Homemade crispy fried onions are so much better than store-bought! They have the perfect crunchy texture to make your green bean casserole shine.
While it might be hard to stop yourself from eating these fried onions by the handful, try to save some for your recipes! I love these added to Caesar Salad or on top of Broccoli Chicken Casserole. They add tons of flavor and great crunch to any dish.
This recipe is a copycat of French’s fried onions, and I must say that this version is 100 times better. If you like copycat recipes, you should try making my copycat Shamrock Shake too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made from scratch: French fried onions from the grocery store are convenient, but they may have ingredients in them that you would prefer not to eat. This recipe lets you control all of the additives, and can even be made gluten-free if you like!
- Quick and Easy: Once the onions have marinated in seasoned buttermilk, it only takes a few minutes to deep fry them to crispy perfection.
- The Perfect Topping: Homemade Crispy Fried Onions are delicious on top of casseroles, soups, salads, and more! They are also a tasty fried snack!
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Onions: For this recipe, you’ll need two large onions. A yellow onion is what I used here, but a white onion or sweet onion will also work. We’ll be slicing the onions into very thin rings before battering and frying.
- Crispy Coating: Buttermilk, all-purpose flour, and salt are all that’s needed to make these onions taste amazing with the perfect light, flaky, crispy coating.
- Oil: For frying the crispy onions, you’ll need oil. Vegetable oil is the cheapest option for deep frying, but you can also use any other high-heat oil, such as corn oil or canola oil.
How to Make Crispy Fried Onions
- Slice the onions – To get the best crispy fried onions, you want to slice the onions super, super thinly. To do this effectively and efficiently, use a mandoline slicer. Separate the onion rings using your hands.
- Buttermilk Marinade – A nice soak in acidic buttermilk adds flavor to the onions and softens them a bit. Add the onions, buttermilk, and salt to a large bowl or a gallon-sized Ziplock bag. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
- Toss with Flour – Remove the onions from the buttermilk and toss them with flour. You can season the flour with salt and pepper if you like, although the onions are already seasoned from the marinade.
- Fry: Heat the oil in a saucepan or dutch oven to 350°F/180°C and line a plate or wire rack with paper towels. Fry the onions in small batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and season with salt while still hot if desired.
Recipe Tips
If marinating overnight, or any longer than 30 minutes, be sure to put the onion and buttermilk mixture in the refrigerator.
To get perfectly sliced, thin onion rings, use a mandoline slicer. You can also slice the onions by hand if you’re able to do so very thinly.
Feel free to add other seasonings if you like. A bit of garlic powder or pepper could be delicious. If desired, you can season the crispy onions after they are fried, or add seasonings to the flour.
A candy thermometer will help you to know what temperature your oil is.
Make these crispy fried onions gluten free using gluten free flour in place of the all-purpose flour.
Store crispy fried onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 days. To reheat, use your oven or air fryer to keep them crisp.
Recipes to Make with Crispy Fried Onions
Green Bean Casserole is the most-loved way to enjoy these crispy and delicious bits! I have a recipe for a traditional green bean casserole and a crockpot version that you have to try.
Top other casseroles like Broccoli Casserole and Creamy Turkey Casserole with these too. Any dish that is baked and topped with breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs will be extra special topped with french fried onions too.
As a soup or salad topping, crispy onions can’t be beat! Try these on Cream of Onion Soup, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, or Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup. Fried onions are tasty on Chicken Caesar Salad as well.
FAQs
These homemade crispy onions are not vegan, since they are marinated in buttermilk to create their delicious coating. They are vegetarian though! You can try using vegan milk with 2 tablespoons of vinegar in place of the buttermilk. Let me know if it works for you!
I tried making this recipe in the air fryer, and while they did cook, they didn’t turn out nearly as well as the fried version. I don’t suggest making crispy fried onions in the air fryer.
Store crispy fried onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 days. To reheat, use your oven or air fryer to keep them crisp.
I know you’re going to love being able to make your own homemade crispy fried onions from scratch! Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Crispy Fried Onions
Equipment
- Mandoline or a sharp knife
- Gallon sized ziptop bag
- Saucepan or a dutch oven
- Wire rack
Ingredients
- 2 large onions
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Use a mandolin or a shap knife, and slice the onions in thin rings. Using your hands separate the onion rings.
- In a large bowl or a gallon sized ziploc bag, combine the onions with buttermilk and salt. Marinate for 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
- Remove the onions from the buttermilk, and drain then toss in seasoned flour (with salt, and pepper if desired).
- In a saucepan, or a dutch oven, heat vegetable or canola oil to 350°F/180°C. Line a plate or a wire rack with paper towels.
- Fry the onion in small batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden browned. Drain on the paper towels, and if desired season with salt while still hot.
Notes:
- Make these crispy fried onions gluten free using gluten free flour in place of the all-purpose flour.
- Store crispy fried onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3 days. To reheat, use your oven or air fryer to keep them crisp.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
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