- Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make and Air Fyer Blooming Onion
- Want mini blooming onions, or just the petals?
- How long does a blooming onion take in the air fryer?
- The Air Fryer I Use and ❤️
- Oops! What did I do wrong?
- Storage, reheating, and making it ahead
- Air fryer blooming onion FAQs
- Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe
- What to serve with an air fryer blooming onion
- More air fryer appetizers to make next
The blooming onion coating that finally stayed put
Outback Steakhouse is known for, of course, their steaks, but maybe even more so for their famous appetizer… the Blooming Onion.
A gorgeous display of onion petals that are deep-fried to golden perfection and then served with a zesty dipping sauce.
So when I recently got the inkling to make this dish at home, the first thing that came to mind was the air fryer, of course!! But making that one simple switch was no easy feat.
Cutting the onion turned out to be the easy part of this Air Fryer Blooming Onion, since the petals mostly fall open on their own. Getting the coating to stick was the trickiest part of all, and five attempts later I’d finally cracked it.
The fix was breadcrumbs AND flour instead of flour alone, sprinkled down between the petals rather than dunked. Then it gets a coat of cooking spray and a second pass with the crumbs that fell to the bottom of the bowl.
And of course, that incredible Blooming Onion Sauce! Which we nailed after a few rounds too.
Ingredients and Substitutions
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.
- Sweet onion: Choose between sweet, yellow, white, or vidalia. The sweet onion is the least pungent compared to yellow and white, and a medium-sized one is best since too large or too small throws off the breadcrumb ratio.
- Eggs: These mix with the milk to get the coating to stick. Vegan alternatives haven’t been tested here, so a flax egg is worth a try but use it with caution.
- Milk: This works with the eggs to create the binder, so full-fat is best. Regular, buttermilk, or plant-based are all good options, and oat milk tested well.
- Plain breadcrumbs: Select regular, un-seasoned crumbs, and certified gluten-free or low-carb crumbs both work. The finer the better, since coarse crumbs like Panko won’t stick as well, so go the extra mile and process them even finer.
- Flour: All purpose flour, a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend, or a low-carb flour will all get you there. Pairing it with the breadcrumbs is what actually holds the coating on, so don’t skip one for the other.
- Seasonings: Paprika, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder flavor both the breadcrumbs and the dip. Don’t sub the garlic powder for the onion powder or the other way around, they do different things.
- Non-stick cooking spray: This is an absolute must-have. Pick original, avocado oil, or butter flavored.
- Mayo, ketchup, and horseradish: These three are the base of the copycat dipping sauce. Add the horseradish a little at a time until it hits the level of bite you want.
How to Make and Air Fyer Blooming Onion
Trim and peel the onion
Find the end with the brown feathery pieces, that’s the root end. Remove the opposite end, the stem, by slicing off ½ to 1 inch, then completely peel off the paper thin skin since that outer layer will be chewy if any of it stays on.
Cut the petals
Set the onion flat-side down on a cutting board and, starting about ½ inch from the root end, make a cut all the way into the middle so all of the cuts connect. Cut the onion into quarters with three more evenly-spaced slices, then make 1 to 2 additional cuts between each one to get 8 to 12 sections.
Flip the onion over and let it sit for 5 minutes so the pieces can naturally open up.
Keep ’em thick
It’s easier to handle the cut onion if you only make 8 cuts instead of 12, since thinner petals are more fragile and break more easily.
And don’t get too close to the root. Leave at least ½ to 1 inch of onion around it so the pieces don’t break off.
Soak it in the egg wash
Combine the eggs and milk with a whisk. In a large bowl, pour the egg and milk mixture over the cut onion, separating the slices as you go so it gets in-between all of the layers.
Use a slotted spoon or fork to lift the onion out and let any excess drain off, then transfer it to a new large bowl with the cut side facing up.
Pour it out of a measuring cup
The spout makes it so much easier to get the egg wash down into all of the nooks and crannies. Tipping it straight from the bowl mostly runs off the outside.
Sprinkle on the crumbs
Mix the breadcrumbs, flour, and all of the seasonings together in a medium-sized bowl. Use a spoon to sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs all over the onion, spreading the layers apart again to get in-between the slices as well as the exterior.
Shake off any excess flour and breadcrumb coating.
Double coat it
Coat the onion with non-stick cooking spray, inside and out, then give it a second coating with any of the flour mixture that fell to the bottom of the bowl.
This is the step that keeps the breading from sliding off in the basket.
Air fry until the edges go golden
Fold a sheet of foil into a 3-inch thick and 15-inch long piece and lay it in the bottom of the air fryer basket. Set the onion on top of it and coat it liberally with non-stick cooking spray.
Cook until the edges are golden brown and the onion is tender.
Fold some foil first
That folded strip in the bottom of the basket is what lets you lift the cooked onion out in one piece.
And don’t be shy with the cooking spray. It’s critical to coat it so the edges turn golden brown and don’t burn.
The Air Fryer I Use and ❤️
I use a 6-quart air fryer for this recipe and it’s the perfect size for cooking everything in a single layer without overcrowding. Because remember, keeping it in one layer is key to all that crispy goodness!
Whisk the dipping sauce
Stir together the mayo, ketchup, horseradish, and seasonings in a medium-sized bowl with a whisk until smooth. Add horseradish until it satisfies your taste preferences.
Garnish the blooming onion with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and serve it with the dipping sauce.
