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