Air Fryer Onion Rings

Content… Which Onion Is Best? Recipe Ingredients How to Make Them Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Amazing Air Fryer Recipes to Try Watch How to Make It

Which Onion Is Best for Air-Fryer Onion Rings?

I’ve been experimenting to see what kind of onion is best when making these crispy battered rings. After multiple batches and pounds of onions, the family consensus was definitely Vidalia. They’re sweet with the perfect hint of sharpness, IMO. Plus, they fry up nice and crisp.

However, white or yellow onions will do if you can’t get your hands on Vidalias. While the white ones are sharper, Texas, Maui, or Walla Walla onions are close runner-ups. Regardless, always pick the largest onions you can find.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Onions – Large, sweet onions make the best onion rings in the air fryer. 
2. Eggs – An essential part of the batter, eggs help bind the other ingredients to the onions.
3. Beer – The bubbles in the beer give the batter an airier texture. Then its acidity limits gluten formation and prevents the crisp outer layer from becoming tough.
4. Spices – Garlic powder, cayenne pepper, S&P, and paprika give these onion rings plenty of flavor. 🤩
5. Batter – Besides beer, you’ll use flour, Panko breadcrumbs, and cornstarch to get a thicker batter that will hold up in the air fryer. 

How to Make Air Fryer Onion Rings

• Prep the Onions – Cut the onions to about ½-inch thick slices for best results. Separate each slice into rings. (Photo 1)
• Dry Ingredients – Mix the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, cayenne, paprika, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Reserve about ¾ cup of the flour mixture (for dusting the onions) and set aside until ready to dip the onion. (Photo 2)
• Batter – Add the eggs and beer to the bowl with the remaining flour mixture and whisk until the batter is smooth. (Photos 3-4)
• Dip the Rings – Next, dip the onion rings one at a time in the dry flour mixture, shake off excess flour, and dip them into the beer batter mixture to coat them completely. Remove the onion rings and allow the excess batter to drip off. (Photo 5)
• Breadcrumbs – Finally, coat the onion rings with breadcrumbs and place them on a plate. (Photo 6)
• Heat air fryer to 375°F (190℃). Spray the air-fryer basket with cooking spray, then place the onion rings in the preheated air fryer in a single layer. 
• Air Fry – Spray onion rings with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and crispy, 10-12 minutes, flipping at least once for even browning. (Photo 7)
• Repeat – Remove the rings from the fryer and place them on a wire rack to keep them crisp. Repeat with the rest of the onion rings. (Photo 8)
• Serve with remoulade, ranch dressing, or tartar sauce, and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

1. Customize. Omit the cayenne if you prefer less spicy. And add more herbs for more herbiness, and adding dry spices won’t affect the batter.
2. Dip them. Make your choice of dipping sauces. Remoulade, harissa, ranch dip, or just mix mayo with your favorite spice mix.
3. Gluten-free. Trade the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour. Then, substitute the panko breadcrumbs for crushed cornflakes, and voila! Your onion rings are now gluten-free.
4. Air-fryer frozen onion rings. Yes, cooking frozen onion rings in the air fryer is a breeze. You don’t even need to thaw them.

Tips and Tricks

1. My number one suggestion for crispy onion rings is to not overcrowd your air fryer. Overcrowding the air fryer will result in tender, but not crispy, onion rings. And we’re all here for that crispy outer layer, aren’t we? 😜
2. If you’re making a large amount of onion rings, there’s a nifty trick to serve them all hot at once. After the last batch comes out, toss all the onion rings back into the air fryer (this time layered up) for a minute or two (just long enough to ensure they all warm back up). They’ll be just as crisp because they’re already fully cooked. 
3. If your onions taste a little too sharp, try soaking them in cold water before dredging and frying. Water dilutes the sulfur content, making them milder and sweeter. But pat them dry before coating them with the batter. 

Make-Ahead Instructions

You freeze cooked onion rings for up to two months. Allow them to cool, and place them on a sheet pan to freeze for four hours. Then, transfer them to a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer.

To enjoy crispy onion rings, heat them in the oven at 375℉/190℃. Place them on an oiled baking sheet and cook for 12-15 minutes until they are hot and crispy. Or use your air fryer at 350℉/177℃ for 2-3 minutes.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve onion rings fresh out of the air fryer! That’s when they taste the best.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Reheat your onion rings by tossing them in your 375°F (190℃) air fryer for a few minutes to heat them until crisp.

What Goes With Air-Fryer Onion Rings

As an appetizer, onion rings go great with dips. Try them with blue cheese dressing, homemade ranch dressing, or even beer cheese dip!

However, if serving them as a side dish, salmon burgers and pulled pork sandwiches are the way to go. And remember to add a side of creamy ranch potato salad to perfectly balance out your meal. 🤤

More Amazing Air Fryer Recipes to Try

1. Air-Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
2. Donuts
3. Air Fryer Plantains
4. Pork Chops
5. Southern Fried Chicken

Watch How to Make It

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