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There’s no denying onion rings are delicious with their crispy coating and juicy onions inside. But that doesn’t mean they’re exactly healthy. After all, deep fried foods can contain a lot of fat and calories. These air fryer onion rings aren’t an unhealthy side dish at all though. Air frying means you can make them crunchy and delicious without any oil at all. You will need some nonstick cooking spray but that’s all. Get ready to taste the most delicious onion rings ever. Each onion ring offers the most incredible flavor.
Air fryer onion rings are just as crispy and tasty as the regular fried version, just without all that oil. These seasoned onion rings make a great snack or side dish.
More fantastic side dish ideas for you include crispy stacked potatoes, cheesy vegetable casserole, and mashed red-skinned potatoes. And these cowboy sliders are always good with onion rings!
Why You’ll Love It
A healthier choice: Deep frying might be the classic way to make onion rings but it’s not the only way. Air fryer onion rings come out just as crispy but without using all that oil, thereby cutting down on both fat and calories.
Really delicious: Nothing’s quite as tasty as onion rings and they make a wonderful side dish for anything from burgers to cowboy sliders and chicken nachos.
Quick and easy: Onion rings only take 10 minutes to air fry to perfection. They’re easy to make. You just need to dip the onion in flour, eggs, and then panko bread crumbs, and then simply cook them.
Air Fryer Onion Rings Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below
Onion: I like to use yellow onions here, but you might like to try sweet onions for a different flavor.
Panko bread crumbs: These add plenty of wonderful crunch to the onion rings.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika flavor them so well.
All-purpose flour: This is the first layer on the onions and gives the buttermilk mixture something to stick to.
Buttermilk: This combines with eggs to give the panko breadcrumbs something to stick to.
How to Make Air Fryer Onion Rings
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card
Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Make the dipping mixtures: Combine the panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt in a bowl. Beat the buttermilk and eggs in a second bowl. Put the flour in a third bowl.
Coat the onion rings: Slice the onions into rings and dip in the flour and then the egg mixture and finally the panko breadcrumbs, pressing them in well so they stick.
Spray well: Use plenty of nonstick cooking spray to grease both the air fryer and the onion rings.
Cook them: Air fry for 5 minutes and then flip, spray more nonstick cooking spray on them and cook for 5 more minutes.
Serve and enjoy: Enjoy hot from the air fryer, perhaps paired with your favorite dipping sauce.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, just use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs (I use these and they’re really good!)
Different onions: Try Vidalia onions or another kind of sweet onion if you wish, or even red onions or white onions for a slightly different flavor.
Another paprika: If you like, you can use regular paprika instead of smoked paprika.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Enjoy some sheet pan crab legs or burrata caprese salad to start.
Main dishes: These air fryer onion rings pair beautifully with anything from reverse seared NY strip steaks to smoked baby back ribs or cheddar and bacon stuffed burgers. They’re also really delicious paired with any of these flank steak dinners.
How to Store Air Fryer Onion Rings
Store: If you have some leftovers, they will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Freeze: Freezing makes these soggy, so it’s not recommended.
Reheat: Air fry onion rings for 3 or 4 minutes to reheat well and help crisp them back up.
Top Tips
No buttermilk? You can make your own by mixing a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar into just under 1/3 cup of whole milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then proceed with the recipe.
Try different onions: Any kind of onion can be used to make onion rings, including sweet onions and even shallots (although those will come out pretty small!)
Make them softer: The thicker the onion rings, the softer they will be inside. So if you like a crispy coating and soft center, that’s good to know.
Air Fryer Onion Rings FAQs
It’s best to be very generous with the spray. Use too little and the air fryer onion rings will stick to the air fryer, making the coating come off. Just spray until you have a visible layer both on the inside of the air fryer and on the onion rings themselves, and spray again when you flip them halfway through cooking.
The great thing about making your own air fryer onion rings is you can season them however you wish. Sub chili powder or cayenne pepper for the smoked paprika to enjoy a spicier flavor.
This is up to you and it also depends what you’re serving them with. Ketchup is a classic dip, as is mayonnaise. If you want something a little different, this olive-based dirty martini dip is creamy and delicious, or you might prefer this roasted red pepper cream cheese dip.
Air Fryer Onion Rings Recipe
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 Cups Panko breadcrumbs, regular or gluten-free
- 1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 Cup buttermilk
- 1/2 Cup all purpose flour
- 1 yellow onion, sliced in 1/2-inch rings
- Nonstick cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Stir the Panko, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and smoked paprika together in a bowl.
- In a second bowl, beat the eggs and buttermilk together.
- Add the flour to a third bowl.
- Dip onion slices in the flour, then in the eggs, and lastly into the panko, pressing the Panko firmly onto the onions.
- Spray the onion rings well with cooking spray and place in the air fryer, making sure not to crowd the basket.
- Air fry at 375°F for 5 minutes, flip and spray again, then fry for another 5 minutes.
- Remove and serve with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Try different onions: Any kind of onion can be used to make onion rings, including sweet onions and even shallots (although those will come out pretty small!)
Make them softer: The thicker the onion rings, the softer they will be inside. So if you like a crispy coating and soft center, that’s good to know.
Nutrition
Air fryer onion rings are so easy to make. You just cut the onions into rings, dip the onion slices in a flour mixture and then eggs and finally panko breadcrumbs, and then just cook them in the air fryer basket until they’re golden brown and smelling incredible. Homemade onion rings beats boring frozen onion rings hands-down. They’re so good and you can dip onion rings into any kind of dip you prefer. So, why not add some delicious golden onion rings to tonight’s dinner? If you love onion rings you will definitely love these.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This recipe was super easy and delicious. We didn’t have any leftovers!
I love how crunchy it is and slightly sweet on the inside. Delicious