Here’s an ultra-indulgent snack or appetizer: Mozzarella-Stuffed Onion Rings with Garlic Butter! These are crispy on the outside, melty on the inside, and loaded with garlicky, buttery flavor — basically the ultimate upgrade to traditional onion rings.
🧅🧀 Mozzarella-Stuffed Onion Rings with Garlic Butter
🕒 Total Time: 45 minutes
🍽 Serves: 4–6
💥 Crispy, cheesy, garlicky snack perfection
Ingredients
For the rings:
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2 large yellow or white onions, cut into ½-inch slices and separated into rings
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12–16 sticks of low-moisture mozzarella cheese (string cheese or cut from a block)
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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3 large eggs, beaten
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1½ cups breadcrumbs (panko for extra crunch)
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½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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Vegetable oil, for frying
For the garlic butter:
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4 tbsp unsalted butter
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2–3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Prepare the stuffed rings:
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Match pairs of onion rings that nest well with a small gap between them (this is where the cheese goes).
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Place a mozzarella stick or strip between each ring pair (trim cheese as needed so it fits snugly inside the onion ring gap).
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Gently press the inner and outer ring together with the cheese sandwiched between. Freeze the assembled rings for 20–30 minutes — this helps hold their shape while frying.
2. Bread the rings:
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Set up a dredging station: flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another, and a mix of breadcrumbs + Parmesan + salt + pepper in a third.
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Dip each frozen ring in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs. For extra crunch, repeat the egg + breadcrumb step.
3. Fry the rings:
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Heat oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
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Fry the rings in batches for 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
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Drain on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt while hot.
4. Make the garlic butter:
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In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
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Add minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant (don’t brown).
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Stir in chopped parsley and remove from heat.
5. Serve:
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Drizzle the garlic butter over the hot onion rings or serve it on the side for dipping.
✅ Tips:
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Use low-moisture mozzarella to avoid excess melting and leaking.
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These can be made ahead and frozen, then fried directly from frozen.
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Want to bake or air-fry them? Bake at 425°F for 20–25 minutes or air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
Would you like a spicy version with jalapeños or a marinara dipping sauce to go with them?