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I’ve made low carb onion rings in the oven before, and while the flavor is good, let’s be real… they are not as crispy as regular ones. These keto onion rings baked in an air fryer were a total game changer! They actually get SUPER CRISPY. I’m pretty sure this air fryer onion rings recipe alone is reason enough to get an air fryer. 😉
While you can use any air fryer, I made my keto onion rings recipe in my new fave, the GoWise USA Air Fryer Oven. It’s large enough to cook a big batch at once, thanks to the two racks! The interface is also easy to use, and most importantly, it makes just about anything crispy. Even low carb foods that are hard to get crispy – yay! Check out more low carb air fryer recipes I made in it, at bottom of this post.
What Are Onion Rings Made Of?
Typically, onion rings are dipped in a (high carb) batter and then deep fried. This keto onion recipe is much healthier by using a low carb breading and baking them in an air fryer instead.
Are Onion Rings Keto?
No, regular onion rings are not keto. But, you can still enjoy onion rings on a keto diet by making your own! This air fryer onion rings recipe is keto friendly.
Are Fried Onion Rings Good For You?
No, regular fried onion rings are not good for you. They are often deep fried in GMO oils like canola or soybean oil, and the breading is high in carbs.
But, keto onion rings are actually good for you! The key is using a batter that is natural and low carb.
Keto Onion Rings Batter
The key to making onion rings low carb is the batter. We’ll make these keto onion rings with pork rinds and almond flour combined.
We have 3 layers to help it stick and get crispy:
- Coconut flour and sea salt – This is used for dredging, similar to how you’d use wheat flour for dredging. It helps the egg in the next step stick. The super fine texture of coconut flour is the key to getting this part to work, so I don’t recommend substituting another flour if at all possible. However, if you’re allergic to coconut, you can try arrowroot powder- just know this will add a bit of carbs.
- Beaten eggs – Like most recipes needing breading, this one needs egg to get the breading to stick.
- Pork rinds, almond flour, paprika and garlic powder – This combination creates a crispy keto onion rings coating that replaces regular breadcrumbs.
How To Make Onion Rings In The Air Fryer
I’ll walk you through step-by-step so you can see how to make onion rings in the air fryer!
Begin by arranging three bowls in order – coconut flour, beaten eggs, and pork rind/almond flour mixture. (You can see what goes into each bowl above, and the amounts are on the recipe card below.)
Dredge each onion ring in the coconut flour, dip in the egg, shake off the excess, and finally press into the pork rind “breadcrumb” mixture.
PRO TIP: Use one hand for the dry coconut flour and pork rind bowls, and the other hand for the egg bowl. This will reduce getting the dry bowls too “wet”, which can cause the breading to get clumpy and not stick.
As you bread each onion ring, place it onto a greased air fryer rack. Mine looks like this, and my air fryer oven has two of them:
PRO TIP: Don’t crowd or stack the onion rings! They need air flow to get crispy. Make sure they are in a single layer without touching, or at least minimally touching.
You should be able to fit all the onion rings on the two racks (it’s why I love my air fryer oven!), but if not, you can cook them in a smaller air fryer in batches.
Either way, you’ll want to air fry the onion rings at 400 degrees.
How Long To Air Fry Onion Rings?
This keto onion rings recipe in the air fryer takes about 16 minutes. If you’re using a larger air fryer oven with two racks, like I did, you’ll want to rotate them halfway through. In a smaller one with a single basket, just do it in two batches.
The air fryer onion rings look golden when they are done:
Can You Make Keto Onion Rings in the Oven?
Yes, you can make them in the oven. Use the same temperature, and bake just a little longer. However, they do not get as crispy as they do in the air fryer.
Can You Make Onion Rings Ahead?
You can cut the rings and bread them ahead of time. However, for best results and to keep them from getting soggy, wait until right before serving to actually bake the onion rings in the air fryer.
