Guinness Battered Onion Rings
These Guinness Battered Onion Rings are a classic beer-battered onion ring…using Guinness! They’re tasty any time of the year, but they’re especially fun for St. Patrick’s Day!
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4-leaf clovers are certainly difficult to find. However, my mother has an uncanny ability for finding 4-leaf clovers. I remember having “contests” with my mother when I was a kid. We’d start a timer and see who could find the most 4-leaf clovers in 15 minutes. She always won. (And for the record, it would be 5, 6, 7 or more clovers…in 15 minutes!)
Well, I think I finally one-upped my mother in the clover category. She can still find more 4-leaf clovers than me, but what about a 6-leaf clover? Yes, a 6-leaf clover.
Late last summer, I was walking the dogs around our neighborhood, and I noticed a big clover patch in the cul-de-sac down the street. I stopped to look at clover while the dogs tracked chipmunks and rabbits.
Almost immediately, I looked down and saw a clover that looked unique. Oftentimes, clover grows together and gets tangled up…so what might look like a 4-leaf clovers ends up being ‘normal’ 3-leaf clover. Not this time. I found a 6-leaf clover. No kidding!
It was hard to get a photo showing all 6 leaves of the clover, but I assure you this clover didn’t involve super glue or Photoshop. It was a legit 6-leafed clover…on 1 stem! I did some quick googling, and it appears that clovers with more than 4 leaves do exist. However, they are extremely rare.
Local news stories popped up in my search talking about folks who found 6-leaf clovers. Apparently they are a news-worthy discovery! While I didn’t think to call the local news station to report my find, I did decide to share it here on the internet. That 6-leaf clover got tucked away in a book on my bookshelf so I can show anyone and everyone who is interested. Laura just rolled her eyes when I found it – I don’t think she appreciated the rarity as much as I did!
Guinness Battered Onion Rings
Moving from a symbolic Irish icon (the clover) to a consumable Irish icon (Guinness), let’s talk about these Guinness Battered Onions Rings. First off, they’re delicious! I’ve always been a huge fan of beer battered fish, and this batter is basically a standard beer batter. Any beer will work, but I find that a beer with a lot of flavor – like a dark stout – works the best. Plus, this is a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day given that Guinness is a classic Irish beer.
I’ve made onion rings a handful of times in the past, and I have to say that these Guinness Battered Onion Rings rank up there among the best. The batter is light and crispy, and the onions are flavorful without being overpoweringly “onion-y.”
I’ve picked up a couple of tricks from previous attempts at onion rings. First, Vidalia onions are the best choice for onion rings. They are a sweeter onion, and that flavor works well in onion ring form. However, Vidalia onions are only available for several months each year. If Vidalias aren’t available, then make sure to use another sweet onion variety.
The second tip is to soak the sliced onions in buttermilk. This step tames the flavor of the onions a bit so that you don’t end up with a harsh flavor. It also helps the batter stick to the onions better – nothing is worse than taking a bite of an onion ring only to have the onion slide out of its crispy shell!
Finally, when frying these Guinness Battered Onion Rings, make sure not to overload the pot. The number of onion rings you can cook at one time will obviously depend on the size of your pot. For me, I use a Fry Daddy fryer, and I can cook about 4-5 rings at once. If you overload the pot, the onion rings will not cook evenly, and they’ll end up a bit on the greasy side.
If you love onion rings, then put this recipe on the list of things to make. It’s delicious! There’s an Irish pub around the corner from us that makes great onion rings, and this homemade version ranks up there with the restaurant version. Enjoy!
Guinness Battered Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet onions preferably Vidalia
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 4-6 cups canola or vegetable oil for frying
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt plus more for finishing
- 1 14.9-oz. can Guinness, or another stout beer
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ Tbsp honey
Instructions
- Peel and slice onions into ½" rings. Separate rings and place in a large bowl with buttermilk; let soak for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, using a heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven, heat oil to 360°F.
- Using a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder and salt. Set bowl aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the beer, mustard and honey. Pour liquid mixture into bowl with the dry ingredients; stir until well combined.
- Line a baking tray with paper towels or brown paper bags; place tray next to the pot of oil.
- Working with 1-2 onion rings at a time, remove the onion rings from the buttermilk and dip into the batter. Allow excess batter to drip off of the onion rings and then carefully place into the hot oil.
- Let fry for 1-2 minutes per side, flipping occasionally.
- Remove onion rings from oil and place on baking tray. Repeat process with remaining onion rings. (Tip: Don’t dip the onion rings into the batter until right before you fry them. Also, make sure not to overcrowd the pot with too many onion rings at one time.)
- Sprinkle onion rings with additional salt before serving.
Looking for more tasty St. Patrick’s Day recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Cant wait to make this soon by next week can i use almond milk and skip guinness and cant wait to make this in my air fryer i never had guinness battered onion rings before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
So if you’re omitting the beer here, I would recommend using carbonated water so that you still get the carbonation. The carbonation is one key piece for creating that flaky batter on onion rings. Give it a try!
I should make the comment more clear as i dont drink beer
No problem at all, Ramya! Thanks for clarifying!
