🧅🎉 June 22 – National Onion Rings Day: Let’s Hear It for the (Snack) Rings! 💍✨
Ohhh yes, June 22 is the day we ditch the pretense of being fancy foodies and fully embrace the crispy, golden halo of glory that is the onion ring. Whether you're a ketchup dipper, a ranch dunker, or a "just eat them straight off the tray before anyone notices they're gone" kind of snacker, this is your day. 🥳
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So where did this circular snack sensation come from?
🔍 A Brief (and Crispy) History of Onion Rings
While no one can agree exactly who first decided to deep fry a ring of onion and call it a good time, one of the earliest recorded recipes was published in a 1933 edition of a Crisco advertisement in a New York Times magazine. (Shoutout to Crisco, the OG oil influencer.)
But some culinary historians suspect onion rings may have made secret appearances in recipes as far back as the 1800s. Honestly, if I were an onion ring, I’d be playing hard to get too. 💁♀️
🧅 Did You Know?
Sonic Drive-In reportedly serves millions of pounds of onion rings a year. That’s a lot of layers.
Some onion rings are made from a paste-like mix rather than actual sliced onions. (We're not naming names, but we're side-eyeing frozen grocery store bags 👀).
The world's largest onion ring (so far) weighed over 1.6 pounds and was made in South Africa. It probably required its own zip code.
🎊 10+ Ways to Celebrate National Onion Rings Day Like the Crispy Royalty You Are
Host a Ring-Off: Grab a few friends and stage a head-to-head onion ring taste test. Fast food chains, diners, air fryer attempts—only one can reign supreme.
DIY Onion Ring Bar: Think sundae bar, but with fried rings and a spread of dips—garlic aioli, sriracha mayo, chipotle ranch, cheese sauce. Go wild.
Try a Weird Flavor: Ever had curry onion rings? What about wasabi? It's time to get adventurous with that batter.
Make Onion Ring “Tacos”: Hear us out—use giant onion rings as taco shells and fill with ground beef, cheese, and pico. It’s wrong, but it’s right. 🌮💍
Onion Ring Jewelry Photoshoot: Stack 'em, wear 'em, bedazzle them with edible glitter. Is it fashion? Is it lunch? YES.
Get Saucy: Make a mini “flight” of dipping sauces and test which pairs best with your rings. Scientific method, but delicious. 🧪🍴
Watch “Lord of the Onion Rings”: OK, it’s just Lord of the Rings, but bring themed snacks and call it a tribute.
Craft a Tower of Triumph: Build the tallest onion ring stack you can before it topples. Bonus points if you crown it with a fried pickle.
Gift Someone an Onion Ring: It’s a sweet (and slightly greasy) way to say “I love you but I also love carbs.”
Try the Viral Air Fryer Hack: If you haven’t made homemade onion rings in an air fryer, today’s your day to give it a whirl. Crunch without the guilt.
Rename Your Group Chat: “The Fellowship of the Onion Ring,” obviously.
🌼 Woodland Dinner: Onion Ring Day Edition
🍽️ Main Dish: Herb-Battered Onion Rings with Lemon Aioli
(Crispy. Golden. Magical.)
These are upgraded with fresh herbs, light batter, and a lemony aioli dipping sauce. Serve on a big platter with edible flowers and sprigs of parsley or thyme.
Make it dinner-worthy by pairing with:
A soft herb and cheese focaccia or flatbread
Roasted garlic dipping oil or whipped feta
🥗 Side: Charred Corn & Cherry Tomato Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Sweet, smoky, and just acidic enough to balance the fried onion joy.
Ingredients:
2 ears of corn, grilled or pan-charred, kernels removed
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
Fresh basil leaves, torn
1 tbsp white balsamic or champagne vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt + pepper
Toss it all together. Chill if making ahead, but serve at room temp with a few edible flowers if you’re keeping on theme.
🍹 Drink: Cucumber Mint Fizz (Mocktail or Cocktail)
Light, herbal, and zippy enough to cut through all that fried goodness.
Ingredients:
1/2 cucumber, sliced thin
Handful fresh mint
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp honey or agave
Sparkling water (or gin, if you’re feeling sprightly)
Instructions:
Muddle cucumber + mint with honey.
Add lime juice.
Shake with ice, strain into glass, top with sparkling water (or G&T-style gin).
Garnish with mint and a cucumber ribbon.
🍨 Dessert: Honey Lavender Ice Cream Sandwiches
Yes, we’re finishing with floral fantasy and childhood comfort.
Shortcut method:
Buy vanilla or honey lavender ice cream (or make it if you’re bold).
Sandwich between:
Soft lemon sugar cookies or
Lavender shortbread
Freeze until firm. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with white chocolate before serving.
