What Are Onion rings and How Can I Use Them?
Here's everything worth knowing about onion rings and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 21 recipes to cook tonight.
Key Points
- Onion rings means either raw onion sliced crosswise or the battered, deep-fried snack.
- In a savory ingredient list it almost always means the raw sliced kind for color and crunch.
- Slice across the onion, not root to tip, to get clean intact rings.
- Mild red or sweet onions are kindest raw; a yellow onion brings more bite.
What are onion rings?
In a recipe, "onion rings" usually means one of two things, and they are worth keeping apart. Most often it is simply an onion sliced crosswise into rings, raw, the way you would pile them on a burger or a sandwich.
The other meaning is the diner classic: those rings dipped in batter and deep-fried until golden and crunchy, eaten as a side or a snack.
When a savory recipe lists onion rings among its ingredients, it almost always means the raw, sliced kind used for color and crunch, not the battered, fried version. Read the method to be sure.
For sliced raw rings, pick the onion to match the job. A mild red onion or a sweet onion is kindest raw, while a yellow onion brings more bite. Slicing across the onion, rather than from root to tip, gives you the clean intact rings.
For the fresh varieties and how to slice them cleanly, see the onions hub.
Quick facts
Where to find onion rings: Onion rings are usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
- In Chinese
- 洋葱圈
- British (UK) term
- Onion rings
- en français
- rondelles d'oignon
- en español
- aros de cebolla
Recipes using onion rings
There are 21 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Chicken a la goose
Czech beer-braised chicken with caraway and onions, roasted until golden. Dark beer creates rich gravy in this Central European comfort dish. Serve with red cabbage and dumplings.
Tikka Chicken
Chicken pieces marinated in spiced yogurt with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and coriander, then grilled on skewers until charred and tender. Authentic Indian chicken tikka at home.
Pastrami Sandwich
Added sliced Provolone, which I melted over the top under the broiler and made the sandwiches in pita pockets. Delicious!
Gyro Sandwiches
Greek gyro sandwiches blend ground beef and lamb with oregano, thyme, and garlic into thin patties, then tuck into pita with homemade cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced onion. Street food classic done at home.
Simple Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Instead of frozen veggies we used fresh broccoli and cauliflower and steamed them part way. We also used swiss cheese instead of cheddar and the results were surprisingly good.
Green Beans Deluxe
Green bean casserole made in the microwave with canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy French fried onion rings on top. The classic holiday side dish ready in just 15 minutes.
Chicken Casserole Ala Ruth
Layers of tender broccoli, chicken breast, and melty Velveeta smothered in creamy mushroom soup, topped with crunchy water chestnuts and golden fried onion rings. Retro casserole comfort at its finest.
Burger Casserole
Stacked hamburger patties layered with melted American cheese and onion rings, baked in a casserole dish with a splash of milk. A retro weeknight dinner the kids will love.
Salad Supreme
Warm ham salad with a cooked vinegar dressing tossed with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and green pepper. Topped with American cheese strips and sliced hard-boiled eggs.
Easy Antipasto Chicken
Chicken is coated with Italian dressing, then baked with assorted vegetables. It's an easy and tasty dish that's also good for you.
Green Bean Casserole
Classic three-ingredient green bean casserole with French-style green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onion rings. The original Thanksgiving side dish.
Simple Mushroom Quiche
Quick mushroom quiche made with canned mushrooms, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and Swiss cheese. Mix, pour, and bake for an easy weeknight dinner or brunch with minimal prep.
Salad with Picante Dressing
Sirloin steak salad with rice, corn, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and a spicy picante-lime dressing. A Tex-Mex main dish salad with serious substance.
Three Ingredients Green Bean Casserole
Add a green look to your kitchen with this scrumptious casserole made from cream of mushroom soup and green beans.
Greek Potato Salad
Greek potato salad with a creamy yogurt-feta dressing, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, oregano, and rosemary. A lighter Mediterranean twist on potato salad with no mayonnaise.
Philadelphia Cheese Steak Sandwich (Lower Fat)
Lower-fat Philly cheesesteak with thinly sliced flank steak, sauteed peppers and onions, and reduced-fat cheddar on hoagie rolls. Broiled until bubbly in 20 minutes.
Crab Pie
Savory crab pie baked in a flaky crust with layers of sauteed onions, celery, and melted cheese in a creamy egg custard. Swap in shrimp, tuna, or salmon for easy variations.
Northwest Seafood Cioppino
Northwest seafood cioppino simmers white fish, shrimp, and oysters in a tomato-herb broth with onions, garlic, and basil. Pacific Northwest take on the Italian-American fisherman's stew.
Emeril's Favorite Pastrami Sandwich
Emeril's pastrami sandwich: pastrami simmered in beer and whole-grain mustard, piled on grilled rye with charred onion rings. Ready in 20 minutes, one serious sandwich.
Quiche Lorraine avec Ver De Terre
Quiche Lorraine with earthworms (ver de terre), Swiss cheese, bacon, and onion rings in an egg custard. A novelty bug-eating recipe for the adventurous eater.
Chinese Green Bean Casserole
Chinese green bean casserole with crunchy bean sprouts, cream of celery soup, and crispy fried onions on top. Four-ingredient potluck side that lands somewhere between Midwest holiday classic and chop suey night.
