Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (2024)

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These crunchy baked onion rings are healthy, LOW IN FAT, golden brown, and absolutely delicious!

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (1)

It’s that time of year to eat snack foods and veg out (pun intended) on the couch watching football. And, theseCrunchy Baked Onion Rings are the perfect snack food for such an occasion.

Let’s get our onion ring on!

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (2)

One of my favorite places to frequent when I ate crap was Sonic. You know? That little drive-up and order place. I absolutelylovelovedtheir onion rings. Sometimes, I’d get two large orders of their onion rings and eat them before I even pulled out of the parking lot.

Well, those days are gone and I no longer eat those “deep fried danger circles.” But, I also can’t deny how good those things were!

Onion rings in general are good, but Sonic took them to a completely different stratosphere. They also helped take me to 300 pounds and diabetes.

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (3)

Fast forward many years later and much healthier, I dreamed of finding a way to recreate one of my favorite foods – the onion ring.

And, I could not be more pleased with these crunchy baked onion rings. (pat on the back)

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (4)

Onion Ring Trial & Error

I can’t begin to tell you how many “healthy” onion ring recipes I’ve tried over the last five years. Some were good, but too much work and not practical. And, others might have been simpler but sucked. It became extremely tiring.

Honestly, I had resigned myself to the fact it just wasn’t meant to be. Let’s face it. The task was a bit daunting. A vegan onion ring recipe that was healthy. Baked, not fried. Yet, contained all the characteristics of the fast food version I consumed years earlier. Did such a thing even exist? It couldn’t be done.

Or, could it?

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Tirelessly, I would pour myself into researching onion ring recipes. Day after day, night after night. And, most of the time with less than stellar results.

No matter what I tried nothing came close to those deep fried circles of yesteryear. But, I pressed on because I couldn’t live with myself knowing I had given folks a half-assed onion ring recipe.

I knew the standard I had set for Shane & Simple would be a challenge. But, damn it! My readers and followers deserve the best!

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Onion Ring Success

One day everything changed! I found panko bread crumbs and I realized the secret was not more ingredients, but less.

So, I threw together a simple batter with unsweetened almond milk and whole wheat flour. Tossed in a couple of spices with the panko bread crumbs and voila – a masterpiece was born.

Could it be the onion ring I had been craving for so long was finally a reality? Crunchy, golden brown, savory, delicious and baked! My dream onion ring had become reality. And, that dream was also in my hand covered in ketchup and getting eaten like I was on my way to death row.

The kids loved them. My wife loved them. Friends loved them. I had succeeded. After many years of heartbreak and sorrow the journey was finally over.

I made crunchy baked onion rings.

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Simple & Delicious!

You will be amazed at how simple these things are to make.5 ingredients and about 30-40 minutes of your time is all that’s required.

A simple batter made with unsweetened almond milk and whole wheat flour for dipping. Then, a blend of panko bread crumbs and a couple spices to coat the onions. All that’s left is to bake them in a 450 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until they’re crunchy and golden brown.

That’s it! You’ve got legitimate crunchy baked onion rings.

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Now, you can indulge and not worry about portion size or your thighs. Simply enjoy a delicious stack of onion rings without the guilt.

Best of all there’s no oily mess to clean up. No oil popping out of the skillet. And, your kitchen won’t smell like some greasy joint down the road.

Eat well my friends. Eat well.

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (9)
Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (10)

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings

These onion rings are…

  • A great comfort food
  • Crunchy
  • Baked, not fried
  • Low in fat
  • Healthy
  • Simple to make
  • Sweet on the inside, savory on the outside
  • Irresistible

These onion rings are the perfect “watching football food,” rainy day snack food or binge watching your favorite show. They’re great with ketchup, but my Cashew Sour Cream, Tofu Sour Cream, or Cashew Mayo make a great dipping sauce too! Just add a little BBQ sauce or ketchup to make a restaurant style concoction.

Want A Few More Snack Ideas?

  • Five Minute Fat Free Microwave Potato Chips
  • Healthy Tortilla Chips
  • Peanut Butter Balls
  • Game Day Cheese Dip
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Hummus

If you make this recipe, let me know!Leave a comment,RATE IT, andtaga photo#shaneandsimpleon Instagram. Happy Fall, everyone!

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (11)

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Crunchy Baked Onion Rings

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (12)

Print Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 14 reviews

These Crunchy Baked Onion Rings are awesome! You only need 5-ingredients and about 30 minutes. They are golden brown, crunchy, healthy, and absolutely delicious. They’re also baked and not fried.

  • Author: Shane Martin
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: side
  • Method: baking
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

2 large yellow onion, sliced in rings about ¼″.

