Servings
Font
Back
0 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Onion Rings

Create crispy, flavorful onion rings that are healthier than frying, with this simple recipe for Air Fryer Onion Rings! Thick, sweet onions are dipped in buttermilk and breadcrumbs to create the perfect crispy coating for these homemade onion rings. They're the perfect side dish to pair with burgers, or a great appetizer for game day!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
32 mins
Servings: 18 onion rings
Calories: 67 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 large sweet onion like vidalia or walla walla (approximately 1.25 pounds)
  • ⅔ cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt divided
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups Panko bread crumbs

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Peel and cut the onion into ½ inch slices and separate the slices into rings.
  2. Combine the flour, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt and garlic powder in a shallow bowl.
  3. Whisk eggs and buttermilk together in another shallow bowl.
  4. Place panko bread crumbs in another shallow bowl and season with 1 teaspoon seasoned salt.
  5. Dip each onion ring into the egg mixture, then the flour mixture, back into the egg mixture, then in the panko bread crumbs. Gently press on all sides of the onion to make sure it’s fully coated in the breadcrumbs. Repeat until all of the onions are breaded.
  6. Preheat an air fryer to 350°F.
  7. Place the onion rings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, spray with cooking spray. You'll probably have to do this in 2-3 batches. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until crisp on the outside. Remove from the air fryer and serve.

Notes

  • I do not recommend flipping the onion rings during the cooking time, as you risk knocking the breading off of the onion rings when using tongs to flip them.
  • It’s okay to put some smaller onion rings in the middle of the larger onion rings in the air fryer basket, as long as there is still room between each of the onion rings. 
  • If cooking the onion rings in multiple batches, place the cooked onion rings on a wire rack while cooking the rest of the onion rings in the air fryer. This will keep them crispy. When all of the onion rings are cooked, you can place them all back in the air fryer (overlapping is fine at this time) and cook for 1-2 minutes to heat them up before serving.
  • When breading the onion rings, always use one hand for the wet ingredients and one hand for the dry ingredients. This will prevent clumping, keep your hands from becoming coated in the breading, and it will help keep the breading ingredients separated. 
  • If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this recipe in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. If your oven has a convection setting, I recommend using that. Place the battered onion rings on a wire rack, on top of a foil-lined baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
  • This recipe makes approximately 18 onion rings. Store battered, uncooked onion rings in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can cook the frozen onion rings directly from frozen in the air fryer by adding 2 minutes to the cooking time. So the onion rings will need to cook for 14-17 minutes at 350°F.
  • Store cooked onion ring leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Reheat them in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-3 minutes to keep them crispy.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1onion ring Calories 67kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 0.5g (3%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g Monounsaturated Fat 0.4g Cholesterol 20mg (7%) Sodium 330mg (14%) Potassium 67mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 49mg (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 35mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 18onion rings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 67

% Daily Value*

Serving 1onion ring
Calories 67kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0.5g 3%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g 2%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 330mg 14%
Potassium 67mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 49mg 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 35mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.