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!

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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)

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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.

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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

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 from falling off 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 you soak onions before making onion rings? ›

Soaking the onions helps dilute their sulfur content, taking away that pungent, raw bite and leaving you with a pleasant, milder onion that still has some snap to it. Cuisine At Home also recommends maintaining ultimate crispiness by double-dipping the onions in buttermilk and seasoned flour.

Why are my crispy onions soggy? ›

The first is to make sure that you aren't overcrowding the pan when frying the onion. A second reason would be that the oil is too low in temperature which results in soggy onions. Also, make sure to drain the fried rings on a paper towel to soak up any residual oil and then onto a plate.

Why does the breading fall off onion rings? ›

If it's not hot enough, the onion ring will sink (and likely stick) to the bottom and the batter will fall off.

Why do you 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.

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 long to warm up onion rings in oven? ›

On a sheet pan spray a light coating of nonstick spray, lay out onion rings. Turn oven on to 450°. After preheat, put sheet pan in oven for 8minutes.

What is the best flour for batter? ›

This is why all-purpose flour, with its moderate protein content (10-12%)is commonly used. The developed gluten helps the batter cling to the food without producing an overly chewy or oily crust.

Is it better to soak onions in water or vinegar? ›

You can get rid of the strong taste by soaking sliced onions in ice water for 20 to 30 minutes or by sprinkling them with an acid such as vinegar. Onions soaked in ice water will get very crisp while those sprinkled with vinegar will soften a bit, but they will lose the strong taste and become sweeter.

What is the best oil for onion rings? ›

Use a canola oil or vegetable oil for the best-flavored onion rings. Olive oil doesn't get hot enough and you'll end up with a greasy onion ring and no-one wants that!

Why it is important to soak the onion for 30 minutes prior to mixing process? ›

A simple soak leaches some of that enzyme from the onion, leaving behind a mellower flavor and a much more palatable salad topper. (Cook's Illustrated has also had success with a bath of water and baking soda, but simple H20 will do the trick nicely.)

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.

How do you keep sliced onions crisp? ›

How to Store Peeled or Cut Onions? Once an onion has been peeled, it is best stored in the fridge to avoid contamination. Halved, sliced, or chopped raw onions should also be refrigerated, in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. They will last seven to 10 days when stored this way.

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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