Fried Onion Strings

Crispy fried onion strings can be deep fried in oil or you can make air fryer onion straws too! Want a homemade copycat French's recipe to serve on top of your Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoesthese are good!

We think we could put Frenchs crispy fried onions on about every casserole we make! Making them homemade was new this year and we couldn't believe how easy they were!

Have you had these on top of a hamburger at your favorite restaurant and would love to have them at your barbecue too? They are easier to make than you might think. Fried crisp and homemade unlike our frozen onion rings, these go great all top of all dishes!

You need to start with the obvious first, onions!! There are a lot of choices for sure if you've been to the produce section of your grocery store. From white to yellow, sweet, vidalia and red. Typically we opt for yellow for this and air fryer onions because we have those on hand and they lead to a more savory flavor.

Yes you can buy a can of French's fried onions to shake on top of pressure cooker liver and onions this year, but wait!! Try something new this year and make these instead!

Ingredient notes

We are dipping and coating here instead of creating a sort of tempura batterbut you could use that instead. Some all purpose all purpose flour will create a breading of sorts on the outside. enough to create that crispy texture that you expect. We have not use another type but imagine that if you need to use the Bobs Red Mill 1:1 gluten free variety that would be fine too.

Buttermilk will get the coating to stick with a rich flavor. If you wanted to use milk we would suggest whole, but it won't coat quite as well since it is lower in fat.

Salt and pepper are basic seasonings but you could certainly use whatever types you prefer.

And then you will want a few large white or yellow onions. Ideally you want them sliced thin. You can do this with a steady hand and sharp knife or easier than that we would suggest a mandoline so they are all the same thickness (and you don't cut yourself).

Swaps

The type of onion is purely up to you. White onions have a shaper, more pungent flavor, while yellow onions have a nice balance of sharp and sweet. Use both and see which you prefer when you dig in. These are meant to be savory, not sweet like our caramelized onions recipe.

Let's start with the traditional method, on your stovetop first. This is what you will need. It's not much, and quite inexpensive to make too. Whether you want them as a sinful snack, or to top your green bean casserole homemade is always best.

How Long to Fry Crispy Onion Strings

It depends a bit on how thick your slices are of course but in general you will want about 2 minutes on each side. You are looking for a golden brown color all over and they will shrivel up too with the batter so look for that. Always set on a few paper towels when done to absorb the excess oil.

Can you make these in an air fryer?

You can but the texture isn't as crispy. To do this healthier you first want to preheat your air fryer or Ninja Foodi to 360 degrees. Now dip your handful of onions onion in a seasoned flour filled shallow bowl, then a whisked egg, and finally coat with breadcrumbs. Place in your air fryer basket in single layer. Spray with olive oil spray. Air fry for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden brown. Remove, add remaining onions to fry until all are done.

Can you make these ahead of time?

You can do this ahead of time by slicing and coating each piece. Once done you will want to set these in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in a cool area or covered with plastic wrap set into the fridge. Take out when ready to fry, or fry and set on a baking sheet and cover when completely cooled to use later that day.

Tips for Success

Of course starting with large onions is the first step. The thinner they are sliced the crunchier they will be, and the quicker they will cook. If we're making these to snack on we will slice them a bit thicker, more like homemade onion rings.

You will want to create an assembly line to coat all of your pieces with the flour mixture, then into buttermilk, then into flour before frying. Do not put them in until it is nice and HOT. We drop a bit of batter inside the hot oil and if it immediately bubbles and cooks it is ready.

Crispy Fried Onions Recipe

By Crispy fried onions are the best topping for green bean casserole and other dishes. Deep fried in oil this is the best way to make homemade French's fried onions, they're way better than canned! Prep: 15 minutes minsCook: 8 minutes minsServings: 8 Save Recipe Saved! Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour, all purpose
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup buttermilkor whole milk
• 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

• Line a large plate with paper towels and set aside. Pour oil into a cast iron pot and heat up to 375F in oven to preheat while you prepare the ingredients (if you're using cast iron, if not then skip this step and heat oil in med. frying pan over med./high heat).
• Peel and slice off the top and bottom from the onion. Thinly slice to about 1/8th inch round slices. Mix the salt and pepper into the flour until well combined and pour the buttermilk into a small bowl.
• Dip the onion slices into the buttermilk, making sure they are completely covered. Next dredge them in the flour also making sure they're throughly coated.
• Carefully place the onion slices into the hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, this will take about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove the onion slices and drain off excess oil on paper towel lined plate.
• Allow to cool before using. Chop into small pieces if making copycat French's fried onions to top on to green bean casserole etc… Any leftovers may be stored in an airtight container and in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, SnackCuisine: American Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

How do you keep fried onion crispy when reheated?

1. You need to preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F
2. Lay inside basket in a single layer
3. Air fry for 1 minute on each side to crisp up again
4. Enjoy!