Crispy Baked Dairy-Free Onion Rings with Air Fryer Option

Craving that satisfying bite of a perfect onion ring without dairy or a deep fryer? You’ve come to the right place! These easy, baked dairy-free onion rings are battered and breaded to create rings of tender, juicy onion on the inside with a crispy coating on the outside. And they can be made in your oven or air fryer! This recipe is the perfect nosh for game day, fun for an appetizer night, or great as a side dish with your favorite burger, sandwich, or tenders.

Why You’ll Love this Dairy-Free Onion Rings Recipe

• Perfect Bite: In minutes, you’ll have crispy onion rings without all the excess oil.
• Also Vegan: Classic onion rings are naturally egg-free. But this version is also dairy-free, making it plant-based without sacrificing flavor.
• Healthier Side: Baking or air frying uses significantly less oil than deep-frying, for a lighter option that’s still delicious!
• Simple Ingredients: You likely have most of what you need right in your pantry right now!
• Variations: This recipe really lets the sweet onion flavor shine through. But we also have options for spicy and beer-battered dairy-free onion rings, too.

Choosing the Best Onions

The type of onion you choose can make a big difference. For the best onion rings, look for:

• Sweet Onions: These are the top choice for their mild, sweet flavor, which perfectly complements the savory coating. Look for types like Vidalia, Walla Walla, or Maui onions.
• Yellow or Spanish Onions: These are great all-purpose onions with balanced flavor that does become sweeter as they bake.

Choose large, firm onions, which will yield more rings and are easier to slice and separate. Aim for slices that are at least ½-inch thick for the perfect onion-to-coating ratio.

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Regular Breadcrumbs instead of Panko?

Yes, but you’ll want to dry them out. Spread your breadcrumbs (white, whole wheat, or gluten-free) out on a baking sheet. Bake them in a 300ºF oven for about 6 to 8 minutes, until dry but not toasted.

Do You Have a Corn-Free Option?

In a pinch, you can substitute arrowroot starch, tapioca starch, or even potato starch. They each produce slightly different results but will help make a lighter, crispier batter.

Can I Use Whole Wheat Flour?

You can, but the batter will be a little denser and slightly less crisp.

What Non-Dairy Milk do You Recommend?

Your favorite milk alternative should work just fine, whether it’s soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or even a pea protein milk.

Do You Have a Gluten-Free Option?

Yes! See the Special Diet Notes below.

Special Diet Notes: Baked Dairy-Free Onion Rings

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian. Just be sure to use a milk alternative that suits your dietary needs.

For gluten-free, dairy-free baked onion rings, you can substitute your favorite gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. You might need to increase the flour amount to 3/4 cup or even 1 cup, as gluten-free flour often doesn’t thicken as much as all-purpose flour. Also be sure to use gluten-free panko or toasted breadcrumbs.

Alisa Fleming

Crispy Baked Dairy-Free Onion Rings

5 from 1 vote

You won't miss those greasy diner onion rings when you take a bite of this delicious recipe. The rings are dipped in batter to seal in the onion and create a tender, juicy texture on the inside. But the addition of crumbs on the outside helps ensure a crispy coating.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 14 minutes mins

Total Time 44 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Appetiser

Cuisine: American

Calories: 260

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 pound sweet onions like Vidalia, Maui, or Walla Walla
• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup cold unsweetened dairy-free milk alternative
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Cooking spray as needed

Method

 

1. Slice the onions into 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick rings. Separate the rings and place the larger rings in a bowl. The smaller inside rings can be reserved for other recipes calling for onion.
2. Preheat your oven to 450ºF and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
3. In a wide bowl, whisk together the flour and cornstarch. Gradually whisk in the milk alternative until smooth. Whisk in the vinegar.
4. In another wide bowl, stir together the bread crumbs and salt. Drizzle in the oil and use your fingers to gently mix it and coat the crumbs.
5. Set up a line with the onions, the flour batter, the breadcrumbs, and the baking sheet, in that order.
6. Dip an onion slice into the batter, letting the excess drip off. Transfer it to the breadcrumbs and use your other hand to sprinkle a handful of breadcrumbs over the onion, to coat it completely. Carefully transfer it to your baking sheet. Repeat with all of the onion slices.
7. Once they're all on the sheet, spray the onion rings lightly with cooking spray.
8. Bake the onion rings for 8 minutes. Gently flip the rings, and bake for another 6 minutes. They should be golden brown and crisp.
9. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 recipeCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 47.2gProtein: 6.8gFat: 4.7gSaturated Fat: 0.7gSodium: 719mgFiber: 2.9gSugar: 7.3g

Notes

Air Fryer Option: Layer the coated onion rings into your air fryer basket until it is about half full. You will likely need to cook in batches. Rotate as you layer so only a couple of edges on each ring overlap. Lightly spray with oil or cooking spray. Air fry at 330°F for 5 minutes, then air fry at 370°F for 5 minutes more, or until brown and crispy. Repeat this process until all the onion rings are cooked.

Credits: Our original recipe for vegan onion rings was reprinted with permissions from Appetite for Reduction, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Over the years, we've adapted it, added more options, and have also taken inspiration from Kathy Hester's beer-battered onion rings recipe from Vegan Cooking in Your Air Fryer.

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Dairy-Free Onion Ring Variations

• Spicy Garlic: Whisk ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper into the flour with the cornstarch.
• Beer Battered: Increase the flour to 3/4 cup. Omit the vinegar and substitute 3/4 cup beer and 1/4 cup aquafaba (chickpea water) for the milk alternative. If you are not vegan and are okay with eggs, you can use 1 egg in place of the aquafaba. If the batter is too thick, feel free to add a little more beer.

Dipping Sauce Suggestions for Serving

• Ketchup
• BBQ Sauce
• Dairy-Free Ranch Dip
• Chipotle Mayo
• Honey Mustard
• Dairy-Free “Fuddruckers” Cheese Sauce
• Dairy-Free Dill Pickle Dip

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