You won’t believe how crispy these Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings get, without all the extra oil they’d soak up in the deep fryer. You can now make perfectly crispy onion rings in the air fryer, quickly and easily.
» Try these Air Fryer Bagel Bites for a quick and tasty snack.
Whether you have kids who like to snack, you’re hosting a party and need quick and delicious party food ideas, or just enjoy crispy onion rings, you’re in for a treat.
These are really one of the easiest snacks to make because you can buy them frozen in a bag and store them in the freezer until you’re ready to cook them. You can make the whole bag at once in the air fryer (depending on the size of your basket) or just pop a few in at a time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Onion rings – All you really need for this recipe is a bag of your favorite frozen onion rings.
- Cooking spray oil – Optional. Most frozen onion rings have enough oil on them already.
Equipment Information
- Air fryer: I use this 4-quart basket-style air fryer. It’s large enough to fit a meal for 4-6. But some things need more space in the air fryer basket, so they cook evenly.
- Kitchen tongs: It’s very easy to remove food from your air fryer with kitchen tongs. I use these kitchen tongs that are silicon coated so they don’t scratch the interior.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
How to Make Onion Rings in the Air Fryer
This recipe is specifically for making frozen onion rings that you purchased at the store. You can use any type of store-bought frozen onion rings. They all cook in about the same amount of time in the air fryer.
Place as many onion rings as you want to cook in the air fryer basket. It’s okay if they overlap.
Start by pre-heating the air fryer to 400° F (200° C). This will help the onion rings get super crispy. No need to spray the basket. Frozen onion rings already have enough oil on them.
Cook for 8 minutes, turning the onion rings or shaking the basket halfway through cooking to ensure they get evenly browned and crispy. If after 8 minutes, they aren’t as dark and crispy as you like, continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
That is all that there is to it. They come out perfect every time.
What About Homemade Onion Rings?
I’ve tried to make my own homemade onion rings by dredging them in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. While they do turn out okay, it seems that the breading doesn’t stay on well and they aren’t as good as I want them to be.
Usually, onion rings are breaded with a wet batter then tossed directly into the hot oil in a deep fryer. You can’t mimic that in an air fryer, so if you do want to make your own onion rings, you’ll have to go the dredging route.
- Slice the onion and break apart the rings
- Dust each ring with flour.
- Dip the rings in egg.
- Dip the rings in breadcrumbs.
Place the onion rings on the basket or racks and cook at 375°F for 10 minutes. Then after 6 minutes of cooking, flip them over so they brown evenly.
Cooked onions can add flavor to many things. Try these Air Fryer Onions as a topping on brats or burgers.
What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?
The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has not harmful aerosols or chemicals.
Dips to Serve With Onion Rings
The perennial favorite dipping sauce for onion rings is ketchup, of course, but there are lots of other great choices to mix things up a bit. Try serving your onion rings with:
- BBQ Ranch dressing
- Honey Sriracha Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Fry Sauce (ketchup, mayonnaise, and relish)
Once you see how easy it is to make these air fryer frozen onion rings, you’ll want to keep a bag of them in the freezer at all times, so you can crisp some up on a whim.
What Brand Onion Rings to Try
Some of our favorite brands are
- Trader Joe’s Beer Battered Vidalia Sweet Onion Rings
- Brew City Beer Battered Onion Rings
- Ore Ida Gourmet Onion Rings
- Red Robin Crispy Onion Rings
How To Store and Reheat Onion Rings
Frozen onion rings are always better eaten fresh. If you happen to have some leftover transfer them to an airtight container or Ziplock bag and store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
To reheat them add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 350° F for 2-3 minutes.
Tips & Notes
- Don’t thaw frozen onion rings before cooking.
- No need to spray the basket. Frozen onion rings already have enough oil on them.
- Since onion rings can be many different sizes you may have to add a few minutes to the cooking time to make sure they all get done evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you cook frozen onion rings in an air fryer?
They will cook for 8 minutes at 400° F. If the basket is really full you may need to shake the basket and add a few more minutes.
Why are my onion rings not crispy?
There might be too many onion rings in the air fryer basket. In order for foods to get crispy in the air fryer the air needs to be able to circulate around the food. Try cooking them in smaller batches.
You can also spray the onion rings with a fine mist of cooking oil. That will help them crisp up as well.
Can I reheat leftover onion rings in the air fryer?
Yes, place them in the air fryer and cook at 400° F for 4-5 minutes.
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Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bag of your favorite frozen onion rings
- Cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F | 200°C.
- Add onion rings to the air fryer basket or tray (how many you can fit depends on the capacity of your air fryer). No need to spray the onion rings with oil.
- Cook for 8 minutes, flipping the onion rings halfway through. Add additional time if you prefer your onion rings crispier.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
🥧 If you’re interested in more great recipes, I share all my favorite recipes over at A Food Lover’s Kitchen, and you’ll find Instant Pot recipes at A Pressure Cooker Kitchen, and cocktails and drinks at Savored Sips. Check it out today!
Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
no extra oil is better and yes its crispy too!
love this air fryer recipe straight from the freezer!
I used Nathan’s frozen O/Rs. I only put 5 in at a time (just making for me as a side). I used 10 min as it was already programmed in, turned them at 5 min. I did not spray with anything. They came out crispy and not full of oil like in my Fry Daddy. I am thrilled…look forward to the next batch.
Awesome, Harlee. Thanks for the feedback.
Do I need to defrost the onion rings before cooking them in the air fryer? Or can I cook them straight from frozen?
No need to defrost. Just throw them in straight from the freezer.
I sprinkled some smoked paprika on the onion rings before cooking them and it gave them a nice smoky flavor.
Sounds delicious Jake.
So convenient and easy
The perfect snack or side dish for any meal.