Air Fryer frozen onion rings (2024)

Published: | Updated: | Author: Neena Panicker

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Air Fryer frozen onion rings are a quick and easy side dish or appetizer. Cooking frozen onion rings in the air fryer is much quicker and the onion rings turn out much crispier than baking them in the oven. Air fried frozen onion rings are also healthier than those cooked in a deep fryer.

Air Fryer frozen onion rings (1)

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I’m a huge fan of onion rings, but I don’t have the patience to make homemade onion rings. This is where frozen onion rings have come to the rescue.

I occasionally deep-fry onion rings but I generally prefer to bake them in the oven. But I discovered that air fryer frozen onion rings get crispier than baked ones.

Onion rings make for a great appetizer or they can be served as a side dish for hot dogs and burgers or vegetarian burgers. I think they turn out even better than fast-food restaurant onion rings.

I’ve been busy trying out different foods in the air fryer and I’ve found that the air fryer is excellent for reheating frozen foods such as chicken pot pie.

In addition to these crispy delicious onion rings, other great side dishes to try are my air fryer frozen french fries, sweet potato fries, or steak fries.

For kid-friendly snacks, you may like some of my other air fryer frozen foods including air fryer frozen taquitos, air fryer tater tots, chicken tenders, or dino nuggets.

If you’re looking for healthier sides, I also have air fryer recipes for brussel sprouts and cauliflower. And finally, one of my favorite main courses in the air fryer is pork chops!

Tips for Success

For this recipe, I recommend that you preheat your air fryer. My Cosori has a preheat button that allows me to preheat the air fryer before putting in the food.

Don’t defrost the onion rings. Cook them straight from frozen.

I do cook many frozen foods at 400 degrees F but I like to use a lower temperature for these onion rings so they cook evenly. I’ve found that cooking them at high temperature results in an overcooked exterior and undercooked interior.

Keep the air fryer onion rings frozen until you’re ready to cook them.

Don’t fill the air fryer basket too high because the onions may not cook through. I find that I can fit half a bag of frozen onion rings at a time in my air fryer without crowding the onion rings.

I have a few different sizes of air fryers and find that some of them can fit more than others.

If you have one of those smaller air fryers, you may need to air fry the onion rings in a few batches. You can reheat the prior batches for 1-2 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit if they cool down too much.

Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make frozen onion rings inside the air fryer, monitor and check on them 2 minutes before the cooking time is up. Adjust the recipe as needed in the future.

FAQS

Do I need to oil onion rings?

I’ve done it with and without oil. The air fried frozen onions get crispy even without oil but you can spray a little oil (olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil) on the onion rings and the bottom of the basket to make the onion rings even crispier. Don’t use canned cooking spray but rather an oil mister.

Do the onion rings need to be in a single layer?

Keep the onion rings as close to a single layer as you can in order to get perfectly crispy onion rings. There can be a bit of overlap.

How long to air fry frozen onion rings?

Cook them for about 12 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking them halfway through. Check on them about 10 minutes in, and take them out if you feel that they’re done.

What brand of frozen onion rings was used in this recipe?

Nathan’s frozen onion rings is my favorite brand. I find they are the best frozen onion rings for the air fryer. My next favorite brand of onion rings is Alexia onion rings. Other popular brands are Red Robin, and Ore Ida onion rings.

What brand of air fryer was this recipe tested with?

This recipe was tested using a basket air fryer (Cosori) and Instant Pot air fryer (Duo Crisp).

What should I do if the onion rings aren’t crispy?

If they aren’t crisp enough, toss the onion rings and air fry them for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.

Can I reheat air fryer onion rings?

Store leftover onion rings in an airtight container. Reheat onion rings in the air fryer is easy. Air fry them for 2 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You may need to spray the onion rings with a little bit of oil if you find that they’re not getting crisp enough.

How to make frozen onion rings in air fryer

Air Fryer frozen onion rings (2)
Air Fryer frozen onion rings (3)
  1. Keep onion rings frozen until ready to use
  2. Preheat air fryer
  3. Place the onion rings in the air fryer basket
  4. Air fry onion rings
  5. Flip the onion rings halfway through the cooking process
  6. Transfer onion rings to a serving platter
  7. Serve these delicious onion rings with your favorite sauce

See recipe details below on how to frozen air fryer onion rings

Air Fryer frozen onion rings (4)

Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings

Air Fryer frozen onion rings are a quick and easy side dish or snack. Cooking frozen onion rings in the air fryer is much quicker and the onion rings turn out much crispier than baking them in the oven. Air fried frozen onion rings are also healthier than deep-fried onion rings.

5 from 1 vote

PRINT PIN RATE

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 (½ bag)

Calories: 200

Author: Paint the Kitchen Red

Ingredients

  • ½ bag onion rings or as many as will fit in a row *

Instructions

Air Fryer Instructions (See Note!)

  • Place the empty air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes. **

  • Add the frozen onion rings to the air fryer basket, without overcrowding.

  • Air fry for 12 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, turning them over with tongs or shaking the basket at the 6 minute mark.