Good morning David. I was wondering when you said slice 1/2 rings did you mean 1/2″. you have awesome recipes. Would love love to see more videos though…take care.
Hey Jacqueline! Ah – that was a typo on my part, it was supposed to be 1/2″. I just updated the recipe to make that clear. And thank you for the feedback on video! 🙂
Love how you’ve got a Guinness theme going on here! These onion rings look amazing, so light and crisp! Perfect for St Patty’s day!!
It’s so fun how Guinness can be used in both sweet recipes (ahem – chocolate!) and savory. I have to say these onion rings turned out SO well! Thanks, Michelle! 🙂
i adore fried onion rings – not good for the waistline tho … I guess you could use Spanish onions/red onions as they are mild in flavour. where oh where is this year going? St Paddy’s Day coming up already? 🙂
Haha – I totally know what you mean about the waistline. I have to be careful with onion rings – I love them!! And, yes, this year is off to a quick start…mid-March is just around the corner!
What an awesome find that 6 leaf clover was! I’ve still never managed to find a four leaf clover. These onion rings look absolutely perfect David! Your tips about dipping in buttermilk are so good to know, there really is nothing worse than having the onion slip out of the shell. Now I know what to do. Definitely the perfect appetizer for St. Patrick’s day right here, yum! 😋
Hey – you can find a 4 leaf clover! I have absolute faith in you, Shannon. You just have to find a good clover patch and stand there for a bit of time. It’s the perfect time of the year to go 4 leaf clover hunting!
And these onion rings? Oh man are they good! Thanks so much, my friend!
I’m not sure if a six-leaf clover is a sign of luck, or a sign that you live too near to a nuclear power plant. Onion rings, though, are always a good sign. Especially hanging on a beer! I love onion rings. I’ve never made them. It’s too much fun going out for them. But if I did try making them, yours would be the first I would attemp!
Hahahaha – touché, Jeff. Touché. I agree with you about onion rings – those are always a good sign…nuclear power plant or not. 🙂 I hear ya about going out for onion rings. Frying food at home is always a bit of a chore, but man…these onion rings…they’re really, really good!
6 leaf clover! How cool is that?! Onion rings is one of my absolute favourite things ever. No joke. I love onion rings so so much. I find it difficult to order them in restaurants because lots of times, they’re not homemade (which is a no go for me). I love beer battered onion rings and when I can find them (or make them), they’re such a treat. And now I’m totally craving some and it’s not even lunch!! 🙂
Yeah that 6 leaf clover was SO cool – Laura didn’t thing it was as unique as I did, though. I knew what I had – even if she didn’t. 🙂 Also, onion rings. SO good. I say make a batch of onion rings soon, Dawn…and use Guinness this time because, well, why not? We can get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit!
That 6 leaf clover has to make you double – or even triple lucky! Onion rings are one of my favorite things to order when I’m out at a restaurant, especially if I’m ordering a burger! This homemade version looks amazing and so crispy. You’ve got to have that great crunch when you bite into them. Btw…I love the pic with the onion rings on the bottle of Guiness! It’s a great shot!
Haha – if only that 6-leaf clover made me triple lucky! Maybe I should’ve gone out and bought a lottery ticket that day. 🙂 I’m with ya on onion rings. I have to be careful around them as I can literally eat a whole batch without realizing it! This version turned out really well, and I did have fun “hanging” them on that bottle of Guinness. Thanks, Kathy!
LOVE the idea of onion rings made with sweet Vidalia onions, David! These beautiful rings look decadent delicious!
Oh, Vidalias are the only way to go with onion rings!! This Guinness batter was so tasty here, too. Thanks, Marissa!
Onion rings are one of my favorites. These look amazing! I don’t think I have seen a 6 leaf clover before, really cool.
Thanks so much, Dawn – that 6 leaf clover certainly took me by surprise. I was overjoyed with it! Laura thought I was crazy, though. Haha!
I love how you presented this specially in that beer bottle, it is one of the perfect beer match food
That’s true, Raymund! Onion rings and beer go together like Shaggy and Scooby! 🙂
Lovely recipe. I had onion rings many times, but never battered with Guinness. Something to tray soon. Thank you.
Hope you enjoy these, Fernando – they’re delicious!!
I say you should’ve called the local news! Then your wife might have understood about that six-leaf clover…
Anyway, I loved fried anything but well made onion rings are near to the top my list of delicious fried foods. Here you’ve done them just the way I like them, beautifully golden brown, not too light nor too dark. And great tip about soaking the onions in buttermilk! That bit about the onion slipping out of the batter is so true. Happens all the time when I order onion rings out.
Exactly! Laura just looked at me with a raised eyebrow like “so what?” I was like “It’s a friggin’ 6-leaf clover!!” Haha.
Like you, I love onion rings. In fact, I have to be careful ordering them as I know I will eat the entire basket! These turned out SO well…and the Guinness was a fun little twist for this time of the year. Thanks, Frank!
If these come even HALF as good as they look, they are a surefire winner! I can’t wait to try them!
Thanks so much, Madalaine! I was just thinking this morning that I need to make another batch of these soon. They’re delicious!