Cheesy Stuffed Mozzarella Onion Rings Recipe

4 large onions – Yellow or white onions are perfect for this recipe. You want the rings to be big enough to stuff with mozzarella so don’t go for tiny onions.
1 cup of all-purpose flour – This will be used to coat the onion rings before they’re dipped in the egg wash and breadcrumbs.
1 teaspoon of garlic powder – Adds a nice savory depth of flavor.
1 teaspoon of onion powder – We’re going for all the onion flavor here.
1 teaspoon of paprika – This gives the onion rings a nice color and adds a little smokiness to the flavor.
2 large eggs – These are for the egg wash which helps the breadcrumbs stick to the onion rings.
1 ½ cups of breadcrumbs – I recommend using panko breadcrumbs because they’re extra crispy but regular breadcrumbs work fine too.
½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese – A little Parmesan adds even more flavor and helps create a crispy cheesy coating.
8 ounces of mozzarella cheese – I like using the block mozzarella and cutting it into sticks. It melts perfectly and gives you that amazing cheese pull.
Vegetable oil – You’ll need enough to submerge the onion rings while frying them. I recommend using a neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil for the best results.
Salt and pepper – To taste of course!

The first step is to prep your onions. Start by peeling them and cutting them into thick slices—about 1-inch thick. You want the rings to be large enough to stuff with mozzarella, but not too big that they’re hard to handle.
Once you’ve sliced your onions, gently separate the rings. Keep the larger ones for stuffing with cheese, and set the smaller ones aside for later (you can snack on them or use them for a different recipe, like a salad).
Tip: If you cut the onions evenly, they’ll cook more consistently, which means each ring will be crispy and perfectly golden. Take your time here—it’s totally worth it!

Now, it’s time to stuff those onion rings with mozzarella cheese! Take a mozzarella stick (I recommend using fresh mozzarella for the best melt), and carefully insert it inside one of the larger onion rings. You want the cheese to fit snugly, but don’t worry if a little bit of cheese sticks out—it's actually pretty satisfying when it oozes out while frying.
If you have some mozzarella leftover, you can snack on it while you work, or save it for a future recipe!
Once you’ve stuffed a few onion rings, lay them on a plate or tray. Make sure they’re ready to go before you start dipping them into the coating.

Next up, we’re going to coat those cheesy onion rings so they get all crispy and golden. First, whisk the eggs in a shallow bowl. This will help the breadcrumbs stick to the onion rings.
In a second shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until it’s evenly mixed.
In a third shallow bowl, add the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Give it a quick stir to combine everything.
Now, one by one, take each stuffed onion ring and dip it into the flour mixture. Make sure it’s fully coated, then dip it in the egg wash, and finally coat it in the breadcrumb mixture. The breadcrumbs are key to getting that golden, crispy exterior, so make sure each ring is fully covered.

Once your onion rings are fully coated, it’s time to fry them. Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. You want enough oil so that the rings can be fully submerged (about 2-3 inches of oil should do it).
To test if the oil is hot enough, drop in a small piece of bread or a tiny bit of batter. If it sizzles and bubbles, the oil is ready. Carefully place the coated onion rings into the oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Fry the onion rings for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they’re golden brown and crispy. Don’t be tempted to flip them too soon – you want to let them cook all the way through before turning them over. If you’re cooking in batches, let the oil heat back up before adding more onion rings.

Once the onion rings are golden and crispy, use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil. This helps them stay crispy and prevents them from being too greasy.
Serve the cheesy stuffed mozzarella onion rings with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. The combination of the crispy onion and gooey cheese with the tangy marinara is out of this world!