Air Fryer Onion Rings are a great way to feed your junk food cravings. These onion rings turn out crispy, crunchy, and golden brown without all the fat and mess of deep frying.
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Air fryers aren’t just for French fries and wings; you can use them to make amazing onion rings too! Here’s what you need to know before making this recipe with your air fryer so that you can get the most out of it.
Here’s how to make amazing onion rings in your air fryer!
Perfectly Crispy Air Fried Onion Rings
I confess, I LOVE crunchy, salty, junk food-y snacks. Some air fryer recipes deliver sad impersonations of those crave-worthy indulgences, soggy brown globs that don’t even come close to the real thing.
But after a whole lot of experimenting in the search for truly crunchy onion rings, I hit on this air fryer recipe that changed everything.
These air fryer onion rings are golden brown, crunchy, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. Now I can’t get enough of them! They are great on their own, and even better dipped in BBQ sauce, bang bang sauce, or ranch dressing.
The Ingredients
For the complete list of ingredients with quantities and detailed prep and cooking instructions, please see the recipe card that appears at the end of this post.
A handful of simple ingredients are all you need for delicious air fryer onion rings! Here’s what you need:
- Onions—Any large sweet onions work great. I like vidalia, maui, Walla Walla, or red onions, but just plain white or yellow onions work in this air fryer recipe, too!
- Seasonings—I like a mix of garlic powder, paprika, and salt, but you can change it up with whatever seasonings you like. Chili powder or curry powder would be delicious!
- Flour—I use all-purpose flour, which helps the seasoning and coatings stick to the onions. Don’t skip this step if you want evenly breaded, crispy, delicious onion rings!
- Cornstarch—Combining cornstarch with flour adds to the crispiness factor.
- Egg—Dunking the floured onions in egg gives the panko breadcrumbs something to stick to. Again, don’t skip this step if you want crispy, crunchy, golden brown onion rings.
- Panko breadcrumbs—Panko breadcrumbs make the crispiest, crunchiest onion rings. If you don’t have them, you can substitute regular breadcrumbs, or if needed, gluten-free panko.
- Spray cooking oil—You can use any type of cooking oil (olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc.), just be sure to use a non-aeresol spray (the propellant in aerosol sprays will erode the nonstick coating on your air fryer basket.) I like this non-aerosol avocado oil spray.
How to Make Onion Rings in the Air Fryer
For the complete list of ingredients with quantities and detailed prep and cooking instructions, please see the recipe card that appears at the end of this post.
It’s super easy to make delicious onion rings in an air fryer. Here’s how:
- Slice the onion into rings.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg.
- Place the panko in a third bowl.
- If desired, place a perforated parchment paper liner or a silicone liner in the air fryer basket.
- Dip onion rings first in the flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, and then in the panko. Place the coated onion ring in the air fryer basket. Repeat with as many onion rings as you can fit without overcrowding (you may have to cook in batches). Spray the onion rings with oil.
- Cook the breaded onion rings for about 6 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again with oil, until the onion rings are golden brown and crisp.
- Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!
Tips for Success
Great air fryer onion rings are more than just a recipe—they’re an art form. Follow these tips to ensure success every time.
- Change up the seasonings—This recipe calls for paprika, garlic powder, and salt, but you can season your onion rings however you like. Add onion powder, cayenne pepper, or dried oregano to the mix. Or go a completely different direction and season with chili powder, Cajun seasoning, or curry powder.
- Use non-aerosol cooking spray—Aerosol cooking spray (like PAM) contains a propellant that will erode the nonstick coating on the basket of your air fryer. Instead, use a non-aerosol spray oil. I like this non-aerosol avocado oil spray. Trader Joe’s also carries great non-aerosol spray coconut oil, avocado oil, and canola oil, for instance.
- Quick re-heat before serving—If you cook your onion rings in batches, you’ll end up with a bunch of cooled onion rings by the time the last batch is done. No worries! Pile all the cooked onion rings in the basket and cook on 350°F for a minute or two to reheat and make them nice and crispy again. Serve immediately!
- Freeze for later—After cooking the onion rings, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the onion rings to a freezer-safe resealable plastic back. You can freeze them for up to 3 months. To heat frozen onion rings in air fryer, pop them right into the basket and air fry for 4 to 6 minutes at 350°F.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Onion Rings
These crispy onion rings make a great snack on their own, especially for game day! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce: BBQ sauce, ketchup, Sriracha Ranch, Zhoug Sauce, Raita, Charmoula Sauce, Ranch Dressing, or honey mustard sauce are a few great ideas.
If you’re feeling creative, add onion rings to salads in place of croutons for a nice crunch and flavor. Or tuck a nice fat onion ring into a tuna sandwich or burger, like this Chickpea Burger or Air fryer Chicken Sandwich.
Cooking for vegans? Try this vegan air fryer onion rings recipe.
more air fryer snacks you’ll love
Looking for more snacks you can make in your air fryer? Try some of these: Air Fryer Empanadas, Air Fryer Fried Pickles, Air Fryer Wontons, Air Fryer Taquitos, Arepas con Queso, Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers, or Air Fryer Cookies like these Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies.
If you just love cooking with onions, don’t miss my Onion Samosas recipe!
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups Panko
- Cooking oil spray non-aerosol
Instructions
- Slice the onion into rings about ¼- to ½-inch thick.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg.
- Place the panko in a third bowl.
- If desired, place a perforated parchment paper liner or a silicone liner in the air fryer basket.
- Dip one onion ring first in the flour mixture, then in the egg, and then in the panko. Place the coated onion ring in the air fryer basket. Repeat with as many onion rings as you can fit without overcrowding (you may have to cook in batches). Spray the onion rings with the oil.
- Cook at 360°F for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again with the oil, until they onion rings are golden brown and crisp.
- Enjoy as is or with your favorite dipping sauce!
Finally! A delicious onion ring recipe that actually turns out crispy without frying. Loved them. Will be making again soon!
Love the flavors of this onion rings recipe. And even better, it can be done in an air fryer!
The air fryer is always surprising me! I never imagined you could make onion rings in the air fryer, but now I’m a convert. This recipe is so good.
I cannot believe how crunchy these turned out. What a guilt-free side for a juicy burger! Definitely making these again.
Delicious, crispy and flavorful
I should have made more of these onion rings because they were scoffed in seconds by my family – SO good!
Meh. . . Maybe it’s because we’re new to Air frying we weren’t blown away by this recipe. We felt it needed a little more seasoning and we tried some variations without the panko breading. We’re grateful for the recipe, but I wouldn’t serve to guests.
My air fryer has 3 different cooking wattage temps. 1400, 1600, and 1800. Which do I use?
I don’t know. I would check the user manual for instruction on how to decide which wattage to use. Most air fryers only have one wattage.
Came out super good and crunchy!!! My first time breading something. Only had 4 ingredients flour, eggs, salt and bread crumbs. Will definitely make again!!!! I would say if your making for alot of people slice 1 small onion per person. I’m going to use this for other veggies too!!!