Pepperoni makes everything more delicious, especially when it's baked into an onion ring pizza.
I Tried a Pizza-Style Version of the Viral Onion Ring Chips, and It’s So Dang Tasty
Published on May 09, 2025
When my husband and I first tasted the viral recipe for onion ring chips, we were immediately hooked. All that melted cheese and crispy onions … I must confess that we ate that entire pan in one sitting. We wouldn’t have thought that it could be possible to make onion ring chips even more savory and delicious, but now we’re hooked on this new version.
Pepperoni onion ring pizza has the same base of crisped onions and melted Parmesan cheese. That base is then topped with sliced pepperoni, Italian seasoning and shredded mozzarella cheese. Oh my gosh, it is good.
What are onion ring chips?
Onion ring chips are one of the latest onion-based TikTok recipes to go viral (the onion boil and French onion pasta are two other favorites). The baked, savory snack is made by layering very thin slices of onion over grated Parmesan cheese on a baking sheet. In the oven, the onions fry in the melted cheese and fuse into a sheet that’s crispy at the edges and tender through the middle.
I first heard of this pizza variation from creator Jessica Hirsch on her TikTok account CheatDayEats. Since she doesn’t specify the ingredient amounts, I used our viral onion ring chips recipe as the starting point for our onion ring pizza.
Ingredients for Onion Ring Pizza
- 7 ounces grated fresh Parmesan cheese
- 2 to 3 small white onions, peeled and cut into thin slices (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick)
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons Italian spice blend
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 16 thin slices of pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
How to Make Onion Ring Pizza
Step 1: Layer the ingredients
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a 17×12-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Spread the grated Parmesan cheese into an even layer over the parchment. Lay the onion slices in a single layer on top of the cheese with the sides touching, but not overlapping. Brush or spray the tops of the onions with a light layer of olive oil. Sprinkle the Italian spice blend, salt and black pepper over the onions. Finally, arrange the pepperoni slices over the top.
Step 2: Bake the onion ring pizza
Place the pan in the oven and bake the onions for 15 minutes; the cheese will be browned at the edges and the onions browned on top. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top of the onions and pepperoni. Bake the onions for another three to four minutes until the mozzarella is melted. Move the pan to a wire rack and let the onions cool for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Serve the onion ring pizza
The onion ring pizza tastes best when it’s served warm. Slice it into pieces, or tear off pieces to eat. Serve pizza onion ring chips with dipping sauces like ranch dressing or marinara sauce.
Onion Ring Pizza Tips
What type of onion is best for onion ring pizza?
This recipe calls for white onions, but other types of onions will work too. Try yellow, purple or Spanish onions instead. For a mellower, sweeter flavor, make the onion ring chips with sweet Vidalia or Walla Walla onions (they’re the ones that make Tennessee onions so good!). What’s most important is to choose small onions that will fit in your mandoline (if you’re using one)—that way more onion slices can be squeezed into the pan.
How do I make my onion ring pizza crispy?
A couple of steps help ensure the onion ring chips crisp up as much as possible. First, make sure to cut the onions into very thin slices; they should be no more than 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. A mandoline slicer is the easiest way to make consistent, thin slices. Also, add just a light coating of oil on top of the onions (olive oil cooking spray works well). Too much oil will make the onions soggy.
What should I top the onion ring pizza with?
To give the pepperoni pizza onion ring chips a spicy kick, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, sliced jalapenos or a few banana pepper rings. For a meat lovers version, add crumbled, cooked Italian sausage or diced ham to the top along with the pepperoni. You can also add a light drizzle of marinara sauce on top of the chips. Because the onion ring chips are very thin, avoid wet toppings like pineapple chunks or too much sauce; the excess liquid could make the dish soggy and prevent crisping.
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