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–+ servings
Fried onion rings in a grey canteen cup with parchment paper. There's a small white porcelain bowl with barbecue sauce next to it and a single onion ring leaning against it.
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4.86 from 111 votes

Air Fryer Onion Rings

Air Fryer Onion Rings are extra crispy and make a perfect game day snack or party appetizer. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time22 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2
Author: Julia Foerster

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt divided
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk see tips above for making your own
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large yellow sweet onion sliced 1/2-inch thick and separated into rings
  • Oil Spray optional
Cups - Metric

Instructions

  • You need 4 shallow bowls or deep plates. In the first one combine flour, paprika, and ½ tsp salt. In the second combine buttermilk (or milk and vinegar/lemon juice) and egg, then add ¼ cup of the flour mixture from the first bowl. In the third combine panko breadcrumbs, ½ tsp salt and olive oil with a fork, until the oil is evenly distributed. Put half of the panko in a fourth bowl so you can switch to the second part after the first got sticky.
  • Pat dry the onion rings with paper towels to remove excessive moisture. Using a fork, dredge the onion rings in the flour mixture, drop them in the buttermilk mixture and then dredge them in the panko mixture. (TIP: Freeze the breaded onion rings for 15 minutes on a baking sheet, this helps the panko mixture to stick better.)
  • Spray Air Fryer Basket with oil spray. Place onion rings in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket. You can place smaller rings inside bigger rings if necessary, just make sure there is space between them.
  • Cook at 400°F until golden brown and crispy, about 11-15 minutes. Spray with some cooking spray after about 6 minutes. You don't need to turn the onion rings.
  • Carefully lift out the onion rings with a cookie spatula or fork and serve.

Notes

  • Make sure to use sweet onions for this recipe! White and yellow onions don't work well with the breading.
  • This recipe is messy but well worth the effort. Read all my tips before starting!
  • If you don’t have panko breadcrumbs you could also use normal breadcrumbs but the result might not be as crispy.
  • Divide the panko breadcrumb mixture in two so you can switch to the second batch after the first gets sticky.
  • Use a fork and not your hands to coat the onion rings. 
  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can easily make your own by adding 1 Tbsp of vinegar or lemon/lime juice to a ½ cup of milk.
  • The cook time depends on your Air Fryer model. Keep an eye on them!
  • You don’t need to turn the onion rings during the cooking process! Don't shake the basket or the breading will fall off!
  • Be careful when lifting the onion rings out of the basket! I recommend using a cookie spatula or fork to lift them out.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 1208mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 7.9mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1.4mg