The Thanksgiving Onion Ring is not your average holiday appetizer. It marries everyone’s love of crispy onion rings with Thanksgiving leftovers and takes the experience to a whole new level of fun. Turns out, turkey, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and veggies are legendary when combined inside a crispy, deep-fried battered onion.
Am I serious about this weird combo? Absolutely. It might sound wild, but one bite and you’ll get it. Trust me, you’ve gotta try them before you judge.
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Why you’ll love Stuffed Onion Rings
These stuffed onion rings are comfort food at its finest (anytime of year!) and so freakin’ delicious. The Thanksgiving Onion Ring recipe delivers a plate of flavor bombs that aim to please your hungry crew. After one bite into that crunchy golden shell, they’ll be forever hooked and begging for more.
This fun recipe is fully customizable, too. Swap in the veggies with green bean casserole or pile in more stuffing than turkey. The crispy exterior from the simple ingredients and the soft, rich filling inside will still hit every flavor note. Whether you serve them as a holiday appetizer, side dish, or stack one on top of a burger with French fries, these stuffed onion rings are guaranteed to steal the show.
If you like getting creative with onion rings, check out these recipes next: Chorizo Stuffed Onion Rings, Burger Stuffed Onion Rings, Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Onion Rings, Texas Twinkie Stuffed Onion Rings, and Cowboy Candy Stuffed Onion Rings
Ingredients round-up
Here’s what you’ll need for this original recipe with simple ingredients and bold flavor. Exact ingredient amounts will depend on how many rings you want to make, but the original yield is about 8 to 10 stuffed onion rings.
- Thanksgiving filling – Leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, cooked peas and carrots, and then your favorite mac & cheese.
- Onion ring – Large sweet onions, yellow onions, white onions (or even red onions in a pinch), plus frying oil.
- Batter ingredient lineup — All-purpose flour, Italian bread crumbs, and eggs. For added flavor, sprinkle some black pepper and onion powder into the flour.
Pro Tip: What kind of oil should I use for frying?
For the best crispy onion rings with that extra crunch, stick with a neutral, high smoke-point oil like peanut, canola, or vegetable oil. These oils can handle the hot oil temperature of around 375F you need for frying without burning or adding unwanted flavor. If you want to use olive oil, make sure it’s one with a high smoke point so it doesn’t break down during the frying process.
How to make Thanksgiving Onion Rings
Onion Ring Prep
Start by mixing your filling: chopped leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, mac & cheese. Cold leftovers work best for structure, because warm fillings tend to fall apart during cooking time.
Next, prep your onions. Slice sweet onions, yellow onions, or white onions into 1-inch thick rings and separate the largest ones. You want ring pairs: one big outer ring and a slightly smaller inner ring.
Now build them. Pack a handful of the filling into the large ring, shaping it into a circle. Press the smaller ring into the center to form a donut-shaped stuffed onion. Place them in the fridge for 30 minutes before frying, because this will help them keep their shape.
Deep Frying Time
Heat your oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 375F. You’ll want at least 3–4 inches of hot oil. Then dredge each onion ring, starting with the flour and ending with the bread crumbs (egg bath in the middle). Make sure every inch of the onion and filling is covered. That’s the key to extra crunch and perfect onion rings.
Fry them in small batches so you don’t overcrowd the pot. Cook each ring for about 1.5 to 2 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time if they’re not fully submerged. Once they’re golden brown and crispy, set them in a single layer on a wire rack or paper towels to cool slightly.
Serve each Thanksgiving Onion Ring hot with brown gravy over the top or cranberry barbecue sauce and enjoy!
What to serve with Thanksgiving Onion Rings
These homemade onion rings bring so much flavor and crunch that they can easily stand alone or be part of an appetizer spread. Pull in your favorite dipping sauce for more fun. Burger sauce, anyone? Build them as a side dish alongside fresh corn on the cob, fresh green beans, and some Marry Me Steak Sliders.
Thanksgiving onion ring Leftovers and reheating
If you have leftovers (unlikely), store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in an air fryer at medium heat or in the oven to restore their crispy texture. Skip the microwave unless you want a soggy mess.
More turkey recipes!
FAQs
You could, but you’d lose that signature extra crispy crust. If you go this route, bake at 425F for 20–25 minutes on a wire rack over a sheet pan.
You can build and bread the rings ahead of time, but the frying is best done right before serving.
I came up with this version of the stuffed onion ring recipe. I’m always looking for fun Thanksgiving leftover hacks!
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Thanksgiving Onion Ring
Ingredients
Thanksgiving Filling:
- 1 cup Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey finely chopped
- 2.5 cups Mashed Potatoes
- 1 cup Cooked Peas & Carrots room temperature
- ¾ cup Cooked Mac & Cheese room temperature
Onion Ring:
- 4-5 Whole Onions
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 4 cups Italian Bread Crumbs
- 8 Eggs whipped
- Frying Oil as needed
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the ingredients for the Thanksgiving Filling.
- Begin by peeling the outside layer of your onions and slicing into 1” thick onion rings. Grab 6-8 of the largest “rings” and inside “rings” to make the outside shape for our burger stuffed onion rings.
- Take an outside ring and grab a handful of filling and place it in the center. Shape the filling to the outside of the onion, then place the smaller inside ring into the filling to make a “donut” shape. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Preheat some frying oil in a dutch oven (about 3-4” deep) and to 375F.
- Add the onion rings to a bowl of flour and cover them in it. Then, add them to a bowl with the whipped eggs and cover it in whipped eggs. Finally, add to a bowl with the italian bread crumbs and cover.
- Once fully covered, add the to frying oil and cook for about 1.5-2 minutes in total making sure to flip if not fully submerged. Follow the dredging process for each onion ring and cook in batches so as to not overcrowd the oil. Once they are done, pull off and let cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve the Thanksgiving Onion Rings with brown gravy over top or Cranberry BBQ Sauce and enjoy!
