Onion Rings and Spicy Dipping Sauce

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Today’s Onion Rings and Spicy Dipping Sauce recipe is a classic. Crispy, deep-fried, sweet Vidalia onions with a simple, spicy dipping sauce — need I say more?

While preparing this irresistible dish, I “double dipped” the onion rings to get a nice crispy shell. The crunch was right on point! And the dipping sauce is just as easy to whip up!

I could go on and on about why I adore this recipe. For one, it’s simple and quick yet produces a restaurant-style snack, side dish, or even garnish.

Toss your crispy and tender onion rings onto a freshly grilled burger and smear the spicy sauce onto a toasted bun — YUM! It also makes for an irresistible after-school snack or game night nibble.

If you’re looking for other easy appetizers or game night snacks, try my fiery Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers or try my Air Fried Onion Rings for a slightly healthier alternative to the deep fryer method — with just as much irresistible flavor and crunch!

Key ingredients & substitutions for the best Onion Rings and Sauce

Onion Ring Sauce

• Sour cream — Creamy with a punch of acidic flavor, sour cream is the base of my simple spicy sauce recipe. The particular consistency and taste of sour cream is best. However, you could try Greek yogurt or crème Fraiche as substitutes.
• Chili sauce — Sweet and tangy chili sauce mixes perfectly with the sour cream and brings some heat to the sauce.

• Chili powder — Savory and spicy chili powder packs more of a punch.
• Cumin — Sprinkle in some warm and rich cumin to further the savory notes. If you don’t have cumin handy, ground coriander or even taco seasoning works similarly.
• Sriracha or horseradish sauce — A dash of sriracha or horseradish sauce may be just the extra flavor you are looking for! However, this final touch is optional. So, you can leave it out if they aren’t your favorite tastes.

Onion Rings

• Vidalia onions — The best onion ring recipes use the sweeter onion varieties. My personal favorites are Vidalia onions, but you could also use yellow onions or Walla Walla onions.
• Half and half — You’ll soak the rings in half and half to adhere the flour and spices to the onions. Buttermilk is also a suitable alternative.
• Flour — Once the flour crisps in the fryer, it’ll create the crunch these delicious onion rings need.

• Spices — A bit of black pepper and a pinch of paprika adds the kick of spice — YUM! You can also use pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a similar effect. Or, spice it up even more with these Cajun Crispy Fried Onions.
• Canola Oil — The canola oil is a perfect high-heat oil for frying up the crispiest onion rings. Vegetable or peanut oil can be used as well.

How to make delicious Onion Rings with Spicy Dipping Sauce

STEP 1 | Stir up the sauce

Add the sour cream and chili sauce in a small mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients until you achieve a creamy smooth texture.

Next, thoroughly stir in the chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin. Refrigerate your completed spicy sauce until you are ready to serve it up with your crunchy onion rings.

Could it get any easier than that?

STEP 2 | Prepare the deep fryer

Slowly pour the oil in and set your fryer to the correct temperature for beautifully crisp onion rings. 

I like to use my Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer. Presto makes incredible fryers — no messy basket, helpful attachments, and more. Plus, you save on oil because it uses less than its competitors. 

STEP 3 | Slice the onions

Get ready for the tears! Slice your Vidalia onions into ¼-inch slices. Then, after wiping away the onion tears, separate the slices into rings.

Next, place the rings into a deep bowl and pour the half and half over the onion rings. Mix your spices and flour in a shallow dish perfect for dipping.

STEP 4 | Coat the onions rings

And now for the messy part — dredge the wet rings in the flour mixture, coating completely, and shake off the excess.

I like to double dip for an extra satisfying crunch. So, you can dip the onion ring again in half and half and once again in the flour mixture, if desired.

STEP 5 | And fry!

Toss 3 or 4 rings into your heated deep fryer until they are a beautiful golden brown. Remove the crispy rings and allow them to drain on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels or a brown paper bag. 

Repeat the steps for all remaining onions. Plate and serve immediately with your spicy dipping sauce!

For Father’s Day, our family celebrated by grilling Dad’s famous burgers and frying up a batch of these crispy Onion Rings with Spicy Dipping Sauce. Oh. My. Gosh. They were absolutely delicious and a tremendous hit!

I’ve tried batter-dipped onion rings before, but these were much better, in my opinion. I think my family will agree — because not a single one was left over!

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

Have you ever heard of loaded onion rings? Like a loaded baked potato, you can add all sorts of toppings on top of crunchy onion rings. Try some tangy feta cheese crumbles, chopped-up red onions and bell peppers, and bacon or shaved steak!

Or spice up my Italian Garlic Butter Burger by adding the crips onion rings as an extra topping with a savory crunch.

Behind the recipe: Onion Ring Sauce

The origins of the sensational onion ring are not entirely known. However, we know that they have appeared in sophisticated cookbooks since the 16th century with recipes to be served at the “tables of the nobleman, gentleman, and tradesman.” Who would have guessed?

They were an affordable treat in the Depression era, rarely made in home kitchens. But when they were, cheaper oils, like Crisco, were used to make this delicacy less expensive.

Today, they are enjoyed as a perfectly crunchy appetizer, side, or garnish with a tender and mild inside. Use caution when bringing them to your next BBQ or family dinner — it’s almost guaranteed that they will be viciously devoured in minutes!