Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
You won’t believe how easy it is to make these air fryer frozen onion rings. You will get restaurant-style, super crispy onion rings, without any oil with this quick recipe! They are perfect appetizers for any occasion!
Disclosure: This Page May Contain Affiliate Links, Which May Earn Me A Commission, With No Additional Cost To You. Each Of These Links Are Referenced With The Asterisk Symbol * Next To It, At All Places It Is Posted.
Frozen onion rings in the air fryer are a game changer! It is a versatile side dish that can be made in less time than it takes to preheat the oven!
These are perfect for a quick snack or as a delicious side or even as finger food for game day!
Onion rings made in an air fryer* are as good, if not better than what you would be served in a restaurant! They are always perfectly cooked and have that unmistakable crunchy exterior that makes them taste so good.
Since these are made with no oil in the air fryer they are much healthier and can be indulged in guilt-free. They’re right up there with air fryer pizza rolls and stuffed ziti fritta (which are amazing, by the way).
Why I love this recipe
- Frozen Onion Rings in an air fryer taste infinitely better than those made in the oven.
- It’s a healthier alternative to the deep fryer version as no oil is needed. But this does not sacrifice the taste of onion rings.
- Quick and easy recipe. You can cook it in less time than is needed to preheat the oven!
- Zero prep involved. In fact, these onion rings don’t even need to be thawed before air frying.
- Easy clean-up after making onion rings. This is always a big plus for me.
Best frozen onion rings
There are many brands of frozen onion rings. Depending on your location, the brands available in your local grocery stores would vary. Different brands have different sizes and thicknesses of the onion rings.
We used a bag of Alexia Onion rings for this recipe. This is our favorite brand of onion rings. These are egg-free and dairy-free.
Onion rings from 365 Everyday value and Cavendish – Battered Onion Rings are also good options.
Why make onion rings in an air fryer?
Deep frying is messy and a large amount of oil is needed to deep fry onion rings. This makes it an unhealthy, high-calorie side dish.
You can bake the onion rings. This is a healthier option but the onion rings will end up being chewy instead of crispy.
Also if you cook frozen onion rings in an oven you will need about 18 minutes to get them crispy and crunchy whereas the air fryer takes about 8-10 minutes!
Using the air fryer ensures that you get crispy, restaurant-style onion rings each time. The hot air rapidly circulates all around the frozen onion rings, making them crispy – much like deep-frying, but without the oil.
And the clean-up process is super easy and hassle-free!
Air fryers are life-changing. We will never bake them again after making them this way. The same goes for air fryer chicken wings!
Ingredients
This recipe uses store-bought frozen onion rings that have not been thawed. They are cooked straight from frozen. No extra oil is used in this recipe.
How to make the best air fryer onion rings
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. If making onion rings for the first time, I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness, then adding more time as needed.
Step 1
Preheat the air fryer to 350F. This is an important step. Preheating allows your air fryer to cook evenly, which is even more important when cooking from frozen.
Now, if you do not have a preheat button, set the temperature to 350 degrees F, for 3 minutes.
Step 2
Add frozen onion rings into your air fryer tray and cook for 6 minutes.
Quick tip: To ensure crispiness on your onion rings, be sure to leave spaces between the rings. This allows the air to circulate best, which will cook the onion rings faster and more evenly.
Step 3
Flip the onion rings halfway through the cooking time. The best way is to use tongs.
Step 4
For best results increase the temp to 390 F and air fry onion rings for 2 min to make the onion rings very crispy. This also gives them a great crunch.
If they’re large and thick you may need more time. Add 2 minutes at a time until they’re crispy and golden brown on the outside and warm in the middle of each one. Enjoy the delicious onion rings immediately.
It is best not to make them up ahead – These are best served up freshly cooked since they will lose their crispness as they cool down.
The amount of time taken to cook frozen onion rings in the air fryer would vary a little based on the type of air fryer you use, the size of your air fryer as well as the brand of onion rings used. Use this recipe as a guideline to adjust your cooking time and temperature.
You can also make onion rings in the oven. Instructions for this are usually mentioned at the back of the package.
How to Serve Onion Rings
Crispy Onion Rings are a true fast food favorite, and a perfect side dish to burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and chicken wings.
You could also serve them as a simple appetizer on its own with a side of dipping sauce. Use your favorite dipping sauce to serve with the onion rings.
Ketchup is a popular option. Some other good dipping sauces are ranch dressing and chipotle sauce. Buffalo blue cheese sauce and garlic butter sauce also go well with air fryer onion rings.
Storing onion rings
Onion rings are best eaten immediately. However, sometimes we have some leftovers that we need to store.
Let the onion rings cool completely then store in a paper towel-lined air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
They will get soggy and will need to be reheated before eating.
Reheating onion rings in air fryer
Add the onion rings to a preheated air fryer at 350F and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through. Reheating them at a lower temperature allows the insides to reheat without being too crispy or burned on the outside.
If you notice the onion rings are starting to get a little dry while reheating, just spray a little oil using your EVO Oil Sprayer* (this thing is amazing) and it will bring the moisture right back.
Make sure to use only the oils suitable for the air fryer in the oil sprayer.
Commonly Asked Questions
Frozen onion rings are already seasoned; however, if you wish to make them more flavorful, you can toss them in your favorite seasoning. You can use peri-peri mix, cajun spiced mix, and garlic powder to season.
Are onion rings healthy?
Onion rings are not considered healthy since they are usually deep-fried; however, cooking them in an air fryer with no oil makes them significantly healthier.
LOOKING FOR MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES??
Check these out –
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F.
- Add frozen onion rings into your air fryer tray
- Cook for 6 minutes.
- Flip the onion rings halfway through the cooking time, using tongs
- For best results increase the temp to 390 F and air fry onion rings for 2 min to make the onion rings very crispy.
Video
Notes
- Do NOT thaw the onion rings. The onion rings cook up the crispiest when they are cooked straight from frozen.
- Don’t overfill the basket of the air fryer. The more you fill the air fryer basket/tray, the more frequently you’ll need to shake the basket to help them cook evenly.
- Use tongs* to gently toss the onion rings during cooking for crispness. If you prefer you can use a spatula, but do it gently so they don’t break.
- If your frozen onion rings aren’t as crispy as you’d like them, then simply stick them back in the air fryer for a few more minutes.
- Depending on the size and brand of your onion rings, they could take up to 12 minutes to achieve your desired crispness.
Did you find this recipe helpful ?? Leave me a star rating & let me know how it turned out in the comments below. Don’t forget to share with family and friends!
Can’t Read it Now? Then PIN It for later!
Join Sugar Spice Community:
Facebook Group | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube
Looking for more recipes? Sign up for our Sugar Spice newsletter and our YouTube Channel for weekly videos. Also rate, comment and share this article!
Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which may earn me a commission, with no additional cost to you. Each of these links are referenced with the asterisk symbol * next to it, at all places it is posted.
About the Author
Hi! Akshita & Midhun here! Welcome to our blog where we show simple yet awesome recipes for your cravings.
Akshita being allergic to egg, we are committed to providing egg-free recipes along with some vegan friendly options. Read more about us here!
