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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Published: Sep 17, 2023 · Modified: Feb 26, 2025 by AshleyFreeman ·

    Crispy Oven Baked Onion Rings with Panko Crust

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These oven baked onion rings are my newest obsession! There's no need for deep frying and the oily mess that comes with it! You can get crispy onion rings by baking them in the oven.

    And with my secret ingredient (Duke's mayonnaise), the panko bread crumbs will actually stick and create a crispy coating that would make you think they've been fried!

    Crispy oven baked onion rings on a rimmed baking sheet.

    I love to make these crispy baked onion rings when I want something crunchy and salty. They're the perfect side dish alternative to French fries and are easier than you think.

    Serve them with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce. In fact, the burger sauce from my Ultimate Cheeseburger recipe (my favorite burgers, by the way) is super delicious with these onion rings.

    And, while you're at it, check out these other recipes from my cookbook, The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook: Smoked Street Corn, Blackberry Peach Crisp, and Bananas Foster Bread to name a few.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Tasty tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Related
    • Even more
    • 🍽Get the recipe
    • Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    Time to get started! First, gather these ingredients.

    Ingredients for Oven Baked Onion Rings.
    • Vidalia onion (or other sweet onions)
    • All-purpose flour
    • Panko bread crumbs  (a Japanese-style breadcrumb)
    • Egg whites
    • Duke's mayonnaise
    • Water
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

    (See recipe card for quantities.)

    Instructions

    Follow these steps below to make these homemade oven onion rings:

    Placing onion slices into a green bowl of water.

    First, separate the onion into rings and place in a medium bowl. Soak the onion slices in water to cover.

    Panko, all-purpose flour, and batter in separate dishes for dredging station.

    Next, create a dredging station: Place the seasoned flour mixture in a shallow dish or bowl. Place the panko in a separate bowl or dish. Combine the mayonnaise, egg whites, and water in a third bowl.

    Coating onion rings in the dredging mixture and placing on a rimmed baking sheet.

    Then, working with one onion ring at a time, coat the onion in flour, then in the mayonnaise mixture, and then in the panko. Place the coated onion rings in a single layer on the baking sheets.

    Spraying the coated onion rings on rimmed baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

    Finally, spray the onion rings with cooking spray and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and crispy, turning after 15 minutes.

    Hint: For the best results when coating the onions, I use a fork to help keep my hands clean when dredging.

    Substitutions

    Check out these simple swaps to adapt this recipe to what you have on hand or to fit a special diet.

    • Onion - I love to use sweet Vidalia onions for this recipe but feel free to use yellow onions, red onions, or white onions.
    • Gluten-Free - Substitute gluten-free flour for the all-purpose flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs for the panko breadcrumbs.
    • Panko - You can also use regular breadcrumbs (dried) in place of panko.
    • Flour - To make these a little healthier, use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose.

    Variations

    • Spicy - Add a little cayenne pepper to the flour to give these oven baked onion rings a kick.
    • Ranch- Add a little ranch dressing powder to the panko to make these ranch onion rings.

    Equipment

    Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:

    • rimmed baking sheets
    • dry measuring cups
    • liquid measuring cup
    • large mixing bowl

    Storage

    Store any leftover oven baked onion rings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven.

    Freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Tasty tip

    The best way to ensure that you'll get crunchy onion rings is to not crowd the onions on the cookie sheet. Arrange them in a single layer for the ultimate crispy result, using two large baking sheets if needed.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you get the coating to stick to onion rings?

    Dipping the onion rings in flour before they're dipped in the mayonnaise-egg mixture and panko helps the coating to stick. The flour acts as the "glue."

    Why do you soak onions in water before making onion rings?

    I've found that soaking onions in water helps to retain the crunchiness and take away some of that astringent onion flavor.

    What kind of onion is best for onion rings?

    Being a Georgia girl, Vidalia onions are my favorite. Their sweetness is unmatched in my opinion. If you can't find Vidalia onions, Maui or Walla Walla onions will also work. Or, you can use a yellow or white onion too.

    How thick do you slice onions for onion rings?

    I like to cut the onion into ⅓- to ½-inch thick slices for onion rings.

    How do you cut onion rings without crying?

