Quick & Easy Crispy Fried Onions

Super thin crispy fried Vidalia onions are fabulous all by themselves, but try using them to top a casserole and you’ll have everyone asking for more. Light and crispy and easy to make, the secret ingredient is buttermilk. 

 

Make Extra Crispy Onions, There’s Never Enough!

Crispy fried onions are so easy to make and great to have on hand to add to your favorite side dishes, especially during the Holidays. My family is always thrilled when they hear I’m making a batch. They can’t resist the golden crispy texture. While I love them by themselves, they’ll add that little bit of extra to any dish.

I don’t fry too many things, but seriously crispy onions are worth it. I would actually say these are more sautéed then fried, you don’t need a deep fryer. Even if frying isn’t your thing, I would encourage you to experiment just a bit and give these homemade fried onions a try.

I generally have some extra onions and buttermilk hanging around. If not, what’s another trip to the grocery. Mashed potatoes with fried onions are so worth it. This recipe uses buttermilk but if you only have milk, add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.

I tried these the first time to sprinkle on the best baked onion and green bean casserole at Thanksgiving instead of French’s store-bought onions. They were so good, that I almost didn’t have enough to put on the casserole. Every time someone passed through the kitchen they would grab a handful. Somehow they aren’t greasy even though they’re cooked in oil.

When adding to the top of a casserole, since they are already cooked, wait until the last few minutes before sprinkling them on top. You just want to warm them up.

Homemade French Fried Onions are the Best!

• They’re simple to make but taste oh so good, better than the store bought version!
• The add texture to your dish,
• Even though they are fried, they don’t come out greasy.
• They make a great topping on a casserole, sandwiches, salads and burgers.

Ingredients You’ll Need

A full list of ingredients can be found in the Recipe Card below.

• Onions – use two large sweet Vidalia onions. Sweet onions are a milder onion because they contain less sulfur and more water. You can also use yellow onions, but I’ve found that Vidalias are not as bitter and they are softer and cook up nice and crispy.
• Buttermilk – In a pinch you can make your own buttermilk with milk and lemon juice or white vinegar.

It’s Easier Than You Think

Step 1: Use a Mandolin or very sharp knife

Step 2: Add a coating

If you enjoy a little spice, you can add some cajun seasoning into the flour to give it a bit of seasoning – you just need a tablespoon.

Step 3: Make them crispy

Slowly cook them in a ¼ inch of vegetable oil.

Don’t add too many onions to the pan, just let them cover the bottom and cook them in batches, adding more oil if needed.

Don’t let the oil get too hot. The onions will cook too fast and you won’t get that beautiful golden color.

Crispy onions are perfect eaten alone and not nearly as heavy as french fries or regular onion rings.

Different ways to serve Crispy Fried Onions

• Add these to any casserole that you might top with bread crumbs or Ritz crackers for a crunchy topping that will be a show stopper.
• You can add a sprinkling to a salad or as a topping for smash burgers!
• They add a delicious flavor to soups too.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.