Step 1

Whisk together buttermilk and egg in a shallow dish.

Step 2

Whisk flour, cornstarch, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a separate shallow dish. Add breadcrumbs to a third shallow dish.

Step 3

Dredge onion rings in buttermilk mixture, then flour, then again in buttermilk mixture, then breadcrumbs. Set aside for 10-15 minutes until ready to fry. The longer sitting time allows the coating to absorb some of the liquid and get tacky, which helps prevent a lot of it from falling off while frying.

Step 4

Heat 1" of oil in a large cast iron skillet or other heavy duty pot like a dutch oven to 350°F to 375°F.

Step 5

Fry 3-4 onions rings at a time for 2-3 minutes without crowding the pan. Flip halfway through and only cook until the onion rings are light golden brown and crispy. Transfer fried onion rings to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain any excess grease and repeating with remaining onion rings.