These golden, crispy air fryer onion rings deliver all the satisfying crunch you love, with just a fraction of the oil. Perfect as a game day snack or weekend treat, they achieve that irresistible restaurant-style texture while keeping things lighter at just 310 calories per serving.
The air fryer works its magic to create perfectly seasoned rings with a crisp exterior and tender, sweet onion inside. Best of all? You’ll have these homemade onion rings ready in only 20 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients For Crispy Air-Fried Onion Rings
- Yellow Onion: 1 large, perfect for creating uniform rings
- All-purpose flour: 1/2 cup, creates the base coating
- Seasonings: 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp each of onion and garlic powder for flavor depth
- Wet mixture: 2 eggs and 1/2 cup buttermilk, ensures coating adhesion
- Breadcrumbs: 1 cup, provides the crispy exterior
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the Onion: Slice onion into 1/2-inch rings and separate them carefully
- Season the Flour: Mix flour with paprika, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl
- Prepare Stations: Set up egg-buttermilk mixture in second bowl and breadcrumbs in third bowl
- First Coating: Dip rings in egg mixture, then coat in seasoned flour
- Double Coating: Repeat egg dip and finish with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere
- Prepare for Cooking: Lightly spray coated rings with cooking spray
- Air Fry: Cook at 400°F for 10-15 minutes until golden, arranging larger rings first
- Final Touch: Transfer to baking sheet and repeat with remaining rings
Coating Tips for Perfect Crunch
Want the crispiest onion rings? The double-dipping method in this recipe is your secret weapon! Start with dry onion rings, and keep one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry – this prevents the dreaded “breading fingers.” If your coating starts getting clumpy, just make a fresh batch of the dry mixture. Take your time with the breading process – those few extra minutes will give you restaurant-style results!
Easy Substitutions
No buttermilk? Mix regular milk with a splash of lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes. You can swap regular breadcrumbs for panko for extra crunch, or use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make these allergy-friendly. Want a spicier kick? Add a pinch of cayenne to your flour mixture!
Serving Ideas
These crispy rings are amazing with classic dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce. Make them the star of your next burger night, or serve them alongside hot sandwiches. They’re perfect for game day snacking or as a fun side dish. For a restaurant-style presentation, stack them on a plate with a small bowl of sauce in the middle.
Storage and Reheating
These onion rings taste best fresh from the air fryer, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for 2-3 minutes – they’ll crisp right up! Avoid microwaving, as this will make them soggy.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cooling Rack
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 whole Yellow Onion large
- 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 2 whole Eggs
- 1/2 cup Buttermilk or plain, or plant based milk
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Peel onion and cut into ½” thick slices. Separate slices, reserving the smaller rings for last.
- Combine flour, paprika, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder in a small shallow bowl.
- In a second bowl, whisk egg and buttermilk. Place breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
- Dip each onion ring into the egg mixture.
- Then dredge onion through the flour mixture. Place on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet while you continue to dip the rest of the rings.
- Dip into the egg mixture again, allowing the excess liquid to drip off, the dredge through the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere the crumbs. Set coated rings on the cooling rack.
- Lightly spray rings with cooking spray. Place rings in the air fryer in a single layer, nesting the smaller ones inside the larger ones. Cook at 400F/204C for 10-15 minutes, until golden and crispy on the outside.
- Transfer cooked onion rings to a baking sheet and repeat with remaining rings.
