Frozen Onion Rings in the Air Fryer (Perfect Crispy)

Frozen Onion Rings in Air Fryer go from freezer to table in just a few minutes! Make a batch today as a crispy and delicious appetizer or side dish. Air fryer recipes like this are the best! 

 

Who says that air fryer onion rings have to be complicated? You can have crispy onion rings in a few short minutes of time!

This great appetizer makes perfectly golden brown goodness, with a cook time of literally 2-3 minutes. 

Fried food like this uses just a little oil and shows that you can enjoy some of your new top foods in fun and new favorite ways.

The hot air of the air fryer is the percent coking method for crispier onion rings because, with the proper air circulation, you’ll have crispy perfection. 

Grab your favorite brand of onion rings, and get started on this great side dish.

Once this easy recipe is done cooking, pair it with onion ring sauce, hot sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, or any of your other favorite dipping sauces. 

And yes, if you’re lucky enough to have leftover onion rings, store them in an airtight container for later.

You can then reheat these delicious air fryer onion rings and they’ll taste just as good as they did the first time you make them! 

Frozen Onion Rings in Air Fryer

While this air fryer frozen onion rings recipe couldn’t be any easier to follow, there are a few tips below to help you get the best results from this kitchen appliance.

You can use this oil-free fryer to cook frozen French fries as well! They’re ready in half the time as the oven, and you won’t have to heat up the whole kitchen.

For another simple veggie appetizer, try my Rosemary Roasted Onions tossed in a tangy homemade dressing.

Want that caramelized flavor for a meal instead? This Slow Cooker French Onion Soup tastes just like a bowl from your favorite bistro at a fraction of the cost.

Air Fried Onion Rings Tips and Tricks

• Make clean up easier. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in the bottom of the basket but leave some of the outer holes uncovered. 
  
  Or, use a toothpick or skewer to poke holes in the paper for better circulation.
  
• Cook straight from frozen. Since these tend to thaw pretty quickly, be sure to air fry onion rings frozen for best results. 
  
  If you just got home from the grocery store, you may want to toss them in the freezer for a bit first or reduce the cooking time accordingly.
  
• Avoid overcrowding. Work in batches as needed, as overlapping frozen onion rings in air fryer will result in soggy spots.
  
• Don’t leave them in the basket. They will continue to cook from the residual heat, so be sure to remove air fried onion rings as soon as they are done.

How to Air Fry Onion Rings Frozen

First, preheat your appliance. Add the battered vegetables to the basket or racks, making sure there is enough space for circulation.

I’ve found that if any of them are touching while they cook, those areas tend to get soggy and the batter is more likely to fall off.

Give the basket a shake a few times or use tongs to flip them if they are on racks. 

Once they are done, transfer air fryer frozen onion rings immediately to a serving bowl and start the next batch if needed.

Troubleshooting

• Not crispy enough?

Give the air fryer basket a good shake or flip each ring individually with tongs. Then, cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

• Look dry?

While oil isn’t necessary to air fry onion rings from frozen, it can sometimes help — especially if the brand used doesn’t include oil in the batter.

Spritz oil (not cooking spray) over frozen onion rings in the air fryer either before cooking or at the mid-point.

Serving Suggestions

Air fried onion rings would go well with hot dogs and hamburgers, or as an appetizer by themselves. Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce for extra flavor.

• Ranch 
• Barbecue
• Ketchup
• Cheese Sauce
• Honey Mustard

Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings FAQ

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Other Frozen Recipes

Frozen Onion Rings in the Air Fryer (Perfect Crispy)

Donna Elick

Frozen Onion Rings in Air Fryer are ready in just a few minutes! Make a batch today as a crispy and delicious appetizer or side dish.

5 stars from 2 reviews

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Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!

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Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Method Air Fryer

Servings 2

Equipment

• air fryer

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/2 bag frozen onion rings, I like Alexia or Nathan’s
• ▢ Salt, optional

Instructions

 

• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F, for 3 minutes.
• Pour onion rings evenly into the air fryer. Shake the basket to spread them out. You want your onion rings to cook evenly, so do not overcrowd your basket (I fill mine about half way) so you may need to cook in batches if you are making the whole bag or if you have a small air fryer.
• Cook for 5-7 minutes shaking the basket every few minutes. If you have racks in your air fryer, you will want to toss the onion rings with tongs half way through the cook time.
• Once you have achieved your preferred level crispness, pour the onion rings into a serving bowl and taste to see if any seasoning is needed. If necessary sprinkle with salt, to taste.

Donna’s Notes

Please be careful not to overcook. And confirm the cook time. Let me know if you have any changes on the recipe. I like Nathan’s and Alexia’s onion rings. No oil needed in this recipe.

Smaller air fryers will cook slower so use your best judgement to adjust your cook time accordingly.

If your onion rings are not crisp enough after the cook time, cook for an additional minute and check them again.

If you keep your onion rings in the air fryer basket they will continue to cook (as the basket/tray is hot).

Serve with:

Cheese Sauce

Barbecue sauce

Honey mustard

Nutrition

Serving: 1

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published March 2021, updated and republished June 2024

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