Homemade Baked Onion Rings (Perfectly Crispy!)

These perfectly crispy panko battered onion rings are so easy to make at home in just 30 minutes, with 5 simple ingredients. The oven-baked method prevents the mess of frying while still providing that golden crunch you love! Gluten-free and vegan options provided.

How satisfying is it biting into a crispy, crunchy onion ring? Being able to make them from the comfort of your own home in just 30 minutes, without the mess of frying makes them that much better! These homemade onion rings are coated in a light panko batter and oven-baked to golden perfection. Once you try them, they will be on repeat, trust me! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce for an easy appetizer everyone will love, or as a side to your favorite burger (this Buffalo Chicken Burger is a fan favorite).

As a dietitian, I’m a big fan of getting more veggies on our plates in fun and delicious ways—this is definitely one of those! Plus, I love a good better-than-takeout spin. (I mean who doesn’t love a nice plate of chicken tenders?) so I wanted to see if I could take another fave fast food of mine, onion rings, and make it my own. I have to say these turned out even better than I had hoped for!

How to Make Baked Onion Rings Crispy

These baked, DIY onion rings only take 15 minutes of prep and 5 simple ingredients!

There’s nothing quite like a deep fryer to get that perfect crisp…or so I thought! But I was pleasantly surprised to see how crispy these onion rings got! They can be made without any fancy kitchen equipment (no deep-fryer or air-fryer needed!) but having an oil you can spray is key during prep.

Here are a few tricks to make them a delicious crispy success!

1. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent onion ring coating from sticking to the pan.
2. Spray a high heat oil like avocado oil on the parchment paper before laying onion rings down.
3. Spray another coat of oil on top of the onion rings before baking (a spray works best so as not to soak the delicate panko breading—and makes for the most crispy result!)
4. Cook at a high heat; I bake them at 425F.

Making the Perfect Panko Breading

Panko breadcrumbs make the perfect crisp coating for onion rings. These breadcrumbs are made from crustless bread and have a lighter texture with larger flakes. Because of this, they don’t soak up as much grease and they stay crispier longer. 

Tip: I added flour to the mix for better overall coverage of the onion pieces and a nice combination of textures.

For these onion rings, I kept the seasoning simple with just flour, panko breadcrumbs, and seasoning salt. Here are a few more ideas for spices you could add to the breading to add variation to your flavors:

• Cajun or creole seasoning
• Lemon pepper
• Paprika
• Dried herbs like chives or dill

Ingredient Replacements for Vegan or Gluten Free Onion Rings

Vegan:

If you want to make this crispy snack vegan, simply replace the egg with a flax or chia egg! As a bonus, enjoy the benefits of added plant-powered fats from these might seeds!

Gluten-Free:

To make these oven-baked onion rings gluten free, replace the flour with your favorite gluten-free flour option. Panko breading traditionally contains gluten, but many brands have come out with gluten-free versions. Be sure to check that the label is clearly marked gluten-free!

Health Benefits of Onions

Did you know onions are actually quite the nutrition powerhouses? Don’t be fooled by their color (or lack thereof). They are jam-packed with nutrition!

Onions are part of the allium family—like garlic and leeks—and they boast a ton of nutrition benefits:

• They’re a great source of antioxidants, like flavonoids which help prevent free radical damage to our cells
• They provide anti-inflammatory properties which support heart health and may help to prevent other chronic disease
• They contain Inulin, a soluble fiber and prebiotic which provides food for the healthy bacteria in our gut and support overall gut health

More Better than Fast-Food Recipes You’ll love

• Crispy Honey Garlic Cauliflower Bowls
• Almond Crusted Chicken Tenders
• Homemade Pork & Turkey Wontons

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see how it turned out! Share a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot so I can see your version! If you loved the recipe, It would make my day if you’d share a comment and star rating below! Nothing makes me happier than seeing these recipes come to life in your kitchen! xo

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Did you make these onion rings? How did they turn out? I’d love to see photos of them and what you chose to pair your homemade, oven-baked crispy onion rings with! Tag me in your pictures on Instagram @lindsaypleskot – I can’t wait to check them out!