🕯️ Bonus Atmosphere:
Picnic blanket on the floor
Twinkly fairy lights
Menu card printed on parchment with pressed herbs
Flower crowns optional but encouraged
🍽️ ELEMENTARY (Grades K–5): "The Great Onion Ring Stack-Off!"
🎯 Objective:
Explore measurement, patterns, and teamwork through a hands-on onion ring stacking challenge with math ties!
🧅 Activity:
“The Great Onion Ring Stack-Off” is a math-and-movement activity where students work in small groups to build the tallest stack of (faux) onion rings and record measurements over time.
🔧 Materials Needed:
Construction paper or cardstock in tan/yellow (to make paper onion rings)
Scissors
Rulers or measuring tape
Chart paper or whiteboard for data collection
Timer or stopwatch
Crayons or markers
(Optional) Play food onion rings or pool ring toys if you have them!
📝 Prep:
Pre-cut or have students cut out various-sized paper "onion rings" (circles with holes in the center).
Place students in small groups (3–4 students).
Designate a space for stacking and measuring.
🔍 Instructions:
Each group gets a pile of onion rings.
The goal: Stack the tallest free-standing tower of onion rings in 3 minutes.
After each round, students measure the height and record on a group data sheet.
Repeat for 2–3 rounds, encouraging design improvements and teamwork.
End with a reflection: Which stacking strategy worked best? Why?
✨ Bonus Layer:
Have students decorate their “onion rings” with patterns or drawings to make “flavor varieties” (e.g., spicy sriracha ring 🌶️, rainbow glitter ring 🌈✨).
🧠 SECONDARY (Grades 6–12): "Deep-Fried Debate: Are Onion Rings Better Than Fries?"
🎯 Objective:
Practice persuasive writing, debate skills, and critical thinking using a humorous food-based topic with real-world relevance.
🧅 Activity:
Students engage in a structured mini-debate on the hot topic: “Onion Rings vs. French Fries: Which is the Superior Side?” 🍟🆚🧅
🔧 Materials Needed:
Debate prompt handout
Research devices (optional, if time allows)
Chart paper or whiteboard
Printed debate structure guidelines
Index cards and pens
📝 Debate Prep Handout Includes:
Prompt: You are entering the National Side Dish Showdown. Prepare to argue that your chosen side (onion rings or fries) is the ultimate choice based on taste, texture, nutritional value, popularity, and cultural importance.
Roles:
Pro-Onion Ring Team
Pro-French Fry Team
Panel of Judges (optional)
Structure:
Opening Statements (1 min per team)
Rebuttals (1 min per team)
Final Arguments (1 min per team)
Judges or Class Vote!
✍️ Extension (Optional):
Have students turn their argument into a persuasive paragraph or opinion editorial. Title suggestions:
"The Crunch Factor: Why Onion Rings Rule the Fryer"
"Sorry, Spuds: Onion Rings Deserve the Throne"
🧅 Quirky in the Workplace
"The Onion Ring Olympics"
Think office-friendly field day… but all events are inspired by everyone's favorite circular snack.
Events include:
Ring Toss with Real Onion Rings (prize for best toss-to-mouth ratio)
Blind Taste Test: Onion Ring or… Something Else? (is that a calamari ring or a cruel trick?)
Dramatic Reading of Onion Ring Reviews (yes, from Yelp. Yes, with theatrical flair.)
Design Your Own Ring: Using paper, string, and a touch of delusion, create the engagement ring of your deep-fried dreams. Must be onion-ring-themed. Proposals optional.
Winner receives: a gold spray-painted onion ring on a velvet pillow, and the title of “Lord of the Rings (But Just the Onion Kind).”
Tagline for the day:
“National Onion Rings Day: Because sometimes the only thing that should be in a circle around here… is a deep-fried vegetable.”
🎬 Movie Pick: Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Why it fits:
This cult classic road comedy is essentially a love letter to fast food. While it's centered on burgers from White Castle, the spirit of indulgence, cravings, and fast-food adventures ties in perfectly with the onion ring vibe. The absurd hunger-fueled quest reflects the same craving that might drive someone to chase down the perfect onion ring.
📺 TV Episode Pick: Bob's Burgers – Season 4, Episode 17: “Easy Com-mercial, Easy Go-mercial”
Why it fits:
This episode focuses on Bob making a commercial to boost his burger business, which is threatened by a fast-food chain. The whole premise revolves around the struggle between mom-and-pop charm and fast-food giants—perfect for reflecting on the place of onion rings in Americana. It’s clever, funny, and full of greasy fast-food energy.
#️⃣ Hashtag It Like It's Hot
#NationalOnionRingsDay
#CrispyGoals
#LordOfTheRingsButSnacks
#FriedAndProud
#OnionRingThings
#RingMeBabyOneMoreTime
