Baked Panko Onion Rings – an oven-baked crispy crunchy onion ring with a panko coating. Just the thing to pair with hamburgers and hot dogs.
I know very few people who don’t like fried foods. Some may not admit it, but secretly they love the salty fried stuff.
And how can you resist it, really? That crispy, crunchy goodness coating something delicious and steaming hot inside. Yum.
In the South of my childhood we ate lots of fried foods – fried chicken, fried fish, fried okra, country fried steak, french fries. I could go on. Oh, man was it good! But over the years, of course, we’ve learned that there are more healthful ways to eat.
Low Fat, Low Salt is Best
You’d have to have been living in a cave in the backwoods to not know the dangers of ingesting too much fat. And salt. And of course, salt goes right along with the fried foods. Salt and fat. They’re what make food taste good.
Too bad our bodies haven’t evolved into salt-and-fat-fighting machines that would allow us to indulge in all the wonderful fried foods we’d like to enjoy.
Way back years ago before people became so health and diet conscious, our old family doctor used to give some really wonderful advice to his patients. He told them, “If you ever find yourself in a restaurant where you’re not sure how clean the kitchen is, just order something deep fried. Hot grease will kill anything.” I just love that :-)
Let’s Lighten Up Our Favorite Onion Rings
One of my favorite fried foods is onion rings. When they’re done just right, all golden and crispy and piping hot, I’d choose a platter of them over most anything else I can think of.
But, like all those other delicious old fried things, I know they’re not good for me so I only indulge occasionally.
Recently, I’ve seen several recipes for baked onion rings on the internet and, since I know I shouldn’t eat the fried ones very often, I really wanted to give the baked option a try.
After researching quite a few different ones, I decided to try using a coating of panko bread crumbs and a mist of cooking spray. The panko gives the baked onion rings a very nice crispy coating. BeeBop gave them a thumbs up, too!
Baked Panko Onion Rings - an oven-baked crispy crunchy onion ring with a panko coating. Just the thing to pair with hamburgers and hot dogs. Click To Tweet
How to Make Baked Panko Onion Rings
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
Peel the onions and cut them into thick, approximately 1/2-inch slices. Separate the slices into rings.
Set up your breading station with three bowls. In one bowl place the flour, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. In the second bowl, beat together the eggs and milk and in the third bowl, place the panko crumbs.
Prepare two large baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Spray the parchment lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
Coat the onion rings by dredging them first in the flour. Remove from the flour, shake off any excess and drop into the egg and milk mixture.
Remove the onion ring from the egg mixture allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl and then place the coated ring into the panko crumbs. Toss lightly in the crumbs to coat.
Place the coated onion rings on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all onion rings are coated.
I was trying both the traditional and the panko bread crumbs in the photo above. The ones on the lower part are traditional and the panko are in the upper part of the photo.
Spray the prepared onion rings lightly with cooking spray. Place the baking sheets in the oven and cook for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and flip each onion ring carefully using a spatula or tongs. Replace the sheets in the oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until crispy and browned.
Enjoy!
More Baked Alternative Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
- Oven Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy
- Baked Buffalo Wings
- Oven Baked Zucchini Fries
- Crispy Baked Okra Chips
- Buttermilk Baked Chicken
Baked Onion Ring Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- Taste of Home’s Savory Baked Onion Rings
- Oven Fried Onion Rings from Brown Eyed Baker
- Oven Fried Onion Rings from Not Without Salt
- Crispy Baked Onion Rings from Just a Taste
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Baked Panko Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 2 large Vidalia (or other sweet) onions
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups panko crumbs
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Peel the onions and cut them into thick, approximately 1/2-inch slices. Separate the slices into rings.
- Set up your breading station with three bowls. In one bowl place the flour, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. In the second bowl, beat together the eggs and milk and in the third bowl, place the panko crumbs.
- Prepare two large baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Spray the parchment lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Coat the onion rings by dredging them first in the flour. Remove from the flour, shake off any excess and drop into the egg and milk mixture. Remove the onion ring from the egg mixture allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl and then place the coated ring into the panko crumbs. Toss lightly in the crumbs to coat.
- Place coated onion rings on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all onion rings are coated.
- Spray the prepared onion rings lightly with cooking spray. Place the baking sheets in the oven and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and flip each onion ring carefully using a spatula or tongs. Replace the sheets in the oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until crispy and browned.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 190Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 369mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 7g
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Lana Stuart is the author, photographer, cook, and occasional traveler at Never Enough Thyme. A former IT professional, she enjoys time in the kitchen and the art studio.
Liberty says
Just made these, they are so good!
Lana Stuart says
So glad you liked them!