What To Serve With Keto Onion Rings
This keto onion rings recipe goes great with low carb dipping sauce. As for main dishes, try these to accompany your air fryer onion rings:
More Low Carb Air Fryer Recipes
More ideas for your air fryer or air fryer oven:
- Keto Low Carb Fried Chicken
- Keto Air Fryer Jicama Fries
- Zucchini Fries – I originally baked these, but they are even better in an air fryer!
- Crispy Yuca Fries – A little higher in carbs, but still healthier than potatoes. You can make these an air fryer or oven!
Tools To Make Air Fryer Onion Rings:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- GoWise USA Air Fryer Oven – This is what I used to make this keto onion rings recipe. Two racks allow me to make a bunch at once!
- GoWise USA Air Fryer – If you want a smaller air fryer, this one isn’t as big as the air fryer oven.
More Low Carb Recipes To Love
RECIPE CARD
Air Fryer Keto Onion Rings Recipe
This keto air fryer onion rings recipe is SO CRISPY, with 7 ingredients! Learning how to make onion rings in the air fryer is the key to keto onion rings that are just as crispy as real ones.
PrintIngredients
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- 1 large Onion (sliced into rings 1/2 inch thick)
- 3 tbsp Coconut flour
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
- 2 large Eggs
- 2/3 cup Pork rinds (~1.8 oz)
- 3 tbsp Blanched almond flour
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
Instructions
RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Arrange 3 small, shallow bowls in a line:
* Coconut flour and sea salt, stirred together
* Eggs, beaten
* Pork rinds, almond flour, paprika, and garlic powder, stirred together
Lightly grease 2 air fryer oven racks or an air fryer basket.
Dredge an onion ring in coconut flour. Dip it in the egg, shake off the excess, then place in the pork rind mixture. Scoop extra pork rind mixture over it, so that it's coated on all size. Place into the air fryer rack or basket. Repeat with all the onion rings, placing them in a single layer without touching. (You may need to cook them in two batches if you don't have 2 air fryer racks.)
Preheat the air fryer or air fryer oven to 400 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes.
For an air fryer oven: Place both racks into the air fryer oven. Bake for about 8 minutes, until the top layer is golden. Switch racks and bake for 8 more minutes, until the top layer is golden again.
For a regular air fryer: Only half the onion rings will fit into the basket in a single layer. Place the basket into the air fryer. Bake for 16 minutes, until golden. Remove the onion rings, arrange the next batch of uncooked rings, and repeat.
You'll Also Like These Keto Low Carb Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 6 onion rings, or 1/4 of entire recipe
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support!
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan
Starter Guide 
Sweetener Conversion Calculator 
Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
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36 Comments
Karen
I don’t have an air fryer. Would this work in a convection oven in single layer on parchment paper.
Wholesome Yum L
Hi Karen, I prefer to use the air fryer because it makes them super crispy. I haven’t made it in a convection oven. Let me know if you try it and how they turn out.
Sherri Ann McCabe
The sounds wonderful and I want to try it, but I’m a vegan can you give me any suggestions? Thank you Sherri
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sherri, Sorry, I have not yet come up with a way to make these vegan.
Dana
I am loving your recipes and can’t wait to try them! I detest pork rinds…I know many recipes use them for breading. Do you taste the pork rinds? I’m hoping they don’t! I pre-ordered your book and can’t wait till October to get your honey mustard recipe!
Wholesome Yum
Hi Dana, I don’t find the flavor that prominent once the spices and other flours get mixed in. However, you can substitute more almond flour instead if you want to omit the pork rinds altogether–just keep in mind they won’t get as crispy.
Larry
Hey, I tried making these and had, issues with the almond flour would not stick, to the onion, it kept coming off, any info on why this might be happening would be greatly appreciated
Wholesome Yum
Hi Larry, perhaps your pork rinds weren’t crushed finely enough? The coating always sticks for me.
Rozelyn DeSagun
I’ve been looking for a gluten free recipe for onion rings. It’s great that I can use my favorite air fryer too for this. Loved it!
