Crispy fried onion strings can be deep fried in oil or you can make air fryer onion straws too! Want a homemade copycat French’s recipe to serve on top of your Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes, these are delicious!
I think I could put Frenchs crispy fried onions on just about every casserole I make! Making them homemade was new this year and I couldn’t believe how easy they were!
Copycat French’s Crispy Fried Onions Recipe
Have you had these on top of a hamburger at your favorite restaurant and would love to have them at your barbecue too? They are easier to make than you might think. Fried crisp and homemade unlike our air fryer frozen onion rings, these go great all top of all dishes!
You need to start with the obvious first, onions!! There are a lot of choices for sure if you’ve been to the produce section of your grocery store. From white to yellow, sweet, vidalia and red. Typically I opt for yellow for this and air fryer onions because I have those on hand and they lead to a more savory flavor.
Yes you can buy a can of French’s fried onions to shake on top of pressure cooker liver and onions this year, but wait!! Try something new this year and make these instead!
What is onion straw batter made of?
We are dipping and coating here instead of creating a sort of tempura batter, but you could use that instead. Some all purpose Flour will create a breading of sorts on the outside. Just enough to create that crispy texture that you expect. I have not use another type but imagine that if you need to use the Bobs Red Mill 1:1 gluten free variety that would be fine too.
Buttermilk will get the coating to stick with a rich flavor. If you just wanted to use milk I would suggest whole, but it won’t coat quite as well since it is lower in fat.
Salt and pepper are basic seasonings but you could certainly use whatever types you prefer.
And then you will want a few large white or yellow onions. Ideally you want them sliced thin. You can do this with a steady hand and sharp knife or easier than that I would suggest a mandoline so they are all the same thickness (and you don’t cut yourself).
Variations
The type of onion is purely up to you. White onions have a shaper, more pungent flavor, while yellow onions have a nice balance of sharp and sweet. Use both and see which you prefer when you dig in. These are meant to be savory, not sweet like our caramelized onions recipe.
Let’s start with the traditional method, on your stovetop first. This is what you will need. It’s not much, and quite inexpensive to make too. Whether you want them as a sinful snack, or to top your green bean casserole, homemade is always best.
Tips for Success
Of course starting with large onions is the first step. The thinner they are sliced the crunchier they will be, and the quicker they will cook.For the most part you’re using them to top another dish. Little bite size crispy fried onions is what we want. The smaller you slice them the crispier and faster they will cook. Keep that in mind when preparing
If I’m making these just to snack on I will slice them a bit thicker, more like homemade onion rings. You will want to create an assembly line to coat all of your pieces with the flour mixture, then into buttermilk, then into flour before frying. You can do this ahead of time and set on a baking sheet first.
Can you fry these in air fryer?
You can but the texture isn’t as crispy. To do this healthier you first want to preheat your air fryer or Ninja Foodi to 360 degrees. Now dip your handful of onions onion in a seasoned flour filled shallow bowl, then a whisked egg, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Place in your air fryer basket in single layer. Spray with olive oil spray. Air fry for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden brown. Remove, add remaining onions to fry until all are done.
Crispy Fried Onions Recipe
Equipment
- 2 shallow bowls
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour, all purpose
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, or whole milk
- 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Line a large plate with paper towels and set aside. Pour oil into a cast iron pot and heat up to 375F in oven while you prepare the ingredients (if you're using cast iron, if not then skip this step and heat oil in med. frying pan over med. heat).
- Peel and slice off the top and bottom from the onion. Thinly slice to about 1/8th inch round slices. Mix the salt and pepper into the flour until well combined and pour the milk into a small bowl.
- Dip the onion slices into the milk, making sure they are completely covered in the milk. Next dredge them in the flour also making sure they’re throughly coated.
- Carefully place the onion slices into the hot oil and fry until golden brown onboth sides, this will take about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove the onion slices and drain off excess oil on paper towel lined plate.
- Allow to cool before using. Chop into small pieces if making copycat French's fried onions to top on to green bean casserole etc… Any leftovers may be stored in an airtight container and in the refrigerator.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How do you keep fried onion crispy when reheated?
- You need to preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F
- Lay inside basket in a single layer
- Air fry for 1 minute on each side to crisp up again
- Enjoy!
What does soaking onions in ice water do?
Some people soak their raw sliced onions in a bowl of ice water for 1 hour. Then they drain the liquid out and pat dry with paper towels before battering them. This tends to keep the onions crispier I think. It also reduces their pungency. Once you’re ready you’ll want to prepare your oil for frying.
Do not put them in until it is nice and HOT. I drop a bit of batter inside the hot oil and if it immediately bubbles and cooks it is ready. Once done serve on top of our Roast with Onions and enjoy.
Sounds great and easy !!! Thanks!!!