The Four Best Brands of Frozen Onion Rings You Can Buy in Kentucky
It's National Onion Ring Day and that, for me, is a high holy day and I decided to celebrate early yesterday. My friend Ryan and I had lunch at Bru Burger in Evansville and I ordered those onion rings in the photo above. They're beer-battered, by the way, and they are SO good. Clearly, I freaking LOVE onion rings. Forget French fries, onion rings are my go-to side orders anytime I go to a burger joint. Heck, they're even my go-to at home and there are several brands of frozen onion rings that I absolutely love.
Now, I could easily compile a list of tristate restaurants that have absolutely epic onion rings. As you can tell from the photo, the rings served up at Bru Burger are thick, juicy and delicious. That said, my absolute favorite "restaurant" rings are found at Red Robin, which is home an appetizer known as Towering Onion Rings- 13 onion rings served with Campfire Mayo and ranch. If you've never had the opportunity of seeing their Towering Onion Rings or sinking your teeth into them, here's a quick sneak preview of what you've been missing.
But more on Red Robin in a bit because, as the cosmos would have it, they have marketed a frozen version. However, I'm not ready to chat about that particular brand just yet.
But I am ready to share the Four Best Brands of Frozen Onion Rings You Can Buy in Kentucky and, because it's a countdown, we'll start at #4.
#4 ORE-IDA ONION RINGERS
I grew up on these things, so they will always have a special place in my heart and my stomach. To me, these are the classic frozen onion rings and you just can't go wrong with them. They're every reminiscent of the onion rings you get at places like Big Dipper and Wonder Whip in Owensboro. They're thin, crispy, crunchy and so good and are the perfect shape and size for ketchup dipping.
#3- RED ROBIN CRISPY ONION RINGS
And, we're quickly back to Red Robin! While the frozen brand doesn't have quite the appeal of the Towering Onion Rings you get inside the restaurant, they are darn close. And who knows? If I had a skewer and could make my own tower with these things, they could quite possibly move up in the countdown.
#2- ALEXIA CRISPY ONION RINGS
If you haven't tried the Alexia brand, you are missing out. Product for product, they are the most consistent frozen "side order" brand. Their House Cut Fries are my absolute favorite frozen French fry and their Sweet Potato Fries are A-MA-ZING! I actually have a bag in my freezer as I type this.
Their onion rings are REALLY good too. They're coated in Panko breading and sea salt and bake up in the oven perfectly- EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
#1- NATHAN'S THICK SLICED BATTERED ONION RINGS
Nathan's is known worldwide for their hot dogs. I mean, everyone has heard of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest held every 4th of July, right?
But their onion rings are ridiculous and the company has captured that "world famous recipe" brilliantly in their frozen form. I love a good "battered" ring and these particular onion rings from Nathan taste at-home just like they would in a restaurant.
Happy National Onion Ring Day!