Homemade Onion Rings with Buttermilk batter. A real treat to serve with burgers or hot dogs.
How To Make Homemade Onion Rings Easy
Or as easy as possible?
Can I see a show of hands of how many of you LOVE onion rings?
Can I see a show of hands of how many of you make them on a regular basis?
That’s just what I thought.
I think I tried making them once about 20 years ago. With the mess involved both with the oil, the countertops and that stubborn batter that wouldn’t cling to the onions, I quickly decided they were best left to the experts and should only be ordered in restaurants.
Developing patience over those years, and the secret hope that onions were somehow “different” these days, I opted to give ’em another try. As you can see by the picture, not perfect, but I also doubt it will be another 20 years before I make them again.
Buttermilk Battered Onion Rings
This is not your typical thick beer-battered onion rings with the gigantic shell…you know the ones, they squirt oil and onion everywhere when you take a bite. These sport a more delicate breading that seems to magically cling to the onion.
I found two recipes on two different web sites that just happened to be almost exactly the same in method. Both used a double dip in buttermilk and flour but then differed slightly in seasonings.
The double dip method means to dip the onion rings in buttermilk, then in flour, then in buttermilk again before heading to the fry pan.
One website used Cajun spice and the other Southwestern. Not a surprise, I chose the Southwestern and went to work.
How to Fry Homemade Onion Rings
I first chose to use Crisco and my 2.5 quart saucepan.
Trying to create a deep fat fryer atmosphere with a saucepan didn’t work well. The Crisco part was fine, but I didn’t like the pseudo deep fat fryer method I was trying to create. Rings got lost, some getting cooked more than others, some knocking the batter off others…it was somewhat of a quarreling mess.
Use a tall sided fry pan, just like you do when making pan fried chicken. Single layer those rings. This will make closer supervision a breeze and the onion rings won’t be in constant battle with each other.
Recipe for Homemade Onion Rings with Buttermilk Batter
I hope you give this recipe for homemade onion rings a try and if you do please come back and give the recipe a star rating and leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a favorite onion rings batter, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
These buttermilk onion rings recipe and method come from one of my favorite blogs, Homesick Texan.
What Goes Well with Onion Rings?
Onion Rings with Buttermilk Batter
Ingredients
- 2 sweet onions I like Vidalia's, or sweet Texax Onions. Cut into 1/4-inch rings
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chipotle or chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 cup Crisco or vegetable oil for frying
- Ketchup such as chipotle ketchup, for serving
Instructions
- Place the onion slices in a large bowl and cover with the buttermilk. Allow to soak for 15 minutes.
- Mix together the flour, salt, black pepper, chipotle powder and cumin. Taste and adjust seasonings. Divide the flour mixture, placing half in a large food-safe plastic bag and the other half on a plate.
- Heat up 2 inches of oil in a large pot or cast-iron skillet to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with paper towels.
- To batter the onions, remove them from the buttermilk, reserving the buttermilk in the bowl, and place them in the plastic-bag with the flour. Shake until coated. Working one-at-a time or in small batches, take the floured onions and dip back into the buttermilk and then dredge in the flour on a plate. Fry in the hot oil until light brown, for about 2 minutes, turning once. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve warm with ketchup or your preferred dipping sauce.
Nutrition
Use this chipotle ketchup, for dipping. Yum.
Homemade Onion Rings with Buttermilk Batter …It’s What’s for a Devilishly Good Treat.
I didn’t make them until I bought our deep fat fryer last year. I like the chipotle ketchup sauce, perfect for onion rings.
I agree Chris. I tried them with both plain and chipotle. Both were very good. I doubt I’ll buy a deep fat fryer, but you never know. 🙂
I love onion rings but am too lazy to make them.
I adore onion rings – buttermilk, chipotle and all those wonderful spices. My mouth is watering! You’re right. I don’t think I’ve ever attempted to make them myself.
Oh wow, I could get full on those. I wouldn’t even need a burger. They look amazing.
No doubt you saw my hand shoot up with the first question and fall down on the second. I like the skinny crunchy ones…you did a pretty good job, I think.
Thanks Barbara! 🙂
hand is raised. moment of silence for my mom’s onion rings. your recipe lines up w/ hers.
To me, once you tweak the recipe to your liking, the critical thing is the thickness of the onions. I prefer them very thin. Makes a big difference in my opinion.
I tried to keep these pretty thin … gotta try to make them again soon.
I ADORE onion rings but haven’t had them in FOREVER! These sound amazing.
Thanks Joanne. I’m going to try them again soon, while I still remember how easy and hopefully will get them perfect.