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Home Recipes Appetizers

Crispy Gluten Free Onion Rings

25 min
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free
Avatar by: Lindsay Grimes Freedman
April 24, 2017 (Updated: October 28, 2022)
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This is an overhead view of onion rings in a red basket with parchment paper. A small silver cup filled with ketchup is also in the basket. Text overlay reads "gluten free crispy onion rings"
A hand is dipping an onion ring into a small silver cup of ketchup. The basket is lined with parchment paper and filled with more onion rings. Text overlay reads "gluten free crispy onion rings."
This is a side view of battered and fried onions in a red basket with parchment paper. One onion is being dipped into a small bowl of ketchup.
Gluten free onion rings are crispy and delicious! The breading is made with oat flour and simple to whip up for a quick vegan snack or appetizer!

The other day I impulsively got onion rings at a restaurant. I’m not a huge onion ring enthusiast so my impulsive order was very uncharacteristic.

I mean… mayyybe once in college I got a bloomin’ onion at Outback with some friends. But generally speaking, it’s not one of my go to eats.

And yet there I was with my onion ring order THRILLED. And, if I’m being honest, I questioned why this wasn’t a staple in my life. Onion rings are amazing. Why did no one tell me?

This vegan and gluten free onion rings recipe is so easy to make… maybe too easy.

It’s battered with an oat flour mixture combined with some spices to make a bomb batter to bathe those onion babies in.

A hand is dipping a fried battered onion into a small silver cup of ketchup. The basket is lined with parchment paper and filled with more onion rings.

Ingredients for gluten free onion rings:

Onion. The star of the show! I use yellow onions. I haven’t tried this recipe with red onions, but you can definitely give it a shot!

Oat milk. You can use you milk you like! Regular dairy milk or almond milk works here too!

Oat flour. I’ve been loving oat flour lately, but you can definitely try another flour here. Cashew flour is a great option if you’re looking for a nut flour. I’ve tied this recipe with almond flour and the breading doesn’t work as well as the others.

Spices. We’re using garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt.

Sunflower oil. For frying it up! You can use another mellow flavored frying oil.

This is an overhead view of breaded onions in a red basket with parchment paper. A small silver cup filled with ketchup is also in the basket. A blue tea towel is in the top left corner of the image.

How to make vegan & gluten free onion rings:

Slice. Slice your onion into 1/4″ rings and gently separate the layers from one another.

Make the batter. Whisk together the ingredients in a shallow bowl and set aside.

Heat the oil. You want the oil to come up 1/4 – 1/2 inch deep in the pan. Turn the heat to medium-high and heat until the oil is hot.

Batter the rings. Coat the onion rings in the better, flipping them to cover both sides.

Fry. Place the onion rings into the hot oil and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes, flipping halfway through.

I’m not sure if this is a “first pancake” kind of situation but for some reason my first batch is always the worst. So, I usually do one solo onion ring as a sacrifice for my first batch and then do 5 – 7 rings in the following batches. 

Remove. Use a fork to gently remove the onions and place onto a plate lined with a paper towel.

Sprinkle with remaining salt as soon as it comes out of the oil and cooling on the plate. 

This is a side view of onion rings in a red basket with parchment paper. A small silver cup filled with ketchup is also in the basket.
A hand is holding a fried onion ring. A red basket with parchment paper is blurred in the background and filled with more onion rings.

Can I store leftover onion rings?

I mean, you can but onion rings are best day of! Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for about three days. Reheat in the oven and enjoy!

More easy appetizers to try:

  • Jicama Fries
  • Everything Bagel Sweet Potato Fries + Chipotle Ketchup
  • Coconut Crusted Avocado Fries
  • Coconut Crusted Green Beans + Cashew Dip
  • Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
  • Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Fries

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

This is a side view of onion rings in a red basket with parchment paper. One onion rings is being dipped into a small bowl of ketchup. Recipe
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free

Crispy Gluten Free Onion Rings

Crispy gluten free onion rings are the best appetizer! The breading is made with oat flour and simple to whip up for a quick snack!

AvatarRecipe by:Lindsay Grimes Freedman
Prep: 10 minCook: 15 minTotal: 25 min
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • 1 cup oat milk (How to Make Oat Milk – or other favorite milk)
  • 1 cup gluten free oat flour (How to Make Oat Flour – cashew flour is also a great option)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • sunflower oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Slice your onion into 1/4″ rings and gently separate the layers from one another.
  2. Whisk together the milk, flour, garlic powder, paprika and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a shallow bowl.
  3. Allow to sit for a couple minutes. 
  4. Meanwhile, pour the oil into a pan until it’s about 1/4 – 1/2 inch deep. Turn the heat to medium-high heat until the oil is hot.
  5. Coat the onion rings in the breading mixture, flipping them to cover both sides.
  6. Place the onion rings into the hot oil and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  7. Use a fork to gently remove the onions and place onto a plate lined with a paper towel.
  8. I’m not sure if this is a “first pancake” kind of situation but for some reason my first batch is always the worst. So, I usually do one solo sacrifice onion ring for my first batch and then do 5 – 7 rings in the following batches. 
  9. Sprinkle with remaining salt as soon as it comes out of the oil and cooling on the plate. 
  10. Serve with ketchup or ranch and enjoy!

Nutrition Info:

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the onions rings
  • Calories: 77
  • Sugar: 6.1g
  • Sodium: 609mg
  • Fat: 1.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.6g
  • Fiber: 2.1g
  • Protein: 2.5g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
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Enjoy!! xo

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15 no bake desserts

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  1. AvatarMelanie Hoffman says

    Posted on 5/3/18 at 10:12 am

    Is there an alternative for the cashew flour? Can’t seem to find it online. I’m allergic to almonds, could I use coconut flour or hazelnut flour? These look absolutely amazing!

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay says

      Posted on 5/10/18 at 8:53 pm

      Hi Melanie! I usually say almond flour is the best sub but since you’re allergic, I’d go with hazelnut flour. Coconut flour tends to be super drying and so I stay away from it and stick to other nut flours. Hope you love them!! xo

      Reply
  2. AvatarJasmine says

    Posted on 6/20/18 at 11:23 pm

    Hi! These look amazing! Wanted to ask if you have ever baked these? I wanted to save time by baking instead. Thank you!

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 10/16/20 at 6:19 pm

      I haven’t tried baking them, so I don’t know how they’d turn out. Let me know if you experiment at all and how it goes! xo

      Reply
  3. AvatarLaura says

    Posted on 8/14/19 at 1:09 pm

    What do you think about cooking these in an air fryer?

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 8/11/20 at 7:56 am

      I’ve never tried it but I think it would be fun! Let me know how you make out!! xo

      Reply

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Lindsay

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I'm Lindsay I love sharing simple, better-for-you recipes. When I'm not in the kitchen, you can find me at the beach watching my kids boogie board and soaking in that warm Cali sun (with sunscreen, of course).

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