Easy Crispy Onion Strings - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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These crispy onion strings are the absolute BEST! The brown and crispy outside and the deliciously moist onion inside make this the perfect topping for any burger or salad!

I love adding delicious toppings to my meals! These crispy onions strings are the best and go with everything. Try using them on this juicy air fryer hamburger, this delicious green bean casserole, or this delicious cobb salad.

Easy Crispy Onion Strings - The Recipe Critic (1)

Crispy Fried Onion Strings

I have been dying to make this recipe for so long, and now that I have finally done it, I don’t know why I waited! These crispy onion strings are so good! I love onion rings but these onion strings are a whole other level of delicious and versatile. They are crisp and browned on the outside, and the sweet onion on the inside is flavored to perfection. Once I cooked these, I had a hard time not eating them all straight off the plate!

There is always a recipe that I needed to use these for, and now I have them! I love eating these plain as an easy appetizer dipped into fry sauce! I have also had them on salads, burgers and soups… Really, the possibilities for these are endless! They make my mouth water just thinking about them, and now I make them so often that onions have become a staple item on my grocery list! Try these out. You will LOVE them!

Ingredients to Make Crispy Onion Strings

You are in luck because not only is this ingredient list short and simple, but it’s full of ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Oil: This is for frying your onions in! Vegetable oil or canola oil work great.
  • Onions: I like to use sweet onions like vidalia onions. Make sure that your slices are all about the same size so that they all cook evenly and at the same time.
  • Buttermilk: You can use storebought buttermilk or you can easily make it at home with this recipe and it’s just as good!
  • Flour: All purpose flour works great to coat your onions.
  • Seasonings: To make these onions so delicious you will use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and ground black pepper.
Easy Crispy Onion Strings - The Recipe Critic (2)

Make Onion Strings in 3 Easy Steps!

If you can count to 3, you can make these crispy onion strings because that’s all of the steps it takes to have these ready to enjoy! And trust me, once you try them, you will be hooked!

  1. Prep Oil and Mix Coating Ingredients: Heat oil in a skillet to 350 degrees. In a small bowl add the buttermilk. In another bowl combine the flour, garlic powder, onion, paprika, salt and pepper.
  2. Dredge the Onions: Slice up the onions with a sharp knife. Using tongs dredge the onion slices in the buttermilk, and then to the flour mixture. Add to the hot oil.
  3. Fry: Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Pat them with a paper towel to remove any excess oil.

What to Dip These In

I mentioned before that you can use these crispy onion strings as an appetizer and you may think that’s crazy! But just you wait. Once you try these onion strings in different dipping sauces then you will always want these on your table!

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Yum Yum Sauce

5 mins

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Homemade Ranch Dressing

5 mins

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

The Famous Fry Sauce

10 mins

Easy Crispy Onion Strings - The Recipe Critic (7)

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Everyone always asks, “How do I keep my crispy onion strings from getting soggy?” And the answer is simple… The air fryer! It’s like the air fryer was made for this recipe! Here is how you can store your leftovers and heat them up to taste as good as they did on day one!

  • In the Fridge: Once your cripsy onion strings have cooled down then you can place them in an airtight container and put them in your fridge, they will last for 3-4 days. They WILL get soffy but don’t worry, you can wake them right up!
  • To Reheat (and make them crispy again!): Cook them in your air fryer at 36- degrees for 4-6 minutes. Flip them and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until they are crispy.

Recipes to Make Using Onion Strings

Onion Strings were high on my list to make because they go with just about everthing. And I mean everything! Soups, salads, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches. Really, anything that you add these to will be elevated and taste more delicious then it would without them!

Soup

Tomato Basil Soup

35 mins

Dinner

Juicy Grilled Garlic Turkey Burgers

22 mins

Salads

Avocado, Chicken and Bacon Chopped Salad with a Creamy Basil Dressing

20 mins

Dinner

Grilled Turkey Florentine Sandwich

30 mins

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Crispy Onion Strings

5 from 3 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

These crispy onion strings are the absolute BEST! The brown and crispy outside and the deliciously moist onion inside make this the perfect topping for any burger or salad!

Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes

3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a skillet to 350 degrees. In a small bowl add the buttermilk. In another bowl combine the flour, garlic powder, onion, paprika, salt, and pepper.

