First published November 2015. Last updated April 30, 2025 for editorial improvements. Air fryer version removed due to low-quality of the finished product.
Table of Contents
- 🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
- 🧾Ingredients
- 🔪 How to make copycat French's fried onions
- 📖 Recipe
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- ✍🏻 A note from Marye...
- 💬 Comments
🎥 Watch and cook: step-by-step video tutorial
Store-bought fried onions are fine in a pinch, but y'all, nothing beats making them from scratch. Crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned, these homemade fried onions will have you side-eyeing that little can from the store like it just insulted your grandma’s cooking.
Crispy, golden, and homemade—these fried onions are everything those canned ones wish they could be. They’ve got that French’s vibe but with fresher flavor, no mystery ingredients, and zero metallic aftertaste. Just onions, buttermilk, flour, and seasoning—real food doing real work. They’re ridiculously easy to make (slice, soak, coat, fry—boom), and stupidly versatile. Toss 'em on casseroles, burgers, salads, or straight into your mouth like I do when no one’s watching. Trust me, once you try these, that little cardboard can is officially canceled.
🧾Ingredients
Peanut Oil is my favorite for frying as long as there are no allergies. It's got a high smoke point and fries clean and crispy. Other oils to use are: safflower, grape seed, or canola. Do not use peanut oil if there are allergies!
🔪 How to make copycat French's fried onions
Slice white onions very thin and soak in buttermilk about 10 minutes.
Mix the flour and the seasoning.
Drain the onions dredge in the flour mixture.
Let sit for about 5 minutes before frying.
Heat oil to 375F. Fry a few at a time in hot oil. Remove when they are golden brown. They will crisp more as they cool.
📖 Recipe
Crispy French Fried Onions (Copycat French's Onions) from Scratch
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ pounds onions, peeled and sliced paper thin
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups flour, all-purpose
- 3 tablespoons Creole Seasoning (Tony Chachere’s), or your favorite seasoning
- Peanut oil for frying, (I like this best, if there is an allergy any other oil with a high smoke point can be used.)
Instructions
- Heat the deep fryer up to 375F.
- Mix the flour and the Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning in a large bowl.
- Add the onions to the buttermilk in a separate bowl and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Drain and then dredge in the flour.
- Shake off excess flour.
- Fry, a few at a time, until golden brown and crisp.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Deep frying in oil is the best way to make fried onions. Air fryer and oven methods are ok but not as good as frying.
- Use a large mild onion like a 1015 onion.
- Let them soak in the buttermilk longer if the onions are very strong.
- Drain as much buttermilk as possible off the onions before dredging in the flour.
- If you don't have buttermilk you can use regular milk.
- Use these crispy fried onion strings on top of any casserole the way you would with Durkee or French's.
Marye's Tip o' the day
The trick for copycat French's fried onions is to slice the onions super thin and fry them until they are crispy but not burnt.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up
Tony Chachere's Seasoning is a spicy blend that I add to the flour -there's a link in the recipe or you might like to try my copycat Tony Chachere's seasoning.. You can substitute salt and pepper if you like.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
They can! Just substitute GF flour for the all-purpose flour. It couldn't be easier! Be sure to double-check any seasonings you add for gluten.
You can store them in an airtight container in a cool pantry for a day or two if you've been sure to cook them thoroughly. You may need to crisp them back up for a few minutes in an air fryer or oven.
Yes. Just be sure to drain well and blot off as much oil as possible, let them cool completely, and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Absolutely. Just use oat milk or other plant-based milk with a tablespoon of vinegar per cup.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Make a big batch and freeze ‘em! Fry up your crispy fried onions, let them cool completely, then spread them on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, toss them in a resealable bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you need ‘em, just pop them in a hot oven or air fryer for a few minutes to crisp them right back up—zero extra frying needed!
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
Crispy fried onions are also a great topping with any of these casseroles!
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- Eat for a snack.
- Homemade French fried onions are fabulous on burgers and hot dogs!
- Grind them into crumbs and use them to coat the chicken.
✍🏻 A note from Marye...
A few years ago Thanksgiving came and I was madly throwing things together trying to get everything done. I realized at the very last minute that I did not have the crispy onions for the top of the green bean casserole.
Quelle horreur!
I did what any red-blooded American foodie would do... I had a meltdown.
Once that was out of the way I figured out how to make my own copycat French's onions. And I like them SO much better.
I will never go back to the store-bought French fried onions again. These are so good!
We love them on top of this crack chicken chili.
Don't lose this recipe!
Pin to your favorite Pinterest board to keep it handy.
Mary Barnett says
Just made these - they taste great and were easy to do - thank you!
Claudio V Lopez says
You actually made a huge mistake in your recipe. I had to cut up an extra union because I kept snacking g on the fried onions as i was cool them. totally worth it
Marye says
It took me a minute...LOL!
Cindy says
These are so good with your campfire sauce recipe!
Camden says
I'm surprised to see how easy it is to make french fried onions at home!
Alyssa says
These french fried onions would be perfect on top of a cheeseburger! Can't wait to give these a try!
Kristen says
Do you think I could make a gluten free version of this french fried onions recipe? My daughter and I both have gluten allergies, and every Thanksgiving and Christmas I spend a million dollars on the store-bought gluten free version--let alone trying to even track it down! I wonder if it would be cheaper and tastier if I made it at home!
Kristen says
Do you think I could make a gluten free version of this recipe? My daughter and I both have gluten allergies, and every Thanksgiving and Christmas I spend a million dollars on the store-bought gluten free version--let alone trying to even track it down! I wonder if it would be cheaper and tastier if I made it at home!