Beer Battered Onion Rings

Fried onion rings work well in so many situations. Are they a topping, appetizer, or side dish? These Beer Battered Onion Rings can work where ever you put them and be loved all the same!

 

Best Onions for Onion Rings

You can use white or yellow onions to make onion rings. Keep in mind that white onions are generally more pungent than yellow onions. If you are a fan of sweet onions, consider Maui, Vidalia, or Walla Walla onions. Red onions can also be used. The kind of onion doesn’t really matter.

The one rule that goes across the board is to slice them fairly thick and also uniformly. Evenly cut onion slices will cook at the same pace so you don’t end up playing whack-a-mole trying to rescue the burning ring while waiting for another to brown before you can move onto the next batch.

Ingredients

Onions rings use simple ingredients, you probably have everything you need in the pantry!

• Large Onions– I use sweet, but feel free to pick from the list above.
• Flour- You use this to dust the onion rings so the batter sticks and also in the batter. We have not tested this recipe with alternative flours or gluten free flour, but there is no apparent reason why it would not work using a 1:1 ratio.
• Egg- the binder for the batter.
• Parsley, garlic powder, oregano– You can use more or less of any of these seasonings, or omit them all together.
• Baking Soda-  Baking soda is a leavening agent and will create small little air bubbles so the batter stays light and fluffy instead of heavy.
• Beer- These are beer battered onions rings, but you can swap beer or water. I used a light beer, but feel free to use a dark lager. IPAs tend to taste a tad bitter, so I shy away from them. You can also use a non-alcoholic beer for flavor. The alcohol will burn off while deep frying, so no need to worry about them being boozy.
• Frying Oil– The best oils for frying are peanut, canola, vegetable oil and blended oils. They all have a high smoke point.
• Salt– I like everything salty. A coarse kosher salt or flaky sea salt works best for mild salty flavor without overwhelming texture or taste.

Variations

Seasonings can be omitted or swapped for other flavors and spice blends.

• Spicy – Spicy onion rings can be made with chile powder, cayenne pepper or thai seasoning.
• Savory – You can also make savory batches of onion rings with Italian seasoning or seasoned salt.
• Adding pepper – Using black pepper or white pepper also gives a a bit of a bump.

Onion Ring Dipping Sauce

I am not one to judge on dipping sauce preferences. In fact, I usually serve mine with a variety so I can hop around. These are my favorites.

• Ketchup and Mustard are the standards and while I don’t use either, my kids would have a panic attack if they weren’t offered. Spicy ketchup is also fun.
• One batch of Chipotle Aioli can also be used for other items with the same meal or later in the week, such as a Chipotle Chicken Club sandwich.
• If you’ve ever been to Red Robin, their Campfire Sauce is a smoky and sweet sauce perfect for onion rings.
• While Yum Yum sauce is usually reserved for seafood and Japanese steakhouses, it is delightful with homemade onion rings!
• I’m also a big fan of BBQ sauce.

How to Make Beer Battered Onion Rings

You will love how easy it is to make this fresh onion ring recipe.

1. Slice onions. Prep the onions and cut into rings. Take out the centers and keep those for chopping up into other dishes or salads.
2. Make flour mixture. In a large bowl combine half of the flour with the seasonings and baking soda. 
3. Add beer and egg. Slowly whisk your beer of choice and egg with the dry ingredients and chills. Cold batter works best and this also gives the baking soda time to settle and activate.
4. Add oil to pan. Fill a large heavy frying pan or pot with 2-3 inches of oil. A large pot with high sides can create a steaming effect, preventing your onion rings from getting nice and crispy.
5. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. I strongly encourage you to use a deep fry thermometer. You can also use a deep fryer machine, like a Fry Daddy.
6. Test oil and preheat oven. Test the oil by dripping a small drop of batter into the oil, if it starts to float and sizzle, the oil is ready for frying. Also, preheat the oven to a low temperature or “keep warm” setting and place a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels. 
7. Dredge onions. Place the remaining flour in a separate shallow bowl and dredge each onion ring in the flour and then in the egg mixture. Without this, the batter won’t stick to the raw onion well.
8. Fry. Working in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan too much. Cook, turning every few minutes to evenly brown. This can greatly depend on the exact temp of your oil and size of your rings.
9. Remove to wire rack. Remove each batch to the prepared baking sheet/wire rack. Sprinkle with salt while they are still hot and then place them in the oven to stay warm until you’ve fried them all.

How to Serve Beer Battered Onion Rings

This crispy onion rings recipe is the perfect side dish to complement burgers, hot dogs or even pizza! They basically French Fries best friend.

Of course you can’t have the perfect onion rings without the perfect dipping sauce! We like fry sauce, ranch dressing or aioli, but check the section above for more suggestions.

Storage and Freezing

How to Store

Like any fried food, these beer battered onion rings are best enjoyed fresh. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Consider reheating them using a quick, flash-fry method or in a warm oven. I do not suggest microwaving them, they will become rubbery and limp.

Can I Freeze Beer Battered Onion Rings?

Cooked onion rings can be frozen. Wait for them to fully cool before packaging and to reheat, throw them back into hot oil while still frozen.

More Homemade Appetizers

There’s nothing like a good appetizer to get the party going! Here are some of our favorites.