Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings
These crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings coated with Panko breadcrumbs are a delicious and healthier way to enjoy onion rings. They are super crunchy, easy to make, and taste great!
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One of my favorite sides for a burger, hot dog, or barbecued pork is onion rings. Who doesn’t love them? They’re a real guilty pleasure!
What could be better than a crispy, delicious onion ring? How about a crispy, delicious onion ring that you can make at home in your air fryer? With just a few simple ingredients and a few minutes of time, you can have the perfect appetizer or side dish to share with family and friends. So what are you waiting for? Let’s start cooking!
❤️ What You’ll Love About This Recipe
- They’re delicious. They taste almost exactly like their deep-fried counterparts minus all the oil. And the crispy coating is so good!
- They’re easy. Slice an onion, dredge it in some flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs and toss them in the fryer.
- Better for you. Let’s face it. Everyone loves fried food. But there’s no doubt that it isn’t healthy. This is a way to have something you really enjoy made in a way that’s a bit better for you.
🛒 Ingredient Notes
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- Onions (You’ll need one large onion. A yellow onion would work, but I highly recommend you use sweet onions such as Vidalia or Walla Walla. They tend to be juicier and have a milder flavor.)
- Panko (You could probably use any breadcrumbs with this recipe, even homemade. However, Panko breadcrumbs will give you the most crispy crunchiness.)
- Smoked Paprika (I use it for a little smoky background flavor. It’s totally optional.)
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How to Make Homemade Air Fryer Onion Rings
Before you being, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees and slice the onion into 1/2-inch rounds.
Make a Breading Station
Make a breading station using three shallow bowls, pie plates, or dishes.
In the first, combine the flour, smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well.
In the second, add the egg and water and lightly beat together.
In the third, stir together the panko and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Bread the Onion Rings
To bread the onion rings: 1) dredge them first in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. 2) next, dip the floured onion rings in the egg mixture allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl, and 3) dredge in the panko mixture being sure to press the breadcrumbs onto the onion rings to adhere.
As each onion ring is coated, place it on a flat surface (such as a rack, a baking sheet, a sheet of parchment, or foil) and coat both sides well with cooking spray or oil.
Air Fry the Onion Rings
Working in batches, place the onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. There should be a little space between each one. You can place smaller onion rings inside larger ones as long as the sides don’t touch.
👉 PRO TIP: If your air fryer has a rack accessory, you can cook two layers of onion rings at the same time.
Air fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides (about 10 minutes total), turning them over halfway through cooking.
Keep cooked onion rings warm on a tray in a very low oven while the remaining ones cook.
Serve 6-7 onion rings per person with a delicious burger or dipping sauce of your choice. I highly recommend my Comeback Sauce on the side!
My Favorite Air Fryer
- HEALTHY & EFFICIENT: Cooks up to 50% faster than a traditional oven.
- ONE-TOUCH COOKING: Choose from 13 convenient cooking functions with a single touch.
- LARGE CAPACITY: Spacious 5.8-quart square baskets can fit a whole 5-pound chicken.
- MESS-FREE COOKING: The removable, dishwasher-safe basket has nonstick coating that makes cleanup quick and easy.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Onion rings are fantastic as a side dish with your favorite summer cookout main dishes. However, they’re also great on their own as a snack or appetizer! Serve them with catsup, mayo, tartar sauce, tomato jam, or – our favorite – Comeback Sauce!
🍚 Storage and Reheating Information
Onion rings are one of those foods best eaten hot and fresh. If they get cold before you’ve finished them, you can reheat them in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 380 degrees.
You can also freeze the cooked, cooled onion rings. I suggest a rigid plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Freeze for up to two months. Reheat without thawing in the fryer at 380 degrees for about 4-5 minutes.
❓ Questions About Air Fryer Onion Rings
You’ll need to slice the onions about 1/2 inch thick. For safety, use a good, sharp knife and take your time.
You can use yellow onions for making onion rings if you like, but my preference is sweet onions. My personal favorite, of course, is Vidalia onions. They’re one of our most famous Georgia agricultural products.
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More Questions? I’m happy to help!
If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 10 ounces onion (1 large sweet onion) cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds, separated
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray (or olive oil in a mister)
Instructions
- Before you being, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees and slice the onion into 1/2-inch rounds.
- Make a breading station using three shallow bowls, pie plates, or dishes. In the first, combine the flour, smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well. In the second, add the egg and water and lightly beat together. In the third, stir together the panko and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- To bread the onion rings: 1) dredge them first in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. 2) next, dip the floured onion rings in the egg mixture allowing the excess to drip back into the bowl, and 3) dredge in the panko mixture being sure to press the breadcrumbs onto the onion rings to adhere.
- As each onion ring is coated, place it on a flat surface (such as a rack, a baking pan, a sheet of parchment, or foil) and coat both sides well with cooking spray or oil.
- Working in batches, place the onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. There should be a little space between each one. You can place smaller onion rings inside larger ones as long as the sides don't touch.
- Air fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides (about 10 minutes total), turning them over halfway through cooking.
- Keep cooked onion rings warm on a tray in a very low oven while the remaining ones cook.
Notes
- If your air fryer has a rack accessory, you can cook two layers of onion rings at the same time.
- You can use yellow onions for making onion rings if you like, but my preference is sweet onions such as Vidalia or Walla Walla.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I’ll give it a try. Thanks!
AMAZING!
In, not on….. duh.
So, I want to make these on my convection oven…… any thoughts?
Miss P
I’m not sure! I do them in the regular oven at 450 for 20 minutes flipping halfway through. Does that help?