    Ooh this a toughie. My first tip is to make sure your chef's knife is super sharp. A dull knife will only press down more on those onion cells and release the chemical that makes you cry. I've heard you could freeze the onion for about 15 minutes before cutting, but I haven't found that trick to work for me.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

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      Low Country Boil with Roger Wood Smoked Sausage
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      Easy Homemade Cajun Tartar Sauce with Creole Mustard
    • Wooden bowl filled with creamy chicken macaroni salad with ceramic serving spoons, an orange checked cloth, two yellow glasses filled with ice water, and one pottery plate topped with a serving to the side.
      The Best Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad with Chicken

    Even more

    Check out some more of my favorite recipes:

    • Light wooden bowl filled with Zoe's Kitchen Copycat Pasta Salad with a wooden salad set in the bowl, a blue cloth, two blue glasses, a bowl of fresh basil, and salt and pepper shakers on the side.
      Tomato, Basil, and Feta Pasta Salad (Zoe's Copycat)
    • Green bowl filled with Elote Pasta Salad with a small wooden bowl of Cotija cheese and a small white bowl of cilantro on the side plus a green checked napkin and wooden serving spoon.
      Zesty Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Pasta Salad
    • Cast iron skillet filled with hot Mexican street corn dip with cream cheese on a wooden board surrounded by a blue checked napkin and small white enamel appetizer plates.
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    • Red tray topped with a Strawberry Rum Rita, bowl of strawberries and limes and cocktail picks with a pitcher of extra margaritas and a red checked cloth to the side.
      Delicious Strawberry Rum Rita (Rum Margarita)

    🍽Get the recipe

    Crispy oven baked onion rings on a rimmed baking sheet.

    Crispy Oven Baked Onion Rings with Panko Crust

    Try these oven baked onion rings that are super crispy but not deep-fried. What's my secret ingredient? My favorite mayo of course: Duke's.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4

    Equipment

    • rimmed baking sheets
    • dry measuring cups
    • liquid measuring cup
    • large mixing bowl

    Ingredients

    • 1 large Vidalia onion, peeled and cut crosswise into ¼-inch-thick slices
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
    • 4 large egg whites
    • ½ cup Duke's mayonnaise
    • ⅓ cup water
    • 3 cups panko breadcrumbs

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Coat 2 rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray.
    • Separate the onion into rings and place in a large bowl. Add enough water to cover.
    • Combine the flour and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper on a shallow plate or dish. Whisk together the egg whites, mayonnaise, and ⅓ cup water in a small bowl. Place the panko on a separate shallow plate or dish.
    • Working 1 onion ring at a time, dredge the onion in the flour, turning to coat. Shake off excess and dip in the mayonnaise mixture. (I use a fork to do this.) Coat in the panko and place on the baking sheet. Repeat the process until all the onion rings are coated. Coat with cooking spray.
    • Bake the onion rings at 425°F for 15 minutes. Turn them over and bake for another 10 minute or until they are browned and crispy. Sprinkle with additional salt while still hot.

    Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips

    When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

    • Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
    • When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
    • I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
    • When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

    Food safety

    Keep these few food safety things in mind when making this recipe

    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat or eggs
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat or eggs
    • Don't leave leftovers sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Side Dishes

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      Sweet Pepper and Cucumber Salad with Ginger Dressing
    • Blue rimmed oval platter topped with crispy smashed potatoes garnished with chopped chives along with a white linen and small white bowl of more chives off to the side and a yellow bowl of sour cream on the platter.
      Crispy Smashed Fingerling Potatoes with Garlic
    • Air fryer hot honey roasted carrots on a blue-rimmed oval platter with a gold and wooden handled fork, blue checked cloth, and white bowl of chopped parsley.
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    • White bowl filled with Ruby Tuesday Broccoli Salad with a yellow striped napkin on the side and a wooden handled spoon inside the bowl.
      Simple Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheddar Recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Charah says

      June 03, 2024 at 11:51 am

      5 stars
      I always crave for this and thankfully I found your recipe, thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        June 03, 2024 at 9:07 pm

        I crave them too! Thank goodness for a healthier alternative!

        Reply
    2. TAYLER ROSS says

      June 03, 2024 at 11:30 am

      5 stars
      I made these onion rings with dinner last night and they were incredible! Perfectly crispy!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        June 03, 2024 at 9:06 pm

        Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    3. Chenee says

      June 03, 2024 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      These are great! So much better for you than the oil fried version.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        June 03, 2024 at 10:29 am

        You're right, Chenee!

        Reply
    4. Kim says

      June 03, 2024 at 9:45 am

      5 stars
      You'd never know that these were baked. They are so crispy and perfect!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        June 03, 2024 at 10:29 am

        It's the best hack!

        Reply
    5. Paula says

      June 03, 2024 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      These baked onion rings are restaurant worthy!!! The texture and the flavor were just perfection!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        June 03, 2024 at 10:29 am

        I'm blushing, Paula! Thanks for your kind words! Glad they were a hit.

        Reply
    6. John Hilsdorf says

      September 23, 2023 at 9:04 am

      Where are the recipe cards?

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        September 26, 2023 at 7:29 am

        Hi John! They are at the bottom of the post. If you want to jump to the recipe quickly, hit the arrow next to "jump to" and scroll down to the recipe title and it'll take you to it.

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes

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    Photo of Ashley Strickland Freeman in a kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Ashley, "your best friend in the kitchen." I'm a food stylist, culinary producer, editor, travel junkie, and author of The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook from Charleston, SC. Thanks for stopping by Little Black Skillet!

    More about me →

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