  • Use a sharp knife to slice up the onions. Using tongs dredge the onion strips in the buttermilk, and then into the flour mixture. Add to the hot oil.

  • Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 10gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 422mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 447IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 165mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Easy Crispy Onion Strings - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

Why are my crispy onions not crispy? ›

To get crispy onions you need to deep fry it in a lot of oil. Sauteing in a shallow pan will result in softened onions as they release their juice slowly and get cooked. Don't add salt as they are frying as it will further draw the moisture out and soften the onions.

Why are my onion rings not crispy? ›

Too much batter.

This is almost worse than having batter that's too thin. Instead of staying light and crisp, an onion ring with too much batter will retain too much internal moisture, and as soon as it comes out of the oil, the batter starts getting soggy.

How to make soggy onion rings crispy? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat your toaster oven to 350 F.
  2. Warm them up in the microwave for no more than 10 seconds.
  3. Place some aluminum foil (or parchment paper) on your baking sheet.
  4. Add your onion rings in a single layer to ensure that you have a crispy texture.
  5. Heat them up 5-7 minutes. Be sure to flip them at least once.
  6. Enjoy.

How long do crispy onions last? ›

French's® Crispy Fried Onions feature a convenient reclosable package to help maintain freshness and have a shelf life of 24 months when tightly closed and stored in a cool, dry place to protect against flavor loss and moisture.

Should you add water when frying onions? ›

If you want to sauté onions without oil, use a nonstick pan and add a small amount of water or vegetable broth to help keep onions from sticking. Add chopped or sliced onions and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula.

Why do you soak onions in ice water before making onion rings? ›

Soaking onions in water for 15-20 minutes helps to neutralize the flavors of the onion and lessen the “bite”. It also brings out a sweet flavor and makes them a bit crunchier.

Why soak onions in milk before frying? ›

There seems to be general agreement about preparation of fried onion rings, either for home consumption or in a restaurant: the onion rings should be soaked in cold milk and/or water before frying. It crisps them up. Rather like putting parsley in a plastic bag with the water left from rinsing it to perk it up.

Why are my onions still crunchy after cooking? ›

Just leave it to simmer, then if you leave it sitting for a while that might help too. You need to cook them longer, higher temp before simmering or slow cook for alot longer.

What is the onion ring strategy? ›

Onion Ring Students form an inner and outer circle facing a partner. The teacher asks a question and the students are given time to respond to their partner. Next, the inner circle rotates one person to the left. The teacher asks another question and the cycle repeats itself.

How do you keep batter from falling off onion rings? ›

When it comes to batter, ensure it's not too thin or it will drip right off your onion ring. Also, make sure your batter is ice cold, as this makes for a lighter coating when it's fried. In contrast, ensure your oil is piping hot at around 360 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit before dropping in your battered rings.

Should crispy fried onions be refrigerated after opening? ›

Informed storage practices are crucial to maintain their taste and crispy texture. Once opened, keeping them in a cool, dry place or refrigerated in an airtight container is recommended to extend their shelf life and preserve quality.

Do onions last longer in the fridge or not? ›

How long onions last depends on where they've been stored. Cooper says that in the refrigerator, peeled onions will last 10 to 14 days and chopped onions will last for seven to 10 days. While the refrigerator is not the best place to store whole onions, Cooper says they will generally last there for two months.

What are the ingredients in French's crispy fried onions? ›

Ingredients: Onions, Palm Oil, Wheat Flour, Salt & Dextrose. No preparation necessary. French's® Crispy Fried Onions are versatile and ready to use to inspire chef creativity.

Why are my onions not caramelizing? ›

Not cooking the onions long enough.

→ Follow this tip: Cook times will vary depending on the number of onions you're cooking and the type of onion (its sugar content and age), but plan to cook caramelized onions for 40 to 50 minutes (at least) until they have a dark-brown, rich color.

Why are my onions soft? ›

An onion with bacterial soft rot is a squishy, brown mess and not something you want to eat. This infection can be managed and even completely avoided with good care and cultural practices, but once you see the signs of it, treatment is not effective.

How do you fry onions so they are soft? ›

Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan over a low heat. Add the onions with a generous pinch of salt and cook slowly for 30-40 mins. Stir occasionally to prevent them from sticking or burning until they become soft and golden. If the onions start to catch, add a splash of water to the pan and mix well.

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