Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
Air fryer frozen onion rings are a healthier version of the fast food favorite! It’s so easy to make frozen onion rings in air fryer that are perfectly crispy and are ready to serve in just a few minutes.
Suitable for vegetarian diets. Weight Watchers Points included.
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Friends, once you see how incredibly easy it is to whip up a tasty batch of crispy air fryer frozen onion rings, you’ll be serving them with burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more!
That’s right, making frozen onion rings in air fryer could not be more simple. There’s no need to thaw before cooking, they go from freezer to air fryer to table in just minutes and with no prep work involved. Just like these air fryer frozen waffle fries and air fryer frozen tater tots.
We are talking perfectly crispy onion rings with a soft, tender onion inside. Not only are they ready in just minutes, but since these are made with no oil in the air fryer, they’re a healthier alternative to the deep fried versions.
Table of Contents
Frozen Onion Rings in Air Fryer
These crispy onion rings are just the thing for quick meals, fun appetizers, easy snacking, and of course, serving for all your game day gatherings. They’re especially great dipped into my easy-to-make sriracha aioli. Plus, you can use the air fryer to reheat onion rings super easily, too (assuming you’ll actually have any leftovers, that is).
For even more easy and delicious air fryer frozen foods, try my air fryer frozen burrito and these air fryer frozen corn dogs. #somuchyum
Why Make This Recipe
- Healthier – a healthier way to satisfy your cravings!
- Really easy – Incredibly simple to make and ready in just a few minutes.
- Really crispy – cooking frozen onion rings in the air fryer gives them that perfect crispy texture.
- Affordable – just grab that budget-friendly pack of frozen onion rings.
- Versatile – serve as a side dish, snack, or appetizer and pair with your favorite dipping sauce.
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Ingredient Notes
- This recipe uses store-bought frozen battered onion rings that have not been thawed.
- There are many different brands and styles to choose from. The ones I made were on the larger and thicker side, like Nathan’s frozen onion rings.
- While no extra oil is needed to make this recipe, you may prefer to lightly spritz them with olive oil or a no-calorie cooking spray to get an extra crispy finish.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Air Fryer Tools on Amazon.
How To Cook Frozen Onion Rings In Air Fryer
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.
Step 1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C and remove the onion rings from the packaging.
Step 2. Add the battered frozen onion rings to the air fryer basket.
Step 3. Air fry for 7-10 minutes, and use tongs to toss them halfway through. For crispier onion rings, continue cooking for a few more minutes, but keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
Step 4. Remove from air fryer and serve immediately for best results.
Frozen Onion Rings Air Fryer Temperature
My recommendation for the frozen onion rings air fryer temperature is cooking them at 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C. In my experience, air frying them at a higher temperature for a bit less time means your frozen onion rings will have a nicely crispy exterior while keeping the onion itself from being overdone.
The total time needed will depend on both the number of onion rings being cooked and the brand you use. Red Robin crispy onion rings air fryer cooking time is going to be longer since they are a thick-cut style, while the Alexia frozen onion rings generally take less time.
When cooking frozen food in the air fryer, it’s always a good idea to consult the instructions included on the packaging.
Figuring out the right temperatures can be the hardest part of air fryer cooking, and my FREE air fryer cooking time cheat sheet eliminates the guesswork! Download it instantly, and you’ll also get immediate access to my full printable library.
Bintu’s Tips
- For the best results, cook similar-sized rings at the same time so they cook evenly and at the same rate.
- Bigger thicker onion rings will take more time than smaller ones.
- For the best results, please preheat your air fryer before adding the onion rings. The hot air fryer will start crisping these up as soon as you put them in. If you don’t have a preheat button, simply set the heat to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C and run for 4 minutes.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket – the hot air needs to circulate around all sides of the onion rings so they cook evenly. So place onion rings in a single layer.
- If you are using smaller air fryers, you may need to cook these in two batches.
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe, which means you don’t need to oil your air fryer.
- Use tongs to gently toss the onion rings during cooking for crispness. If you prefer you can use a spatula, but do it gently so they don’t break.
- If you want your onion rings to be a little bit crisper, you may need to cook for a few minutes more, just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.
- Be sure to check out my best air fryer tips to get amazing results with every recipe.
Delicious Variations
- Add Seasonings – Top with your favorite spices or seasoning blends for even more flavor.
- Experiment with Different Styles – There are many different brands to choose from, so have fun sampling to see what you like best. Some of my faves include Vidalia sweet onion rings and Trader Joe’s beer battered version.
- Serve with Dipping Sauce – I looooove to whip up a batch of this easy copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce for dipping. They’re also great with my 5-minute remoulade and Yum Yum sauce.
Prep Ahead And Storage
- Prep Ahead – Since these go directly from your freezer to the air fryer, there is nothing to prep in advance. They are best served up freshly cooked since they can become less crispy as they cool down.
