National Onion Ring Day | June 22

June 22 2025 is a golden day on the calendar – literally golden and crispy – because it’s National Onion Ring Day. This fun food holiday celebrates the beloved side dish (or snack, or let’s be honest, meal) that has been satisfying our deep-fried cravings for decades. Onion rings, those delicious loops of battered and fried onion, are an iconic part of American comfort food cuisine. Found in diners, burger joints, steakhouses, and sports bars, they’re often the crunchy companion to a burger or sandwich, but are equally enjoyed on their own with a side of ketchup or special sauce.

On National Onion Ring Day, U.S. foodies pay homage to the history of this humble yet addictive treat, swap tips on achieving the perfect crunch at home, and perhaps embark on the noble quest of finding the best onion rings in town. Informative and appetizing, this day is a tribute to taking one of the simplest vegetables and elevating it into a crispy delight.

How to Celebrate National Onion Ring Day

Celebrating National Onion Ring Day is straightforward: eat and enjoy some onion rings! But here are a few ways to make the most of it:

• Taste Test Tour: Visit a few local spots known for their onion rings – a fast-food place, a diner, and a pub – and sample their versions. Make notes, compare, and crown your personal “best onion rings in town.”
• DIY Onion Rings at Home: Use sweet onions (like Vidalia), slice them 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, coat in batter or breadcrumbs, and fry at 350°F until golden. Keep warm in an oven and enjoy your crispy creation.
• Experiment with Dips: Try sauces like chipotle mayo, horseradish dip, ranch, or blooming onion sauce to elevate your ring experience. Make a dip tasting platter for extra fun.
• Go Beyond the Ring: Top your burger with onion rings, chop them into hot dog toppings, or try quirky appetizers like an onion ring loaf or tower for a party presentation.

Many restaurants may run promotions. Check fast-food apps or just ask in-store – even if there’s no deal, you might get a bonus ring or two. It never hurts to ask with holiday spirit!

History of Onion Rings

The exact origin of onion rings is a bit hazy (much like a kitchen after frying a batch!). Several sources claim to have the first recipe. One early reference comes from John Mollard’s 1802 cookbook The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined, which included a recipe for “Fried Onions with Parmesan Cheese” – essentially rings of onion dipped in batter and cheese and fried. Meanwhile, a 1910 New York Times article presented another recipe for fried onion “fritters.” However, the modern concept of onion rings didn’t truly take off until the 20th century with the rise of fast food and casual dining.

One popular origin tale credits the Pig Stand, a drive-in restaurant chain in Texas, with inventing onion rings in the 1920s. Pig Stand’s fried onions became a hit, and other eateries soon picked up on the idea. Another key player was fast-food chain A&W, which by the 1960s helped popularize onion rings nationally as a side item at their burger restaurants. Whether or not Pig Stand was first, Texas holds a strong claim to onion ring fame – they even sometimes call them “Texas onion rings,” especially when the rings are impressively large (owing to the use of big sweet onions like Texas’s own 1015 onion variety).

Onion rings also have a British cousin in “beer-battered onion fritters,” but by the post-WWII era, they were largely seen as an American indulgence. They rode the wave of fried food popularity, showing up in frozen form in supermarkets by the latter half of the 20th century. Today, onion rings are not only ubiquitous in the States but have also traveled abroad – you’ll find them in Canadian pubs, Australian eateries, even some Asian fast-food menus. Interestingly, while Americans debate who has the best onion rings (with some citing regional chains like Sonic or Dairy Queen for their favorites), the basic formula remains similar everywhere: slice onion, separate into rings, dip in a seasoned batter or breadcrumb coating, and fry. There are variations – some soak the onions in buttermilk first, others use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch – but the core experience is familiar and beloved.

National Onion Ring Day itself appears to have been put on the calendar by enthusiastic foodies and perhaps industry folks. It’s now promoted by restaurants big and small, many of which offer special deals on June 22 (like “free onion rings with any burger purchase” or half-price baskets during happy hour). The day is a bit of a light-hearted celebration, certainly not as formal as, say, National Pie Day or something, but it resonates because onion rings spark that nostalgic joy – of county fairs, BBQ joints, or classic diners on a summer road trip.

Recipes and Onion Ring Variations

• Beer Batter Bliss: Replace milk with lager or ale for extra lightness and flavor. Add spices like paprika and garlic powder for a kick.
• Tempura-Style: Use rice flour and ice-cold club soda for a sheer, delicate coating. Fry quickly and enjoy immediately for best results.
• Spice it Up: Toss freshly fried onion rings in hot sauce and melted butter for “Buffalo-style” rings. Serve with blue cheese dip.
• Baking Option: Use panko for crisp baked rings. Dredge in flour, egg, and seasoned panko. Bake at 425°F and flip once. Less greasy but still crunchy.

Try making a party tower with stacked rings, or explore global versions like Indian pakoras, French beignets, or Latin American aros de cebolla. Fried onions are loved everywhere!

 

National Onion Ring Day Calendar

Year	Date	Day of the Week
2025	June 22, 2025	Sunday
2026	June 22, 2026	Monday
2027	June 22, 2027	Tuesday
2028	June 22, 2028	Thursday
2029	June 22, 2029	Friday

Fun Facts about Onion Rings

Tallest Stack of Onion Rings: In Melbourne on September 2, 2022, Australian Oscar Lynagh set the world record by stacking onion rings to an impressive height of 33 cm (1 ft 0.99 in)

Onion Ring Algorithm: In a quirky overlap of food and math, researchers jokingly referenced onion rings when describing the “onion decomposition” method in computational complexity. Proof that rings live even in academia!

In Pop Culture: Onion rings starred in the final scene of HBO’s “The Sopranos,” symbolizing normalcy and tension. That bowl of onion rings became part of one of TV’s most dissected endings.

Debate: Fries vs. Rings: The classic food rivalry – which is better? Fries may win in popularity, but onion ring fans are passionate. Some restaurants now serve “frings” – a mix of both. Maybe try them together and judge for yourself!