  • Transfer the onion rings to a serving platter and serve with ketchup, fry sauce, barbecue sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Note: Every air fryer’s cooking time will vary due to wattage, capacity, and other factors. Always check on the food 2 to 3 minutes before the time is up to make sure it’s not burning or overcooking!
  • * Nathan’s onion rings were used in this recipe.However, the same timings can be used for different brands. Nutrition information is for Nathan’s onion rings.
  • Don’t thaw the frozen onion rings before air frying.
  • Every air fryer will vary. The first time you make this recipe, monitor the onion rings and adjust the air frying time as needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 5 rings | Calories: 200 kcal | Carbohydrates: 26 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 10 g | Saturated Fat: 2.5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.5 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4.5 g | Sodium: 300 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 6 g

Course Sides

Cuisine American

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Air Fryer frozen onion rings (2024)

FAQs

How long should you cook frozen onion rings in an air fryer? ›

Instructions
  1. Add the frozen onion rings to the air fryer and spread out as best you can.
  2. Air fry the onion rings for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, shaking half way through.
  3. Air fry an additional 5-7 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
May 31, 2022

How to crisp up onion rings in air fryer? ›

An air fryer is the best way to recreate the crispiness of fresh onion rings.
  1. Preheating the air fryer to 400°F.
  2. Place the onion rings in the fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them.
  3. Air fry for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Jan 28, 2024

Are onion rings better in air fryer or deep fryer? ›

The obvious difference between frying onion rings and air frying them is that regular onion rings are submersed in oil to fry. Air fryer onion rings use MUCH less oil, but can get just as crispy!

Can you put red robin onion rings in the air fryer? ›

Red Robin onion rings are made from a significant vegetable; this is a healthy meal. These are oil-free because you make them in the air fryer. Oil-free snacks are heavenly, delicious, and more nutritious than usual.

What temperature do you air fry frozen? ›

Mind the Temperature: Follow package instructions for temperature settings, but generally, a temperature of 350-400°F (175-200°C) works well for most frozen items.

How long to air fry onion rings on Reddit? ›

Place onion rings in the preheated air fryer, and cook for 10 minutes (flip halfway). Try to arrange them such that you can cook as many as possible at a time — we only needed to cook two batches. Serve with mayo and ketchup.

What is the trick to getting things extra crispy with an air fryer? ›

The drier your food is when it goes in, the crispier it'll be when it comes out. Extra liquid can also cause splattering and smoking, so even if you think your ingredients are dry, give them one last pat with a paper towel before adding them to the basket.

Why are my onion rings not crispy? ›

Don't skip the frying thermometer though—it's important to make sure you're frying at the right temperature so your onion rings come out crispy, crunchy, and delicious. If the oil isn't hot enough, your onion rings can turn out soggy; too hot, and the oil can start to smoke.

Why does my air fryer not crisp? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

What is the absolute best thing to cook in an air fryer? ›

How to Cook and Season the Best Air-Fryer Foods With Ease
  • Chicken Breasts. Everyone has cooked or eaten a rubbery, dried-out chicken breast and there's just nothing about that experience that you want to repeat. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Zoodles. ...
  • Cauliflower Gnocchi. ...
  • Salmon (chopped) ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Personal Pizzas. ...
  • Frozen Cauliflower.
Feb 18, 2020

What is the best brand of onion rings for air fryer? ›

Nathan's frozen onion rings is my favorite brand. I find they are the best frozen onion rings for the air fryer. My next favorite brand of onion rings is Alexia onion rings. Other popular brands are Red Robin, and Ore Ida onion rings.

What is the secret to air frying? ›

The key to air frying is air circulation. An air fryer works like a small convection oven, with an especially powerful fan that keeps the hot air moving constantly above, below, and around food that's sitting on a grate or rack rather than a flat surface.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

How long do frozen onion rings take in Airfryer? ›

Frozen onion rings take around 8-9 minutes to cook in an air fryer. This will produce crispy, golden brown onion rings that taste just like they were deep-fried.

Can I air fry bowls? ›

Before you even consider putting any dish, plate, or bowl in your air fryer, verify the dish is oven-safe. This will either be marked on the bottom of the dish or on the original packaging for the dishes. Plastic and certain types of glass should never be placed in an air fryer.

How do you know how long to cook frozen food in an air fryer? ›

As a general rule, frozen foods should be cooked in an air fryer for 5-15 minutes longer than the recommended specific cook times for fresh or thawed food.

What is 350 degrees in an air fryer? ›

The general rule of thumb is, you'll want to reduce the cooking temperature by about 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit (15-20 degrees Celsius) when using an air fryer. For example, if a recipe calls for baking at 350°F (175°C) in the oven, set your air fryer to around 320-325°F (160-165°C).

How long to cook frozen chips in an air fryer? ›

Cook frozen chips in the air fryer at 400℉ (200℃) for 10 to 20 minutes until perfectly golden brown and crisp on the outside. Can you cook frozen chips in the air fryer? Absolutely! Perfectly golden brown fries that are crisp on the outside and tender in the center; perfect for dipping and satisfying your craving!

How long to fry frozen onion? ›

Add a tablespoon of oil. Add 250g of diced onions and fry for 3 mins, stirring frequently. Simply add from frozen to your soup, stew, casserole or pasta sauce and cook thoroughly.

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