Air Fryer Onion Rings
on Aug 11, 2023, Updated Jun 27, 2024
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My Air Fryer Onion Rings are a show-stopping appetizer or side dish. Made with white onions and a handful of pantry staples, these homemade onion rings always turn out crispy and flavorful—no oil required!
Nothing pairs better with a juicy hamburger or toasted sandwich than a stack of crispy, stringy onion rings. This homemade air fryer version is just as juicy and crunchy as your favorite restaurant rings. Made with a sliced white onion, breadcrumbs, flour, eggs, and spices, this simple dish can be whipped up in just 20 minutes and makes for the perfect side or appetizer! Pair these air fryer onion rings with your favorite dipping sauce and voila! You have a dish that’s sure to be enjoyed by even the pickiest of eaters.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
We Love This Recipe Because It’s…
- A healthier version of a deep-fried favorite.
- Salty, crunchy, and super oniony!
- A quick 20-minute appetizer or side dish.
- Perfect when paired with your favorite dipping sauce!
Equipment You’ll Need
Although this is a quick and easy recipe, you will need a few special kitchen tools to make it. First and most obvious is some kind of air fryer. Second, you’ll need a set of three shallow dishes to use for breading the onion slices; I like to use pie plates. And last but not least, you’ll need a whisk.
Ingredient Notes
- White Onion—Sliced into thick rings.
- Panko Breadcrumbs—Makes these air fryer onion rings turn out super crispy.
- All-Purpose Flour—Dries out the onion, making it easier for the breading to stick.
- Eggs—Bind the breading ingredients together.
- Spices—A blend of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt.
How to Make Air Fryer Onion Rings
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt.
- In a second shallow dish, scramble the eggs.
- Place the panko in a third shallow dish.
- Coat the sliced onion first in the flour, then in the eggs, and finally in the panko.
- Cook the onion rings in an air fryer until crunchy and golden brown on the outside but soft and stringy in the middle.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you find that your homemade onion rings are coming out of the air fryer soggy or undercooked, this is likely because you tried to fry too many at once. You want to make sure that the battered rings are in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer and that they don’t overlap too much. I cook between 5-7 rings at a time and find that they crisp up nicely.
Personally, I find these air fryer onion rings to be just as crispy and tasty as deep-fried onion rings! The onion inside is soft and chewy while the outside has the perfect amount of crunch. Plus, I like knowing that these homemade onion rings are made without inflammatory oils!
The panko breadcrumbs won’t stick to these onion rings if the onion slices are too wet. So, I would recommend patting the onions dry with a paper towel before you begin the breading process. Coating the rings in the flour mixture first should also help to dry them out.
How to Serve and Store Homemade Onion Rings
These crispy and savory air fryer onion rings make for a great appetizer, party finger food, or side dish! I like serving my onion rings with a dipping sauce like chipotle mayo, garlic herb ranch, or tangy barbecue sauce. You can often find me pairing these onion rings with dishes like grilled burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, or air fryer chicken tenders. These crispy rings add the perfect amount of oniony flavor to almost any meal!
You might be surprised to hear that these air fryer onion rings are really good left over! Unlike regular onion rings that are loaded with oil and get soggy in the fridge, these homemade onion rings are super crispy when reheated properly. I recommend storing any leftover onion rings in an airtight container in the fridge; they should stay good for up to 5 days. Reheat the onion rings in a 400°F air fryer until warmed through.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- I recommend using a white onion as opposed to red or yellow in this recipe. Red tastes best raw and yellow onions are sweet and tend to fall apart a bit while cooking.
- You can make these air fryer onion rings gluten free by swapping out the all-purpose flour and panko breadcrumbs for gluten-free versions.
- If you don’t have a premade Italian seasoning blend, you can make your own by combining equal parts oregano, basil, garlic salt, and onion powder.
More Recipes
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Air Fryer Hamburgers
If you’ve tried this Air Fryer Onion Rings recipe or any other recipe on Bless This Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.
Air Fryer Onion RIngs
Ingredients
- 1 large white onion
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Slice your white onion into thin discs, about ¼ inch thick at most.
- In a shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Dip each onion ring in the flour, ensuring it is evenly coated.
- Whisk the eggs in another shallow dish until thoroughly beaten. Dip the onion rings in the eggs.
- In a third shallow dish add the panko bread crumbs and after you coat the eggs in flour, then eggs, finish off by coating them in panko bread crumbs.
- Place 5-7 onion rings in your air fryer basket at a time and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Repeat until all the onion rings are cooked.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If your onion rings are seeming a little dry you can spray them with a little cooking spray before air frying them to add a little oil.
- You can store your leftover onion rings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days; however, they are best served fresh.
- If you do not have Italian seasoning, you can make your own by combining equal parts oregano, basil, garlic salt, and onion powder.
- These onion rings are great served on their own or with a sauce like marinara sauce, malt vinegar aioli, etc.
- If you want a slight sweet flavor to go with your onion rings, you can use a yellow onion instead.
Nutrition
Air fryer onion rings combine the best of both worlds – a deliciously satisfying snack with reduced oil and calories, making them a delightful guilt-free indulgence for all to enjoy. Quick, easy and super tasty!
