Frozen Air Fryer Onion Rings make for the perfect quick side dish or a great game day appetizer. They are one of those deep-fried foods that can satisfy any comfort craving. Save yourself the time and hassle and try these frozen onion rings tonight!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in under 10 minutes: This appetizer or side couldn’t get easier! All you need to do is prep the air fryer and throw these crunchy onion rings in.
- Perfect for game day: These crispy onion rings are a great snack to share for the big game, your next party, or just keep on hand as a tasty snack.
- Ultia crispy coating: The heat circulation in an air fryer is fabulous because it gives you the crispiness of a deep fryer without all of the extra oil. It crisps up your onion rings significantly better than a microwave and in half the time of an oven. It’s simply the best way to get that sweet onion flavor coated in golden brown goodness.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Frozen Vegan Onion Rings: This is the main ingredient you’ll need to get some crispy onion rings! If you’re not sure which onion rings are vegan, check out What Frozen Onion Rings are Vegan? There are many different brands that make vegan options. I used Alexia All Natural Frozen Crispy Onion Rings. I like these because they have very thick slices. Be careful of some onion rings that may have milk and/or egg ingredients in the powder.
- Nonstick Spray: Using a cooking spray will help keep these onion rings from sticking. When using the air fryer, be sure to use a spray with a high smoke point. Some good examples are avocado oil, light olive oil, peanut oil, and sunflower oil spray.
How to Make Frozen Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Prep: Spray the cooking spray in the air fryer basket. Place onion rings in a single layer at the bottom of the basket. For best results, leave space between the onion rings so they don’t overlap. It will allow for the hot air to get all around during the cooking process making for crispier onion rings. For smaller air fryers, you may need to cook them in batches.
- Cook: Air fry at 350 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes. Note that I did not preheat the air fryer. If you do, you may need to cut down the cook time by 1-2 minutes.
- Serve: These are best served warm with ketchup, vegan tartar sauce, vegan sriracha mayonnaise, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce. If you’re looking for a healthy homemade ketchup recipe, try my ketchup recipe I use on my Vegan Lentil Meatloaf with Oats.
Serving Suggestions
These Frozen Air Fryer Rings make a great side dish for veggie burgers, vegan hot dogs, or vegan sandwiches. As a general rule of thumb, anything you’d serve my Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges or french fries with is a great choice!
Give them a try with my TTLA Sandwich or Easy Vegan Tofu Banh Mi with Quick Pickle Recipe.
Or, if you’re looking for more crispy air fryer recipes, you may like these Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Spouts, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges, or Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.
Recipe FAQs
How long should you air fry frozen onion rings?
Cooking in the air fryer takes half the amount of time as cooking in a conventional oven. You can have delicious onion rings ready to go in just 6 to 8 minutes – and that’s without preheating.
Can I put frozen onion rings in an air fryer?
Absolutely! The air fryer is perfect for all sorts of frozen foods, including Frozen Air Fryer Hash Browns! Onion rings in the air fryer are crispy, delicious, and quick! Stick them in at 350 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes and you are set to go!
Do I need to preheat my air fryer for frozen onion rings?
I did not preheat my air fryer for this recipe, but it’s always an option. If you choose to preheat first, cook for 4-7 minutes. If you don’t preheat your air fryer, you can cook them at 350 degrees F for 6-8 minutes.
Storage Instructions
These frozen onion rings can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Freezing instructions: Refreezing cooked onion rings is not optimal, but it can be done! To do so, allow them to cool completely to room temperature, then spread on a baking sheet and stick in the freezer until frozen solid. Then, transfer to a freezer safe bag or container and free for up to 3 months.
Reheating instructions: To reheat, follow the same step-by-step directions you followed to make them in the first place! The air fryer is an excellent tool for reheating leftovers.
Tips for Success
- Watch the time: Because air fryers differ in size and performance, check on your onion rings a couple of minutes early to be sure they are not overcooking.
- Do not defrost: These are intended to be cooked from a frozen state. Do not defrost them before cooking.
- Do not overlap or stack: Make sure the onion rings have space between them so the hot air can evenly cook them. You may need to cook them in batches based on the size of your air fryer.
More Easy Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love
Frozen Air Fryer Onion Rings Recipe
What You’ll Need
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 (13.5 ounce) package frozen onion rings - I used Alexia vegan brand
Instructions
- Spray air fryer basket with nonstick spray. Place frozen onion rings in the basket of your air fryer. Space them out so they don’t overlap. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry at 350 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce!
Recipe Notes
- I did not preheat my air fryer because I did not feel it was necessary. However, if you choose to preheat, your cook time may need to be adjusted.
- Do not defrost the onion rings before cooking.
- Do not overlap the onion rings, as this will cause them to turn soggy while cooking. Instead, cook them in batches if your air fryer cannot fit them all in a single layer.
Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
Photography: Your Home, Made Healthy
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