Air Fryer Onion Rings
These Air Fryer Onion Rings deliver restaurant-quality crispiness with minimal oil. Sweet onions are coated in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture and air-fried to golden perfection, creating a crave-worthy appetizer that’s lighter yet satisfyingly crunchy.
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet onions Vidalia or Walla Walla work best
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup regular breadcrumbs for better adhesion
- Cooking spray olive oil or avocado oil preferred
- Optional: 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor
Instructions
- Prepare the onions: Peel the onions and slice them into 1/2-inch rings. Separate the rings and discard the very small inner rings (or save for another use).
- Set up your dredging station: In the first shallow bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. In the second bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. In the third bowl, mix panko and regular breadcrumbs (and parmesan if using).
- Coat the onion rings: Working with one ring at a time, dredge in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumbs. For extra crispiness, dip the coated ring back into the egg mixture and then breadcrumbs again.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
- Arrange in air fryer: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place onion rings in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap. Lightly spray the tops of the rings with cooking spray.
- Cook in batches: Air fry for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Keep warm: Place cooked rings on a baking sheet in a 200°F (95°C) oven while cooking remaining batches.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce like ketchup, ranch dressing, or spicy aioli.
Notes
- If your onion rings aren’t getting crispy enough, try spraying them with a bit more oil before the final few minutes of cooking.
- The double-dredging technique (flour, egg, breadcrumbs, egg again, breadcrumbs again) creates the crispiest results but isn’t mandatory if you’re short on time.
- For best results, use fresh breadcrumbs or panko that hasn’t been sitting in your pantry for months—fresher breadcrumbs yield a crispier texture.
- Sweet onions are preferred as they caramelize beautifully and have less bite when cooked, but yellow onions will work in a pinch.
- Don’t skip preheating your air fryer—this ensures immediate cooking and better crisping.