Geri says
Could you please tell me what the calories are?
they look so good and i woud love to try them.
thanks
Lana says
I’m sorry, Geri, but I don’t have the calorie count.
zestycook says
Thanks for the shout out on the onion rings!!
Sasha says
I adore onion rings too! I would even take them over French fries any time. I’m definitely going to make these.
Alison @ ingredients, Inc. says
love these!!
megan says
This is a terrific side dish. I alwaus have onions and panko on hand. My daughter will be thanking both of us when I try this out on her! Thanks Lana!
Lana says
Hope you and she like it, Megan! Let me know how it turns out for you.
bellyache says
I love onion rings! But I have been avoiding eating a lot of fried foods lately, but this look amazing and a bit healthier than deep-frying. I’ll have to try them. Thanks!
Amanda says
You’re killing me! They look amazing, I have them bookmarked!
Sues says
I love that your doctor told you to eat fried food!!! I don’t oven make fried food at home, but I LOVE onion rings… especially when they’re made with panko :) These look so delightful!
Genie says
I confess. I am one of those people that don’t deep fry at home. I eat deep fried food when I go out (and for takeaways) but if a recipe calls for a deep fry, I move onto the next recipe. Great to see a oven recipe for onion rings. I do love a crispy onion ring!
Nutmeg Nanny says
I love love love onion rings! I gotta make these at home…I know I would love them!
Sharon says
If you’re familiar with Guy Fieri and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, you’ll appreciate this comment. Last week I visited a featured restaurant (Joe’s Farm Grill) in Arizona. Guy absolutely loved the onion rings and we did too. They were coated in Panko and fresh minced rosemary and deep fried. They were the best rings we have ever munched on. I’m going to give it a try with your recipe. Maybe I’ll even add a little fresh parmesan to the coating mixture. Thanks for giving me the idea. I sure enjoy your blog.
Lana says
Oh, good idea with the rosemary and parm in the breading! Let me know how it turns out.
SMITH BITES says
well, well, well Lana . . . lookie at what we have here . . . my second love – the perfect onion ring!! panko in lieu of the usual is perfect because for me, the ‘crunch’ is what it’s all about! well that and the dipping sauce . . . sigh
Lana says
I should have included the recipe for the dipping sauce which was way in the background of the photo. It was pretty much just a remoulade. And I’m making myself hungry now writing about it.
Fight the Fat Foodie says
looks wonderful! I like to throw some smoked paprika into the breading as well.
Lana says
You know, since I made this recipe I’ve thought of all kinds of variations. A little thyme or rosemary in the breading. A little cayenne, or some hot pepper sauce in the egg step. You could go in lots of different directions with it!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Lana, these look absolutely delicious! There’s nothing better than a baked onion ring, and best of all, you don’t have to feel bad about them! Wonderful photos and a great recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Lana says
You’re welcome, Georgia. And thanks for your kind comment.
Delishhh says
I use panko insated of breadcrumbs all the time and love it. Especially for fish it even give it this great light tecture that is just lighter and neede for fish. Very nice!
Maria says
Love the healthier version!
Barbara | VinoLuciStyle says
I love onion rings too but am so often disappointed. I always ask if on the menu, ‘Or these made fresh on the premises?’ and most often the answer is no. I can buy heavily breaded terrible ones at the grocery store, thank you very much!
So, I will succumb once in a blue moon and make a batch. I could say I serve them with something lean but in truth…if I make them I don’t need anything else.
I’m anxious to try this recipe; I’ve grown very fond of using panko in any recipe where I once might have used bread crumbs (it’s easy availability now helps) so I’ve got the ingredients and nothing on the menu for dinner..til now!
Drick says
I’m right up there with you on loving fried onion rings, vidalia ones especially…. will have to give this one a try, I know it must be good if BeeBop liked it…
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
I made onion rings with panko and of course I fried them, now I’ve got to try these baked ones! Yum!
Feast on the Cheap says
Sending these to my mom right now – Onion Rings are her all-time favorite guilty-pleasure
Lana says
Oh, I do hope she enjoys these! They’re not exactly like fried, but a more than passable substitute.
Lucy says
Yum! What a great idea!
Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food says
Oh, yum, Lana and I love you doctor’s advice! I’ve become such a fan of panko –it’s so consistently crisp and light — but never thought to try it for onion rings. What an excellent idea to make this wonderful favorite even better.
Lana says
Isn’t that funny! Of course, he was dispensing that advice some 40 years or so ago :-)
Blog is the New Black says
These look so crunchy and delicious!
Lana says
That panko coating really, really makes them light and crispy.
Amy @ A Little Nosh says
Those look really good! Crispy from the panko, but you still get the sweetness from the onion. I’m going to try these!