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Make my air fryer onion rings recipe the next time you need THE perfect side dish. The onions stay tender and sweet, while the golden breading adds that crunch factor. Ready in 10 minutes!
If you love fun air fryer recipes like we do, try my air fryer french fries, air fryer potstickers, or air fryer sweet potato fries next.
Table of Contents
I used to be obsessed with onion rings (arguably, I still am), but too often, the breading slides off the onions and the texture is overall mushy and uninteresting. No thank you!
Rather than risk it at restaurants, I prefer making onion rings in the air fryer. Using this method, the onion rings stay crispy on the outside yet juicy in the center. The best part? There’s no pot of hot oil to clean up afterward!
Why I love this recipe
- NO oil. That’s the magic of cooking in the air fryer.
- The perfect texture. The breading is golden and well-seasoned, and the onions maintain their firm texture without drying out or getting mushy.
- It’s fast. From start to finish, you can have onion rings on the table in about 10 minutes.
- They reheat just as well. Whenever I would order onion rings, I’d ALWAYS reheat them in my air fryer the next day. The breading stays crispy and won’t fall off the onions.
Key Ingredients
- Onions. I tested all different kinds and I strongly prefer the natural sweetness of yellow onions or sweet onions (also known as Vidalia onions). They’ll need to be peeled and cut into ¼-inch rings.
- Large eggs. Preferably room temperature.
- All-purpose flour. To coat in the onions and absorb extra moisture. I also had luck using cornstarch.
- Salt and black pepper. To taste.
- Smoked paprika. For a smoky, slightly sweet flavor.
- Panko bread crumbs. My preferred breadcrumbs for anything fried. Unlike regular breadcrumbs, these are lighter, crunchier, and absorb less oil.
How to air fry onion rings
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep work. Preheat the air fryer and slice the onions into rings.
Step 2- Dredge. Add the flour and spices in one bowl, the beaten eggs in another, and the breadcrumbs in a third bowl. Dip each ring into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the bread crumb mixture.
Step 3- Assemble. Place the dredged onions in a single layer in the air fryer basket
Step 4- Air fry until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Work in batches if needed.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Want to minimize the ‘oniony’ flavor? Soak the onion rings in cold water for 5-10 minutes, then dry them VERY well. Personally, I don’t find this necessary for mild, sweet onions.
- Spray them with cooking spray. Just a little spritz of oil on the onions can help the flour stick and give them a more golden color.
- Keep an eye on the smaller rings. The smaller ends of the onions will cook faster, so check the basket periodically and remove the ones that look done.
Frequently asked questions
The exact time to air fry will depend on how big the onion rings are and how many are in your basket. I find 8 minutes at 375F to be the ideal time.
The tip I’ve found most helpful are to make sure to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 2 large onions
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F. Slice the onions into rings about 1/4 inch thick.
- In one bowl, place the flour, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix well. n a second bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. In a third bowl, add the panko bread crumbs.
- Dip each onion ring into the flour mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Shake off the excess, dip it in the egg mixture, then dip it in the panko bread crumbs.
- Place the breaded onions in the air fryer and air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Notes
- Look for Walla Walla onions. I wasn’t able to find these in Australia, but if you live in the States, keep your eye out for Walla Walla sweet onions. They’re sweet enough to eat like an apple!
- Switch up the seasoning. Try cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, like honey mustard, ranch dressing, or ketchup.
