Air Fryer Onion Rings
Onion rings work in the air fryer as long as you use a dry crumb coating instead of a wet batter. Panko rubbed with a spoonful of oil turns deep golden in under 10 minutes, and the onion inside goes soft and sweet. Set up a three-bowl breading station and the coating takes about 15 minutes for four servings.
Published
- Prep Time
- 20 mins
- Cook Time
- 20 mins
- Total Time
- 40 mins
- Servings
- 4 servings
How do you make Air Fryer Onion Rings?
Cut 2 large onions into 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) rings and separate them. Coat each ring in seasoned flour, then egg beaten with milk, then panko mixed with 1 tbsp oil. Air fry in a single layer at 200°C (400°F) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until deep golden. Serve straight away with ketchup or your favourite dip.
- Total time
- 40 mins
- Calories
- 225 per serving
- Protein
- 7 g
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Method
- Air frying
Ingredients
Equipment
Air fryer · 3 shallow bowls · Sharp knife · Baking tray · Tongs
Quick Directions
Cut the onions
Peel the onions and cut them crosswise into 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) slices.
Set up the breading station
In the first shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika and 1/2 tsp salt.
Coat the rings
Pat the rings dry.
Air fry
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
Serve
Sprinkle the hot rings with a pinch of salt if you like and serve straight away with ketchup or your favourite dip.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these detailed steps to make the perfect air fryer onion rings.
Cut the onions
Peel the onions and cut them crosswise into 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) slices. Separate the slices into rings and keep the large and medium ones; save the small centres for another dish. If the thin, see-through membrane on the inside of a ring lifts away easily, peel it off, because the coating clings better without it.
Set up the breading station
In the first shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika and 1/2 tsp salt. In the second, beat the eggs with the milk. In the third, rub the oil into the panko with your fingertips until every crumb looks slightly damp, then stir in the remaining paprika, the remaining salt and the pepper.
Coat the rings
Pat the rings dry. Toss each ring in the flour and shake off the excess, dip it in the egg and let it drip, then press it into the panko until coated on all sides. Lay the coated rings on a tray in a single layer.
Air fry
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Arrange the rings in the basket in a single layer without overlapping; smaller rings can sit inside larger ones. Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway with tongs, until deep golden and crisp. Repeat with the remaining rings.
Serve
Sprinkle the hot rings with a pinch of salt if you like and serve straight away with ketchup or your favourite dip.
Recipe Tips
- Use one hand for the flour and panko and the other for the egg. Your fingers stay clean and the coating goes on evenly instead of in clumps.
- Sweet onions are a mild, juicy type of onion. Any large yellow (brown) onion works too and gives a slightly sharper flavour.
- Do not crowd the basket. Overlapping rings steam, and the coating stays pale where they touch.
- Rubbing the oil into the panko before coating browns the crumbs evenly, so you don't need to spray the rings.
Variations
- Gluten-free: use gluten-free flour and gluten-free panko or finely crushed cornflakes, and check the labels on your spices.
- Spicy: add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to the flour and serve with a hot sauce mayo.
- Parmesan crust: replace a quarter of the panko with finely grated parmesan. Traditional parmesan is made with animal rennet, so use a vegetarian hard cheese to keep the rings vegetarian.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 225 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbs | 34 g |
| Fat | 6.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 1 g |
| Fibre | 2.5 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg |
Estimated from the listed ingredients; values vary by brand.
Related Recipes
Storing & Reheating
- Fridge
- Onion rings are best eaten fresh. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Freezer
- Freeze coated, uncooked rings on a tray, then pack them into a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Air fry from frozen at 200°C (400°F) for 10-12 minutes.
- Reheat
- Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 3-4 minutes until hot and crisp again.
Air Fryer Onion Rings FAQs
How long do onion rings take in the air fryer?
Breaded onion rings take 8-10 minutes at 200°C (400°F). Cook them in a single layer and flip them halfway so both sides turn deep golden. Frozen homemade rings need 10-12 minutes.
Why does the breading fall off my onion rings?
Wet rings and the thin membrane inside each ring are the usual causes. Pat the rings dry, peel off any loose membrane, and coat them in flour first so the egg has something to grip before the panko goes on.
Can I use a wet beer batter in the air fryer?
No. A thin wet batter drips through the basket before it has time to set, leaving bare onion and a messy air fryer. A dry coating of flour, egg and panko is what crisps properly in an air fryer.
What are the best onions for onion rings?
Large sweet onions give the mildest, sweetest rings, and large yellow onions are a close second. Red onions also work but taste sharper. Choose big onions so you get plenty of wide rings.
Disclaimer
- Nutrition information is an estimate based on the listed ingredients. It changes with the brands, portion sizes and swaps you use.
- Read ingredient labels for allergens and for diet claims such as gluten-free or vegan. Products and their ingredients can change.
- Cooking times are a guide, since ovens, air fryers and slow cookers all run differently. Use a food thermometer and cook meat, poultry and fish to the safe internal temperatures in government food safety guidance.
- This recipe is general information, not medical or nutrition advice. If you have an allergy, a health condition or a special diet, check with a qualified health professional.
