These air fryer onion rings are such a fun appetizer or snack! They're crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, and filled with sweet onion flavor.
If you’re looking to refresh your repertoire of game day snacks this fall, look no further: these air fryer onion rings are exactly what you need! They’re crispy on the outside, melty in the middle, and filled with sweet and savory onion flavor that will keep you coming back for more. In my opinion, they’re just as good, no, better, than regular onion rings, and they’re way less of a hassle to make at home. Fun, tasty, and fairly healthy, too, these air fryer onion rings are one of our new favorites.
Air Fryer Onion Rings Recipe Ingredients
This recipe comes together with a handful of basic ingredients:
- Onions, of course! You’ll need 1 large yellow onion to make this recipe.
- Flour and eggs – They bind the panko breading to the onions.
- Panko breadcrumbs – They create the onion rings’ crispy, crunchy coating.
- Onion powder and garlic powder – They add savory, umami flavor to the panko coating.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – It helps the onion rings become brown and crisp as they cook.
- And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Onion Rings in the Air Fryer
The main reason I prefer air frying to deep frying? It’s just so easy. No standing over a pot of hot oil, no monitoring the temperature of said oil, no figuring out how to discard it when you’re done. Without all this fuss, my method for how to make onion rings in the air fryer is super simple:
First, slice the onions. Cut them into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Then, separate the slices into rings.
Next, dredge them. Whisk together the panko, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in one bowl. Beat the eggs in another bowl, and place the flour in another. Then, dip each onion ring into the flour, followed by the egg. Finally, coat it in the breadcrumb mixture.
Then, cook! Arrange the rings in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you’ll likely need to work in batches. Drizzle the rings generously with oil and air fry at 370°F for 8 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Repeat as necessary until you’ve air fried all the onion rings.
Tip: These onion rings are best hot. Enjoy each batch as it comes out of the air fryer, or, if you prefer to serve them all at once, place all the onion rings together in the basket after you’ve cooked the last batch. At this point, they should all be cooked, so there’s no need to worry about placing them in a single layer. Air fry them for 1-2 minutes just to warm them through. Then, dig in!
Air Fryer Onion Rings Serving Suggestions
These air fryer onion rings are an addictive treat on their own, but they’re also great with dipping sauce. Serve them with mayo, ketchup, tartar sauce, vegan ranch, or creamy chipotle sauce to take them over the top.
If you want to make the onion rings part of a meal, serve them as a side dish with any burger or sandwich. We love them with these veggie burgers, black bean burgers, and BBQ jackfruit sandwiches. Enjoy!
More Favorite Appetizers and Snacks
If you love this recipe, try one of these tasty appetizers or snacks next:
- Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- French Onion Dip
- Homemade Soft Pretzels
- Jalapeño Poppers
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups panko bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Heaping ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 yellow onion, sliced into ½-inch rings
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Tartar Sauce, optional, for dipping
Instructions
- On a rimmed tray, mix the panko, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. In a small shallow bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Place the flour in another small bowl.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
- Dip each onion ring into the flour, then tap to remove any excess flour. Dip it in the egg, coat with the panko mixture, and then place on a large plate.
- Drizzle the onion rings with olive oil and transfer them to the air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer with a little space around each ring. Don’t overcrowd the basket. Work in batches if necessary. Air fry for 8 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Repeat with any remaining onion rings. Serve with tartar sauce, if desired.
Would be helpful to mention removing the paper thin membrane from the onion pieces so the batter sticks
Absolutely awesome recipe we have tried a few different recipes and this one is the best
I’m so glad you loved it!
Just searched your onion ring recipe … looks good and looks easy enough … here goes !
I used regular breadcrumbs because that’s what I had on hand. They were delicious! My 12 year old who doesn’t like onions begged for more! Will definitely make them again!
I’m so glad you loved them!
Wow! I just made these using the King Arthur (gluten free) flour because that’s what I had & used Trader Joes panko Japanese style breadcrumbs (did not realize I bought that type). They were super crispy outside & delicious. I double dipped in all 3 to load them up w crispy, crunchy goodness. Not quite as good as the ones cooked in oil from my favorite burger place but very close! Another great recipe! They were super messy to make but that’s the nature of onion rings or pretty much anything breaded or coated.
Hi Laurel, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
It was a messy process. Had to tweak it a bit.
Froze the rings for 10 mim after flouring them. That helped the egg wash to cover. Turn the rings over after 7 minutes so both sides gets cooked adding more olive oil spray. Turned the temp down to 360 because 370 was scorching the outer parts. That could of just been my fryer. Pretty good.
Can I substitute almond flour?
About how many rings does this make?
Love these! My work space was a little messier than in the photo ;-). but they are delicious!
Ha, I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂
It is absolutely delicious with mine I added some Slap Ya Mama in it and it was perfect I recommend this recipe.
I’m so glad you loved it!
Excellent idea! Worked well for me too. This recipe is just what I was looking for ; )
Perfect! Turned out exactly like the recipe stated!
MUUUUAH!?
So glad you loved them!
I do this type of dredge for many things but the rings of an onion… do not hold flour with their waxy surface. I had marginal results.
Hi, we haven’t had that issue. Did you change anything about the recipe?
I had the same problem. I did a double dredge. Flour, egg, Flour, egg. Then pinko bread crumbs. Worked great.
My girlfriend just got an air fryer. I love onion rings and will have to try this recipe.
Know of good gluten-free options for this?
Hi Jesse, we haven’t tried these gluten free but they might work with a GF flour (like bob’s red mill) and gluten free panko.
I used king Arthur gluten free flour & they came out great!
These are so good!! I was wondering if you can freeze them once there cooked?
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! I haven’t tried, so I’m not sure.
What I’m not getting is, how do you drizzle oil onto the rings without getting too much on each one?
Hi Cindi, I just put my finger over the top of the oil bottle to drizzle a little bit out carefully. If it’s too hard, you can use spray oil instead.
I bought a spray bottle as I found that to be a problem too. You can even buy one specifically for olive oil.
Hi! I use a cooking spray of avocado oil! Any coking spray high high heat point can work.
Exceptionally tasty! Great crunch and easy to make. Will be doing so again.
great idea for an air fryer recipe, that much healthier, but hadn’t thought of making them until this, so thank you
I have an egg sensitivity so can the egg be replaced???
Hi Susan, we didn’t test this recipe without eggs, but we’ve used this flax ratio in the past for other air fryer recipes (you may just need to double it): Replace the egg with ¼ cup nut milk mixed with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed.
Use JUST Egg! Works great!!