Air Fryer Onion Rings

Make my air fryer onion rings recipe the next time you need THE perfect side dish. The onions stay tender and sweet, while the golden breading adds that crunch factor. Ready in 10 minutes!

I used to be obsessed with onion rings (arguably, I still am), but too often, the breading slides off the onions and the texture is overall mushy and uninteresting. No thank you!

Rather than risk it at restaurants, I prefer making onion rings in the air fryer. Using this method, the onion rings stay crispy on the outside yet juicy in the center. The best part? There’s no pot of hot oil to clean up afterward!

Ingredients

• Onions. I tested all different kinds and I strongly prefer the natural sweetness of yellow onions or sweet onions (also known as Vidalia onions). They’ll need to be peeled and cut into ¼-inch rings. 
• Large eggs. Preferably room temperature. 
• All-purpose flour. To coat in the onions and absorb extra moisture. I also had luck using cornstarch. 
• Salt and black pepper. To taste. 
• Smoked paprika. For a smoky, slightly sweet flavor. 
• Panko bread crumbs. My preferred breadcrumbs for anything fried. Unlike regular breadcrumbs, these are lighter, crunchier, and absorb less oil.

How to air fry onion rings

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Prep work. Preheat the air fryer and slice the onions into rings. 

Step 2- Dredge. Add the flour and spices in one bowl, the beaten eggs in another, and the breadcrumbs in a third bowl. Dip each ring into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the bread crumb mixture. 

Step 3- Assemble. Place the dredged onions in a single layer in the air fryer basket

Step 4- Air fry until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Work in batches if needed. 

Air Fryer Onion Rings

Print Recipe

No one can resist my crispy air fryer onion rings. They are made from scratch, perfectly seasoned, and cook in less than 10 minutes.

• Author: Julia
• Prep Time: 8 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Total Time: 16 minutes
• Yield: 1 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 large onions
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F. Slice the onions into rings about 1/4 inch thick.
2. In one bowl, place the flour, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix well. n a second bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. In a third bowl, add the panko bread crumbs.
3. Dip each onion ring into the flour mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Shake off the excess, dip it in the egg mixture, then dip it in the panko bread crumbs.
4. Place the breaded onions in the air fryer and air fry for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Notes

TO STORE: Place leftover onion rings in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.