FOR THE BATTER

DRY MIX

  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs (make sure they are vegan)
  • ½ tsp. smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ⅛ tsp. salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  2. Line a baking pan with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
  3. Add batter ingredients to bowl and mix until well combine and batter is smooth.
  4. In a separate bow, add “dry mix” and whisk to combine.
  5. Using a fork, dip raw onion ring into batter until entire onion is covered. Shake a few times and allow access to drain off.
  6. Transfer onion ring to bowl with breadcrumbs and coat evenly.
  7. Place onto baking pan and repeat until all onion rings are finished.
  8. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes or until onion rings are golden brown and crunchy.
  9. Remove from oven and serve with favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 119
  • Sugar: 0.2 g
  • Sodium: 63.5 mg
  • Fat: 1.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 23 g
  • Fiber: 3.5 g
  • Protein: 4.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple (2024)

FAQs

Crunchy Baked Onion Rings Recipe (Vegan) - Shane & Simple? ›

A simple batter made with unsweetened almond milk and whole wheat flour for dipping. Then, a blend of panko bread crumbs and a couple spices to coat the onions. All that's left is to bake them in a 450 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until they're crunchy and golden brown. That's it!

Why are my onion rings not crispy? ›

Don't skip the frying thermometer though—it's important to make sure you're frying at the right temperature so your onion rings come out crispy, crunchy, and delicious. If the oil isn't hot enough, your onion rings can turn out soggy; too hot, and the oil can start to smoke.

How do you keep batter on onion rings? ›

A trick for getting your breading to stick better and not fall off as much when frying is to cover the breaded onion rings with a damp paper towel for 10-15 minutes after breading while the oil heats up. This helps it get a little bit tacky and stick better so less of it falls off in the hot oil.

Why do onion rings get soggy? ›

Too much batter.

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.

What type of onion is best for onion rings? ›

BEST ONIONS FOR ONION RINGS

If Vidalia onions are unavailable, or out of season, consider using any of these types in your next batch of onion rings: Maui onions. Walla Walla onions. White onions.

Why are my cooked onions still crunchy? ›

You need to cook them longer, higher temp before simmering or slow cook for alot longer. I sauté the very finely sliced onions on a very low heat for at least 20mins before anything else goes in the pan.

Why do you soak onions in milk before frying? ›

A long soak in buttermilk in the fridge firms up the onion slices for frying and mellows their flavor. If you're looking for. Serve them as a game day snack or pair with hot dogs and burgers as an alternative to French fries.

What is the difference between battered and breaded onion rings? ›

Breaded rings are dredged in a dry mixture of flour and seasonings. Add a liquid — like water, beer, or even eggs — to that same blend, and you create a batter. Battered rings are coated in this goopy concoction before going into the fryer.

How do you make Bloomin onions crispy again? ›

Simply preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees, cut the onion in half, and spray it with a small amount of cooking spray or oil to get a bit of extra crispiness. Put it in the air fryer for five minutes on each side, flipping it halfway through, and ... that's it.

How do you keep batter crispy after frying? ›

Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

In much the same way, putting fried food on a cooling rack means the excess oil will drip off, but there's enough air circulating underneath the food that the bottoms don't get soggy.

Do people put ketchup on onion rings? ›

It is important to note that personal preference plays a big role in what dipping sauces people choose to use for their fries and onion rings. Some people may prefer to dip their onion rings in ketchup or their fries in a different sauce altogether. Ultimately, it comes down to what tastes best to the individual.

How do you soften crispy onions? ›

Points to remember
  1. Melt a small amount of butter and oil in a shallow pan over a low heat.
  2. Let the butter melt until it starts to sizzle.
  3. Add the finely chopped onions. Ensure the onions are coated in the oil and butter and allow to sizzle as it cooks.
  4. After about 12 minutes, the onions will become almost translucent.

Why do onion rings taste so good? ›

The cooking process decomposes propanethial oxide in the onion into the sweet-smelling and tasting bispropenyl disulfide, responsible for the slightly sweet taste of onion rings.

Why should you avoid microwaving onion rings? ›

You can also use the oven, but avoid microwaving them (they'll end up soggy).

Why are my onion sets soft? ›

The signs of onion soft rot start with softness at the neck of the bulb. As the infection creeps in, the onion will appear water soaked. Then, one or more scales in the bulb will become soft and brown. If you squeeze an infected bulb, it will emit a watery, smelly substance.

Why add water to frying onions? ›

You can use water to accelerate the caramelization process: as it heats up, the steam will move things along. To try this trick, add some agua to the pan with the onions on high heat at the start of the cooking process.

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.

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