You'll want to bake a few sheet pans of these crispy, cheesy onion ring chips.
I Made the Viral ‘Onion Ring Chips,’ and They’re As Tasty As They Look
Published on Mar. 28, 2025
I’m one of those people who loves to pluck the melty, crispy bits of cheese out of the pan after making a quesadilla or grilled cheese sandwich. I know I’m not alone, so I make sure no one else in the house has a chance to steal the cheesy bits!
The second I saw onion ring chips on TikTok, I knew I would love them. This recipe has all the joy of golden brown bits of cheese plus crisp, thin slices of onions that roast in that cheese as it melts. And after falling in love with the recipe for French onion pasta, my family couldn’t wait to try another cheesy onion dish.
I tested the onion ring chips recipe from Stella Drivas of Hungry Happens, which appears to be the original and has kicked off a flurry of copycats. Drivas touts the recipe as a low-carb way to satisfy cravings for fried onion rings. The chips bake up quickly enough to be a midday or late-night snack, but I could see them as a side for burgers, chicken tenders or meat loaf, too.
However you enjoy them, be prepared for cheesy onion ring chips to disappear in a flash!
What are ‘onion ring chips’?
This ingenious dish has a generous layer of shredded Parmesan cheese topped with very thin slices of onion. They get a dusting of garlic powder and paprika before going into the oven. As they bake, the cheese melts and releases oil into the pan, which “fries” the onions. The cheese eventually browns along the bottom, fusing with the onions to create a big, thin and crispy sheet.
Like an onion boil, so much of the flavor comes from the onion itself, but the seasonings do make these crisps even better.
Based on my test bakes, I have some tricks for the crispiest onion ring chips possible. First, the onions have to be cut into very thin slices, or they will end up soggy. The original recipe calls for 1/4-inch thick slices; I think 1/8-inch is even better. Use a mandoline slicer for thin, uniform slices. Second, shred your own Parmesan cheese using a box grater or Microplane. Pre-shredded cheeses have additives that prevent them from melting smoothly.
Finally, spread just a tiny bit of oil on top of the onions—too much oil will make them soggy. You can even use an olive oil spray for the lightest possible coating.
Ingredients for Onion Ring Chips
- 7 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 to 3 small white or yellow onions, sliced into 1/4-inch (or thinner) slices
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt, garlic powder and paprika to taste
How to Make Onion Ring Chips
Step 1: Layer the cheese and onions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a 17×12-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Spread the shredded Parmesan into an even layer over the parchment. Then, lay the onion slices in a single layer on top of the cheese so that the sides are touching. (Don’t overlap them, though.)
Brush or spray the tops of the onions very lightly with olive oil. Finally, sprinkle as much salt, garlic powder and paprika as you like over the onions and cheese.
Editor’s Tip: The Parmesan cheese is salty, so don’t add too much extra salt. Or, wait to add salt until after they’re baked.
Step 2: Bake
Place the pan in the oven and bake the onions for about 18 minutes. When the tops are golden, and the cheese is browned and crispy around the edges, move the pan to a wire rack and let the onions cool for 10 minutes.
Break or slice the onions and cheese apart and serve them while warm.
Onion Ring Chips Tips
What type of onion is best for onion ring chips?
Use any type of onion you’d like. This recipe calls for white onions, but yellow or purple onions work, too. Sweet onions will give your chips a mellower, slightly sweeter flavor. (Just like they do in a pan of baked Tennessee onions!) If using a mandoline, choose small onions that will fit in the slicing area.
Can you use pre-shredded Parmesan for onion ring chips?
For this recipe, it’s best to grate your own cheese. This is because packaged, pre-shredded cheeses are treated with cellulose to keep the shreds from sticking. As a result, it doesn’t melt well. In this recipe, you want the Parmesan to melt quickly and smoothly so that it’ll meld with the onions.
How should you store onion ring chips?
Leftover onion ring chips can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to two days. To reheat and re-crisp them, transfer them to a lined baking sheet and place them in a 400° oven for three to five minutes until they’re warmed through and sizzling.
