!

Frequently Asked Questions

And there you have it, a recipe for homemade gluten-free onion rings that are also dairy-free and vegetarian. Not to mention they are easy and delicious with just 30 minutes of prep time. These crispy gluten-free onion rings served with your favourite sauces are sure to be a hit at your next summer BBQ or game day football party!

Have you made these gluten-free onion rings? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star review below and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!

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