French’s Copycat Crispy Fried Onions

Crispy fried onions can be deep fried in oil or you can make air fryer onion rings too! Want homemade copycat French’s fried onions, they’re way better than canned!

Onion Straws

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. Either fried or made as thin air fryer onion rings and crushed turn a good dish into something incredible I tell you.

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 because I have those on hand and they lead to a more savory flavor.

How to Make Fried Onions

Copycat French’s Crispy Fried Onions

Let’s start with the traditional method of making crispy fried onions 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 Instant Pot green bean casserole, homemade is always best.

Fried Onions Recipe

Yes you can buy a can of French’s fried onions to shake on top of your green bean casserole this year, but wait!! Try something new this year and make these onion straws instead!

There are many types of onions out there, but I think yellow are best for this. Can you use white onions for onion rings? This is purely up to you. White onions have a shaper, more pungent flavor, while yellow onions have a nice balance of sharp and sweet.

1. Onions – sliced thin
2. Flour
3. Pepper
4. Salt
5. Buttermilk
6. Vegetable oil for frying
7. Shallow bowl

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.

French’s French Fried Onions

Yes we are going to slice them thinly for this recipe because 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

For example, for our easy green bean casserole I like them REALLY crispy and teeny tiny in size. If I’m making these just to snack on I will slice them a bit thicker, more like homemade onion rings.

Steps are basic: Just put flour mixture in a bowl to combine, dip onion into buttermilk, then into flour, fry and drain on paper towels!

What is onion ring batter made of?

Here are a few questions you might be asking yourself as you start to make these. Typically it’s a mixture of flour and a liquid like buttermilk here with some salt and pepper for flavor.

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.

Tip: 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.

What if you don’t want to fry your homemade onion rings in oil?

Air fryer onion rings

You can make them another way too! Hot air machines are seriously the best I tell you. We love easy air fryer recipes like this one.

1. 2 onions sliced
2. 1 c all purpose flour
3. 1 tbsp seasoned salt
4. 2 c Italian bread crumbs
5. 1 egg whisked
6. 1/2 tsp pepper
7. 3/4 tsp baking soda
   1. helps to keep them really crunchy
8. 1 c liquid
   1. beer
   2. broth
   3. water

You could really choose any flavoring you wanted with these. There is plain of course and Italian seasoned that we prefer. Olive oil spray is something you’ll want to air fry everything, unless you want to make plain air fryer onions without any coating.

Crispy fried onions in an air fryer

You can use any brand of electric air fryer or we have the best large air fryer around too. Slice onions as thick or thin as you’d like them. Then separate the rings. In 1 bowl put in your breadcrumbs, in a 2nd mix together the rest of your dry ingredients, in a 3rd whisk your egg with your cup of liquid.

• Preheat your air fryer or Ninja Foodi to 360 degrees
• Now dip your handful of onions onion in the flour bowl, then the egg bowl, and finally cover with breadcrumbs.

Place in your air fryer basket, don’t overlap them. Then spray them all with olive oil spray.

• Once full close lid and cook for 6 minutes total, flipping halfway through until golden brown. (timing is approx. depending on how brown you like them)

Remove, add remaining onions to fry until all are done. Sprinkle on top of your recipe or eat as is as a tasty snack.

How do you preserve onion rings?

Pack them in layers inside rigid containers using plastic wrap in between them. Seal the containers, label, and freeze

How do you keep onion rings crispy when reheated?

1. You need to preheat your oven first to 350^oF.
2. Cover them with foil.
3. Bake for approximately 10 to 15 minutes until as crispy as desired.
4. Enjoy!

Here are a few other ideas you might enjoy using this same main ingredients too: We have directions for air fryer frozen onion rings too which are fabulous with some teriyaki chicken.