Baked Crispy Gluten-Free Onion Rings - Air Fryer or Oven

3.43 from 7 votes

Baked Crispy Gluten-Free Onion Rings - Air Fryer or Oven

Enjoy these crispy gluten-free onion rings that are baked in the air fryer or oven so they're light vs. greasy. Enjoy them as a game day or holiday appetizer, or a healthy snack just for you.

Prep Time10

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: onion rings

Servings: people

Calories: 427kcal

Author: Jenny Levine Finke

Equipment

1 Air fryer or oven
1 Baking Sheet
Parchment paper
various bowls

Ingredients

1 large yellow onion
½ cup cornstarch
2 eggs large
2 cups gluten-free panko breadcrumbs see notes
1 ½ teaspoons salt divided
¾ teaspoon ground pepper divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder divided
avocado oil spray equivalent to 2 teaspoons of oil (or other vegetable oil spray)

Instructions

Preheat the oven or air fryer to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Peel the onion, and then slice it into half-inch circular slices. Carefully break the slices apart into individual onion rings.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon of ground pepper, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder, and set aside.
In another small bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside.
In a third shallow bowl, add the gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and season the panko with the remaining salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Using one hand, dip each individual onion ring into the seasoned cornstarch mixture, then dredge it into the beaten eggs. Using your other hand, drop the egg-coated onion ring into the breadcrumbs and evenly coat it with the panko. Place each breaded onion ring onto the prepared baking sheet and spray the onion rings with a generous coat of avocado oil cooking spray.
Air-Fryer: Place a single layer of onion rings in the preheated air-fryer basket (line the air-fryer with parchment paper, optional). Set the air-fryer to cook at 400°F for six minutes or until the panko is golden brown.
Oven: Place the baking sheet with the onion rings on top in a preheated 400°F oven and bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve the onion rings with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy while warm and crispy. They make a great healthy snack or delicious appetizer for your Super Bowl, game day, or holiday celebrations.

Notes

Nutrition information is approximate.

Dipping Sauce Ideas:

Classic Ketchup
Classic Ranch
Hot Sauce
Chipotle Mayo
BBQ Sauce
Mayonnaise & Ketchup Combo

Air Fry vs. Bake: Baking them in the air fryer will net a crispier onion ring, although both versions are crisp, golden, and perfectly seasoned. It's a matter of preference. If you have an air fryer, use it. If you don't, your oven will work just fine.

Breadcrumb Alternatives: I use Kikkoman Gluten-Free Panko breadcrumbs or Kinnikinnick panko-style breadcrumbs, but any breadcrumbs will work. If using seasoned breadcrumbs, you don't have to season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder before baking.

Cornstarch Alternatives: You can use cornstarch, tapioca starch, potato starch, or even gluten-free flour, although flour doesn't "stick" as well to the onion as the starches.

Reheating: The onion rings taste best when warm but can be reheated easily if they get too cold. If you can, toast them in a toaster oven or air fry them for 1-2 minutes to bring them back to life. Alternatively, you can microwave them, but they will likely be soggier vs. crispy.

Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in your fridge—reheat as noted above.

Make-Ahead Instructions: To prepare the onion rings ahead of time, freeze your breaded onion rings in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, place them inside a freezer bag for easy storage. Remove the onion rings you want to bake, spray them with avocado oil, and bake or air fry them as instructed. Please note that they may need an extra 2-3 minutes in the air fryer and 4-5minutes in a preheated oven when preparing them when they're frozen.

Spice 'Em Up: Add a dash of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix to spice up your baked gluten-free onion rings. You could also add onion powder or other seasonings, as desired.

Nutrition