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How to Cook Frozen Onion Rings in the Air Fryer

These frozen onion rings in the air fryer come out SO crispy that you’d never know they weren’t deep-fried.

How to cook frozen onion rings

Thanks to the air fryer, we don’t need any oil at all, keeping the calories and saturated fat lower than deep-fried onion rings you’d order off a menu.

The best part about making frozen onion rings in the air fryer is that you can use ANY brand of onion rings!

I used these onion rings from Kroger, which happen to use minced onion, but any traditional frozen onion ring will cook the exact same way. One of my favorites are Alexia onion rings, and those would work great as air fryer onion rings.

 

How to cook frozen onion rings in the air fryer

Making air fryer onion rings is truly as simple as adding your frozen onion rings to the air fryer basket and then air frying, but there are a few important notes worth mentioning.

First and foremost, you do not want to overcrowd the air fryer basket. An air fryer achieves that beautiful crisp by circulating hot air around the frozen food, so when you crowd the basket, the air cannot circulate as well.

In other words, too much food in the air fryer = a lackluster crisp!

Instead, stick with a single layer of onion rings to maximize the crispiness. Much like my Parmesan Truffle Fries (a favorite air fryer recipe of mine), the crisp is what sets these apart from the oven-baked version.

The other important note is to preheat the air fryer for a couple of minutes prior to adding your frozen onion rings. While you can get away with not preheating the air fryer, it’s the other secret to achieving a crispy onion ring.

If you do not preheat the air fryer, you may just need another minute of cooking time.

Air fry the onion rings at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

If you use an air fryer that has shelves instead of a basket, you can simply flip the onion rings over after 5 minutes.

Remove the fried onion rings and serve with your favorite dipping sauce!

Note that if you make homemade onion rings with panko breadcrumbs, you’ll need to use some kind of cooking spray or olive oil to help prevent the cooked onion rings from becoming too dry (much like the way I make my Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Sandwich).

 

What to serve with air fryer onion rings

Holding onion ring

Onion rings are a great side dish for virtually any sandwich, and lucky for you, I’ve got plenty of sandwich recipes here on my blog! Here are some of my favorites (bonus points if you put an air fryer onion ring ON the sandwich):

 

Holding onion ring

Frozen Onion Rings in the Air Fryer

Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

You can have perfectly crispy onion rings at home in just minutes without any deep frying thanks to the air fryer!

Ingredients

  • 1 Bag of Frozen Onion Rings
  • That's it!

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees for a couple of minutes. You can skip the preheating if necessary, but it's the key to getting these onion rings crispy.
  2. Add your onion rings to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do 2 batches.
  3. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. You can flip each onion ring individually, but I'm all about keeping things simple.
  4. Remove from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Any brand or type of onion rings should require the same cook time. Frozen onion rings will be ready after 7-8 minutes, but if you want them truly crispy, go for 10 minutes.
  • Without an air fryer, you can cook frozen onion rings in the oven. Most packages will include instructions on the best time & temperature, but 425 degrees F for 10-12 minutes (flipping halfway) should work well.
  • Calories and nutrition listed below will vary based on the brand of frozen onion rings used.

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Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 6 Onion Rings
Amount Per Serving Calories 200Total Fat 8gCarbohydrates 28gProtein 3g

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About Matt Rosenman

With over 15 years of experience in health and fitness, Matt Rosenman is the expert voice behind Cheatdaydesign.com. Matt’s philosophy is simple: no foods are off-limits, and a healthy lifestyle shouldn't be complicated or restrictive. As a former certified personal trainer with a bachelor’s degree in Health Behavioral Sciences, Matt brings well-rounded expertise to his blog. From revamping classic recipes with a nutritious twist to breaking down fast food menus, his goal is make healthy living less confusing for everyone. Featured in major publications and with a strong following on social media, Matt is committed to making “healthy” uncomplicated—no matter where you are in your health journey. Join Matt on his mission to simplify health without sacrificing flavor. Learn More

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