Trisa Blask
I made them and did everything like it says and the pork rind mixture didn’t stick
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Trisa, Sorry you had issues with them. I’ve made them a few times and it always sticks. It’s hard to say what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you or hearing more details. Did you crush the pork rinds super fine? Did you use two hands so that the pork rind mixture didn’t get wet/clumpy from too much egg in it? Did you modify any steps or ingredients?
Ariana
Hi Maya, I’m looking forward to trying this recipe over the weekend. I know it isn’t quite as healthy, but how do you think these onion rings would do in the deep fryer? Also, do you think this batter would be good for chicken tenders? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Ariana, I don’t think the batter would hold up in a deep fryer, but let me know how it goes if you try it. It does work great for chicken tenders, just not deep fried.
Hanan
Any substitutes for the pork rinds? I don’t eat pork.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Hanan, You can use only almond flour, but it doesn’t crisp up as much as the pork rinds.
Tabitha
Hi, Is there a substitute for the pork rinds? I cannot eat pork because of another health issue. 🙁
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Tabitha, You could try all almond flour, but they don’t turn out as crispy.
Sarah
Great idea using pork rind “crumbs” for the breading! I really enjoyed this recipe, thank you!
Sally Humeniuk
I love the use of coconut flour here. These look perfectly crispy and were just right for my family. Thanks for the recipe!
Tayler Ross
This is seriously the BEST onion ring recipe ever! Thanks for sharing!
Mary Bostow
I have always been afraid of making onion rings and I do love them. You convinced me to give them a try. These were super crispy and I loved them.
Shivani Raja
I just love how you’ve photographed these! And they are so perfectly golden too 🙂
Emily
Great recipe! I just bought an air fryer and so I’m using it on everything. I’m going to try your jicama fries next. Thanks!
Leslie
I love onion rings. It is so hard to find a good keto recipe. These look incredibly crunchy. Time to break out my air fryer!
Lorelei
This didn’t work out so hot for me. It was difficult to get the pork rinds into small enough pieces.
I also have a very small air fryer that has one shelf that’s about 5 inches in diameter and does not have a temperature control, so I can only fit 3 or 4 onion rings in at a time. With the cooking time it takes for each batch and the messy flours, I will need another method. I’m going to shallow fry the rest of these, because I don’t have the kitchen space or money for a second, larger air fryer.
It may work for you, so don’t take my experience as gospel, just as what happened with someone who has a very small air fryer.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lorelei, Sorry you had issues with them. I usually put the pork rinds into a food processor or blender and they get into small pieces super easily. I do agree it would be pretty time consuming with a very small air fryer, and like the bigger one I have. I store it in the pantry, but after having it I’d gladly put it in another room if I didn’t have the kitchen space. 🙂
Alicia
Almond flour is sooo expensive. Is there any other wallet friendly substitute? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Alicia, For this recipe you can grind almonds in a food processor yourself if you’d like. I don’t recommend that for baking, but for breading it works great.
Alicia
Never thought of that! Thanks Maya!
Suzy
I love onion rings! And this air-fryer recipe is genius!
Jenni LeBaron
The fella is so into these! He is doing Keto and loves onions so I won major brownie points when I made them. What a great recipe!
Michelle
Oh, my word these look amazing! And perfectly crisp! I’ve been thinking of getting an air fryer for ages, this recipe just convinced me to get one.
Melody Zomonski
These look really great, but I don’t eat pork, so is there anything that could be used instead of that without compromising the quality?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Melody, Unfortunately there isn’t something else keto friendly that gets quite as crispy, but you can do almond flour only. It’s just not as crispy as pork rinds, but still good.
Cynthia Jordan
Can you tell me what makes your original rings Paleo? They have fewer ingredients, and the almond flour and eggs are keto
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Cynthia, I’m not sure I understand the question. Both this recipe and the older one are keto and paleo friendly. I just like this one better because it gets more crispy.