Crispy Gluten-Free Onion Rings (Dairy-Free)

These crispy gluten-free onion rings make a delicious appetizer, savory snack or great side dish! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce for the perfect party food! Totally dairy-free too.

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

Email *

Save This!

Crispy Onion Rings for the Perfect Savory Snack!

I used to love eating onion rings at Burger King when I was a kid.

Fried to a golden perfection, onion rings are crispy outside and tender inside, making them a tasty appetizer or snack for when you’re craving something savory…plus they’re a classic comfort food that never fails to make me satisfied.

I’ve long wanted to try my hand at making onion rings, and today, we’re making a homemade version that’s both gluten-free and dairy-free too!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients required for this delicious onion rings recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required!).
• Easy to Make: Preparing this gluten-free onion ring recipe involves coating the rings first in a dry gluten-free flour mixture, then in a batter, and finally in panko breadcrumbs, before deep-frying them till a golden brown.
• Totally Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: The best part is that these onion rings are 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy it without issues.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free onion rings recipe.

(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Recipe Notes + Substitutions:

• Onions: I used two medium-sized yellow onions, but you can also use white onions or red onions if you prefer.
• Frying Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it around. But you can also use other types of vegetable oil (such as canola oil, peanut oil, corn oil, avocado oil etc) instead.
• Gluten-Free Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, corn starch or potato starch). I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that is made up of heavier flours (such as garbanzo bean flour). Alternatively, if you are prefer, you may also use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.
• Gluten-Free Panko: I used gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, but you can also use regular gluten-free breadcrumbs if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular breadcrumbs instead.
• Egg: The egg is necessary as a binder to bind the ingredients together, so make sure you add it in.
• Buttermilk: I used dairy-free buttermilk to keep this recipe dairy-free, but if you are not lactose-intolerant, you can also use regular buttermilk instead. (To make your own buttermilk, combine 1/2 cup milk of choice and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, then mix and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes).
• Condiments: To flavor these onion rings, I used a mixture of salt, ground black pepper and granulated garlic (garlic powder). You may also add in other seasonings such as onion powder, ground paprika, ground cayenne pepper, etc.
• Baking Powder: Baking powder is necessary for the batter to be a little airier, so make sure to add it in.

How to Make Gluten-Free Onion Rings (Step by Step):

1. Heat Frying Oil

Pour the frying oil into a large frying pan or skillet and start heating it. Keep the heat on low while cutting the onion and preparing the batter.

The ideal temperature is 350°F to 375°F (175°C to 190°C).

2. Cut Onions into Rings

Cut the onions horizontally into 1/2-1/3 inch thick rings and separate them into individual onion rings.

3. Mix Flour and Condiments

In a large bowl, mix half the gluten-free all-purpose flour, black pepper, salt and granulated garlic.

4. Whisk Milk, Egg, Baking Powder and Flour

In another bowl, whisk together the batter ingredients: dairy-free buttermilk, egg, baking powder and the remaining gluten-free all-purpose flour.

(Note: The batter should be rather thick.)

5. Coat Onion Rings in Dry Mixture

Roll onion rings in the dry mixture until the rings are coated on all sides.

6. Dip Onions in Batter

Transfer the onion rings to the wet batter and coat until each ring is evenly coated, letting any excess batter drip off.

7. Coat Onion Rings in Gluten-Free Panko

Pour the gluten-free panko breadcrumbs into a separate plate and roll the battered onion rings in the panko.

8. Fry Until Golden

Then place the panko-coated onion rings in a pan with the hot oil. Fry for 1-2 minutes, until the rings are golden brown.

(TIP: Focus on the color of the breading – it should be golden brown, not dark brown.)

9. Soak Up Excess Oil

Place the fried onion rings on paper napkins to absorb any excess oil. Serve the homemade onion rings with your favorite sauce.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

• Dipping Sauces to Serve with Onion Rings: I used sriracha chili sauce, but you can also use your favorite sauces (such as ketchup, sriracha aioli, garlic aioli or tartar sauce if you prefer).
• Serve Onion Rings as a Side to: Homemade gluten-free burgers, hot dogs, salmon patties, chicken patties, chicken cutlets etc.

Other Gluten-Free Fried Snacks to Enjoy:

• Crispy Fried Pickles (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Easy Fried Chicken (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Homemade Corn Dogs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Funnel Cake (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Homemade Churros (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Gluten-Free Appetizers to Make:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

Print

Gluten-Free Onion Rings (Dairy-Free)

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

• Author: Felicia Lim
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

These crispy gluten-free onion rings make an incredibly delicious appetizer or savory snack! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce for the perfect party food! Totally dairy-free too.

---

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 medium-sized yellow onions
• 3–4 cups oil, for frying
• 7 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 3 cups gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup dairy-free buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/3 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Heat Frying Oil: Pour the frying oil into a large frying pan or skillet and start heating it. Keep the heat on low while cutting the onion and preparing the batter. The ideal temperature is 350°F to 375°F (175°C to 190°C).
2. Cut Onions into Rings: Cut the onions horizontally into 1/2-1/3 inch thick rings and separate them into individual onion rings.
3. Mix Flour and Condiments: In a large bowl, mix half the gluten-free all-purpose flour, black pepper, salt and granulated garlic.
4. Whisk Milk, Egg, Baking Powder and Flour: In another bowl, whisk together the dairy-free buttermilk, egg, baking powder and the remaining gluten-free all-purpose flour. The batter should be rather thick.
5. Coat Onions in Dry Mixture: Roll onion rings in the dry mixture on all sides.
6. Dip Onions in Batter: Transfer the onion rings to the batter and coat until each ring is evenly coated.
7. Coat Onion Rings in Panko: Pour the gluten-free panko into a separate plate and roll the battered onion rings in the panko.
8. Fry Until Golden: Then place the panko-coated onion rings in a pan with the hot oil. Fry for 1-2 minutes, until the rings are golden brown. (Focus on the color of the breading – it should be golden brown, not dark brown.)
9. Soak Up Excess Oil: Place the fried onion rings on paper napkins to absorb any excess oil. Serve with sauce of choice (I used sriracha chili sauce, but you can also use ketchup, sriracha aioli, garlic aioli or tartar sauce if you prefer).

Notes

Onions: I used two medium-sized yellow onions, but you can also use white onions or red onions if you prefer.

Frying Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it around. But you can also use other types of frying oil instead.

Gluten-Free Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour that is made up of lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, corn starch or potato starch). I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that is made up of heavier flours (such as garbanzo bean flour). Alternatively, if you are prefer, you may also use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.

Gluten-Free Panko: I used gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, but you can also use regular gluten-free breadcrumbs if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular breadcrumbs instead.

Egg: The egg is necessary as a binder to bind the ingredients together, so make sure you add it in.

Buttermilk: I used dairy-free buttermilk to keep this recipe dairy-free, but if you are not lactose-intolerant, you can also use regular buttermilk instead. (To make your own buttermilk, combine 1/2 cup milk of choice and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, then mix and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes).

Condiments: To flavor these onion rings, I used a mixture of salt, ground black pepper and granulated garlic. You may also add in other seasonings (such as onion powder, ground paprika, etc).

Baking Powder: Baking powder is necessary for the batter to be a little airier, so make sure to add it in.

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Category: Appetizers
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American