Homemade crispy onions are a great way to top off any dish, and they're especially good on green bean casserole. They're easy to make with just 5 ingredients and have a super crunchy texture that everyone will love!
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🌟 Why this recipe works
These easy crispy onions are the perfect topping for soups, casseroles, and burgers and taste so much better than store-bought fried onions. They are quick and easy to make and add crunchiness and flavor to whatever they are topping.
Unlike deep-fried onions that are cooked in hot oil, this recipe bakes the onions to achieve that crispy texture. The onions are coated in a flour mixture of panko breadcrumbs, salt, and olive oil and baked in a hot oven.
The result is crispy, golden-brown onions that are delicious. The great thing about crispy onions is that they last for ages stored correctly. They stay fresh and crispy for weeks, so you can make them ahead of time and have them on hand whenever you need them.
So, if you are looking for an easy and delicious way to add some extra flavor and crunch to your meals, give these crispy onions a try.
And if you want more crunchy topping ideas to serve with your homemade soups like crispy fried onions and croutons, check out our article on 37 fantastic soup topping ideas.
🍽 Key Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients to make the crispiest onions EVER!
Yellow onions - You can use white onions if you prefer, but I find that yellow onions have a milder flavor.
Extra-virgin olive oil - This is my favorite oil to use for frying onions because it has a high smoke point and imparts a delicious flavor.
All-purpose flour - Flour is used to coat the onions and give them a crispy texture.
Panko breadcrumbs - These Japanese-style breadcrumbs are my secret ingredient for getting the onions extra crispy.
Salt - This is to season the batter mixture.
Substitutions
Panko breadcrumbs
Regular and gluten-free breadcrumbs or even crushed cereal flakes are suitable substitutions.
Olive oil
If you don't have olive oil, you can use any other type of oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil or canola oil.
🔪 How to make crispy onions in the oven
Making crispy onions at home is super easy and only requires a few steps to get them crispy and delicious. Follow the guided instructions below to learn how.
Preparations
- Peel and slice the onions into thin rounds.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius) and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2
In a large bowl, toss onions with oil, flour, panko, and salt.
Step 3
Mix the onions thoroughly, then spread them evenly onto the baking sheets.
Step 4
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes (rotating the pans in the oven as necessary) until lightly browned and crispy.
💭 Cooking tips
Don't overcrowd
Do not overcrowd the baking sheets with the breaded onions. The onions need room to become crispy.
Toss them
Be sure to toss the crispy onions every 10 minutes so that they cook evenly.
📖 Variations
If you want to add some extra flavor to the crispy onions, try some of these tasty variations.
Spicy crispy fried onions
Give your crispy breaded onion rings a touch of spice by adding half a teaspoon of chili powder or cayenne pepper to the batter.
Cornflakes fried onions
Use ¼ cup of flour and ¼ cup of crushed cornflakes for an extra crunchy texture.
French fried onions
The French version of crispy fried onions uses buttermilk to soak the onions before coating them in the batter. Soak the onion slices in 1 cup of buttermilk for at least 30 minutes. Drain the onions and coat them in the flour and breadcrumbs before frying.
🥗 What to serve with
These crispy onions are the perfect topping for all sorts of dishes. Here are some of our favorite recipes to serve them with.
Meatloaf
Meatloaf recipes, like bacon cheeseburger meatloaf and Italian meatloaf, are perfect with a handful of these crispy onions on top for an extra special touch.
Soup
Soups are always better with a crispy topping. Try our chicken vegetable soup or one of our easy soup recipes with few ingredients.
Casserole
Hearty casseroles are also great with a crispy onion topping. Our cabbage roll casserole or green bean casserole are both delicious with crispy onions on top.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can you make crispy breaded onions in the air fryer?
Yes, you can air fry these breaded onions. Just be sure to not overcrowd the air fryer so that the onions have room to become crispy. Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Why are my onions not crispy?
The most common reason is that the onions were not cooked long enough. Be sure to cook the onions until they are golden brown and crispy. Another reason might be that the onions were overcrowded on the baking sheet. Be sure to use 2 large baking sheets so that the onions have room to spread out.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
These crispy breaded onion rings are great for making ahead and storing to sprinkle over your favorite recipes for a bit of crunch.
Room temperature - Once the breaded onions have cooled, transfer them to an airtight container with paper towel covering them and store them in a cupboard for up to a week.
Fridge - Transfer the leftover crispy onion rings to an airtight container or Ziplock bag with paper towel. The paper towel helps to absorb any moisture, which keeps them nice and crispy for up to 10 days.
Reheating - You can enjoy them cold as a topping for soups and burgers or reheat them in a frying pan over medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil for 8 minutes until hot and crispy.
The air fryer is also an option to reheat the leftover crispy fried onions. 4 minutes at 400F is enough to give them a bit more crunch.
🍳 Related snacks recipes
If you're looking for some comforting easy food to prepare for your family to combine with these crispy fried onions, our best Sunday dinner soul food recipes and best American comfort food recipes are perfect for feeding large crowds.
👪 Serving size
These crispy onions recipes will give you around 2 cups, which is enough to top 4-6 servings of soup, casserole, or meatloaf.
The beauty of this recipe is that it's easily scalable. So, if you need more or less, simply adjust the ingredients accordingly, and enjoy the crispiest breaded onions you have ever tried! You'll be baking these more often after the first batch!
Love this side dish recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort side dish recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Homemade Crispy Onions (Oven-Baked!)
Ingredients
- 2 medium Yellow onions - thinly sliced
- 4 teaspoons Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup All-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
Preparations
- Peel and slice the onions into thin rounds.
Cooking instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius) and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, toss onions with oil, flour, panko, and salt.
- Mix the onions thoroughly, then spread them evenly onto the baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes (rotating the pans in the oven as necessary) until lightly browned and crispy.
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