Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
These air fryer frozen onion rings turn out incredibly crispy and golden brown in under 20 minutes. Just grab a bag from your freezer. No thawing required!
One of my favorite things to order at a restaurant is a basket of beer-battered onion rings with a side of ranch dressing. They are always crispy, and they make a great appetizer while you wait for the main dish.
A while back, I bought a bag of Nathan’s frozen battered onion rings at my local grocery store. Now, I make them at home in the air fryer instead of ordering out.
I air fry a bag of these two or three times a month. It’s incredibly simple, needs zero prep, and takes less than 20 minutes.
I realize you probably don’t need a fancy recipe to cook frozen food. But if you’ve ever tossed the bag in the trash before checking the cook time, or if your rings came out chewy, these tips will help.
Why You Need a Hot, Empty Air Fryer Basket
Start by preheating your air fryer to 360°F. Once it’s hot, lightly brush or spray the basket with an oil that can handle high heat, like avocado or olive oil.
Sometimes I’ll use a parchment paper liner instead if we have some in the cabinet.
Arrange the onion rings in a single layer with as little overlap as possible. To fit more in, stick the smaller rings inside the larger ones.
Even doing that, you may need to cook in batches. Working in small batches is how I get the rings crispy instead of soggy.
Flipping Halfway for Even Cooking
Set your timer for 12 to 14 minutes. Twelve minutes gives you a lightly golden brown ring. Fourteen minutes gives you a deeper, crunchier brown color.
Every air fryer model runs a little differently. Use these times as a starting point and watch your first batch closely. Flip the onion rings halfway through the cooking time so both sides cook evenly.
When they’re done to your liking, move them to a wire cooling rack and sprinkle with salt. If you are cooking the rest of the bag, wipe out any loose crumbs from the basket and repeat.
The Overcrowding Mistake That Ruins Breading
If you dump too many onion rings into the basket, they’ll stick together. When you try to flip or pull them apart, the breading tears right off.
Overcrowding also causes uneven cooking. Half of the ring might be burning while the other half stays undercooked, because the hot air can’t move around them.
Frozen onion rings go from perfectly done to overcooked very quickly in those last few minutes. It is always worth being patient and working in smaller batches.
My top tip: Pull the rings out just a hair before they look fully done. They continue to crisp up as they cool on the rack. That “almost done” ring will be absolutely perfect a few minutes later.
This same spacing rule applies to most frozen air fryer sides. My air fryer frozen french fries need that same type of space to get the perfect texture.
Let Them Rest on a Rack, Not a Plate
This is a big one! Skip the plate.
Keep the finished onion rings on a wire rack until you are ready to serve. Moving them straight to a plate traps steam underneath. That trapped moisture softens the crispy coating really fast.
We make a lot of homemade dipping sauces, so what ends up on the table depends on what is in the fridge. My personal go-to is something with a bit of heat, but plain ranch and fry sauce are just as tasty.
If you want to make your own, our spicy ranch dressing and 5-minute fry sauce both go great with these. John skips the sauces and goes straight for ketchup, which works perfectly too!
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Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray. Arrange the frozen onion rings in a single layer, working in batches if needed.16 ounce bag frozen onion rings
- Air fry for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer cooked onion rings to a wire rack and sprinkle with salt.Salt
- Wipe out the basket and repeat with the remaining onion rings.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 5 onion rings. Actual calories will vary.
- We used an Instant Pot Vortex air fryer. The cook times may need to be adjusted for other brands/models.
- I love the flavor the of the onion rings with a touch of salt sprinkled over the top. You can always leave it off if prefered.
- I’ve written the recipe for an entire bag of frozen onion rings. You don’t have to cook an entire bag, though. This recipe is adjustable for a single serving.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes or until warmed through and crispy.