- Storage – Keep leftovers in an airtight container or storage bag inside the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat – In a preheated air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C, tossing a couple of times during cooking. You may need to spray them with a little bit of cooking oil.
FAQs
How long to cook frozen onion rings in air fryer depends on the size of the onion rings and the air fryer temperature.
This recipe calls for air frying frozen onion rings for 7-10 minutes at 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C, tossing halfway through the time.
For an air fryer temperature of 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C, air fry larger, thick-cut frozen onion rings for 8-12 minutes, while smaller rings may only need 7-8 minutes.
The best tip for how to make air fryer frozen onion rings crispy is to do not overcrowd the basket.
Leaving space between the onion rings helps ensure that the air circulates all around the food so it cooks evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket or try, you may only start with half a bag and cook in batches.
Also, it is important that you toss them halfway through the cooking time, and check for doneness. If they don’t crisp up enough in the recommended time, you can air fry for an additional couple of minutes.
There are a few different ones you can try, and determining what are the best frozen onion rings will depend on your taste.
In the thick-cut category, there are Nathan’s Onion Rings air fryer perfection and the Red Robin Frozen Onion Rings air fryer friendly. And if you’re looking for a delicious panko coating, I recommend the Alexia Onion Rings air fryer option.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook these in the oven instead. I recommend you check the packaging for baking in the oven instructions, but a rough guideline is to cook at 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C for 14-16 minutes or until they have crisped up to your liking. Just be sure to flip them halfway through cooking time.
To cook Nathan’s frozen onion rings in air fryer, start by preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
Then, spread them out in a single layer inside the air fryer basket or tray, making sure to leave room between each one (you’ll likely need to cook in batches). Air fry frozen onion rings for 7-10 minutes, tossing halfway through, then remove and serve.
Serve With:
- These are the perfect side dish for air fryer hamburgers.
- Pair with air fryer BBQ chicken wings for your next game day!
- Combine with air fryer french fries for the ultimate finger food snack.
More Air Fryer Frozen Foods To Try
Want to learn even more about cooking frozen foods in the air fryer? Then check out these easy recipes:
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings.
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries.
- Air Fryer Frozen Pizza.
- Air Fryer Frozen Burrito.
- Air Fryer Frozen Corn Dogs.
- Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp.
- Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries.
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables.
- Air Fryer Frozen Meatballs.
- Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli.
- Air Fryer Frozen Fish.
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets.
- Air Fryer Frozen Taquitos.
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breast.
- Air Fryer Frozen Potato Skins.
- Air Fryer Frozen Garlic Bread
- Air Fryer Frozen Burgers.
- Frozen Hash Browns in Air Fryer.
- Be sure to read my Air Fryer Frozen Foods post for even more tips!
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of air fryer recipes, or start a few of my most popular recipes:
Dipping Sauce Suggestions
Pair with any of these flavorful dipping sauces that take just 5 minutes to prepare!
- Sweet and spicy Bang Bang Sauce tastes amazing on anything.
- Japanese steakhouse Yum Yum Sauce is a favorite pairing in my house.
- Remoulade Sauce gives these onion rings some Southern flair.
- Try them with Sriracha Aioli for a nice zesty kick.
- And of course, you can’t go wrong with some good ol’ ketchup, Ranch Dressing, Tartar Sauce, or Mustard.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.
Recommended Tools
- An awesome air fryer is a must!
- A pair of tongs to safely toss and remove the onion rings.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Air Fryer Tools on Amazon.
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Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225g) frozen onion rings
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C.
- Place the frozen onion rings in the air fryer basket, making sure to spread them out evenly and in a single layer. Cook in two batches if needed.
- Air fry for 7-10 minutes, using tongs to toss them halfway through the cooking time.
- Remove from air fryer and serve.
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Notes
- For the best results, cook similar-sized rings at the same time so they cook evenly and at the same rate.
- Bigger and thicker onion rings will take more time than smaller ones.
- For the best results, please preheat your air fryer before cooking these. The hot air fryer will start crisping these up as soon as you put them in. If you don’t have a preheat button, simply set the heat to 400 degrees F / 200 degrees C and run for 4 minutes.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket – the hot air needs to circulate around all sides of the onion rings so they cook evenly. So place onion rings in a single layer.
- If you are using smaller air fryers, you may need to cook these in two batches.
- No extra oil is needed for this recipe, which means you don’t need to put oil in the air fryer.
- Use tongs to gently toss the onion rings during cooking for crispness. If you prefer, you can use a spatula, but do it gently so they don’t break.
- If you want your onion rings to be a little bit crisper, you may need to cook for a few minutes more, just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cooking time, checking for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.
- Storage – keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3 days.
- There are 10 WW BluePlan SmartPoints in one serving.