Oops! What did I do wrong?
My coating slid right off. What happened?
Almost always one of two things: the crumbs were too coarse, or they only went on the outside. Panko and other coarse crumbs won’t grip, so use fine plain breadcrumbs and process them finer if you can.
And the crumbs have to go down between the petals, not just over the top. Spread the layers apart with a spoon as you sprinkle, then spray and do a second pass with whatever fell to the bottom of the bowl.
The petals never opened up.
Set the onion cut-side up and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the petals to fall. You may need to make the cuts a little closer to the root if it hasn’t opened after 5 minutes on its own.
(My guide to how to cut an onion covers the basic knife work if you want to back up a step.)
It came out pale, or the tips burned.
Both come back to the cooking spray. Spray the coated onion before it goes in and again at every turn, since the oil is what browns the coating evenly.
The tips are the thinnest part, so they’re the first to darken when they run dry.
Storage, reheating, and making it ahead
Make it ahead: Cut the onion and whisk the breadcrumb coating up to 2 days in advance. Save the egg wash and the crumbs for right before it goes in the air fryer.
Store it:
Air fryer blooming onion FAQs
Same thing, different menu. Outback calls it a Bloomin’ Onion, Texas Roadhouse calls theirs a Cactus Blossom, and plenty of places just say onion blossom or onion flower. It’s one large onion cut into petals, breaded, and fried.
You can, but the coating won’t hold the same way. The flour and breadcrumbs together are what grip the onion, and the egg wash is the glue underneath them. A flax egg and plant-based milk are the closest swap if you need to skip the eggs.
A medium sweet onion or vidalia is the pick, since it’s the least pungent of the bunch. Yellow and white both work, they just come out sharper.
The restaurant one is deep-fried, so it’s much higher in calories and fat. This one is breaded and cooked in the air fryer instead, which is where the difference comes from.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days.
To freeze, seal in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Fair warning that the breading won’t be as crisp once it thaws, so plan on reheating it in the air fryer rather than serving it straight.
This one is best served immediately, since the coating softens once it sits. If you’re working with leftovers, return it to a 350°F air fryer until it’s warmed through and the edges firm back up.
The same thing works for a leftover Bloomin’ Onion from Outback. A few minutes at 350°F in the air fryer will get you much closer to the original than a microwave will.
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Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe
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Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Blooming Onion
- 1 large sweet onion
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk regular or plant-based
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs regular, gluten-free if needed
- ¼ cup flour all purpose or gluten-free
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 2-3 teaspoon horseradish to taste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon oregano dried
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Cutting the Onion:
- Cut and remove ½-1 inch from the stem end of the onion, keeping the root end intact. Peel the outer layer, completely removing the feathery skin.1 large sweet onion
- Place the onion flat-side down on a cutting board. Make a cut starting about ½-inch from the root end of the onion. Avoid cutting too close to the root so you don’t accidentally slice the onion in half! Also, be sure to cut all of the way into the middle of the onion so all of the cuts connect.
- Make three more slices even spaced so the onion is cut into quarters. Go back between the slices and make 1-2 additional cuts to get 8-12 sections.
- Turn the onion over and let it rest for 5 minutes so the pieces can naturally open up.
Coating the Blooming Onion:
- Whisk together the eggs and milk in a measuring cup.2 large eggs, ½ cup milk
- Place the cut onion into a large bowl and then carefully pour the egg/milk mixture over the onion. Be sure to separate the slices so the egg mixture gets in-between them. Remove the onion from the bowl and let any excess egg mixture drain off. Place the coated onion in a large bowl, cut side-up.
- Toss together the breadcrumbs, flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl.½ cup plain breadcrumbs, ¼ cup flour, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Sprinkle the flour and breadcrumb mixture over all of the cut onion, making sure to spread it apart to get in-between the slices and to coat the exterior of the onion. Pick up the onion and shake off any excess coating.
- Spray the onion with non-stick cooking spray, getting between all of the slices. Re-use any of the breadcrumb mixture that fell to the bottom of the bowl to give the onion a second coating.
Air Frying the Blooming Onion:
- Add a folded up 3-inch thick and 15-inch long piece of aluminum foil into the base of the Air Fryer basket.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 350 degrees for 3 minutes.
- Carefully place the onion into the Air Fryer and then coat it liberally with non-stick cooking spray.
- Air Fry for 22-25 minutes, turning every 7-8 minutes and spritzing again with non-stick-cooking spray. The blooming onion is done once the edges turn golden brown and the onion is tender.
- While the onion is air frying, whisk together the sauce in a medium-sized bowl until smooth. Add as much horseradish as desired.¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ cup mayo, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 2-3 teaspoon horseradish, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, Pinch of cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon oregano
- Serve the blooming onion with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and the dipping sauce. Enjoy!
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Notes
- Make ahead: Cut the onion and whisk the breadcrumb coating up to 2 days in advance. Save the egg wash and crumbs for right before it goes in the air fryer.
- Getting the coating to stick: Use fine plain breadcrumbs, not Panko, and sprinkle them down between the petals instead of only over the top. Spray with cooking spray, then do a second pass with the crumbs that fell to the bottom of the bowl.
- Substitutions: Certified gluten-free or low-carb breadcrumbs and flour both work. A flax egg and plant-based milk are the closest swap if you need to skip the eggs.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days.
- Reheating: Best served immediately. Return leftovers to a 350°F air fryer until warmed through and the edges firm back up.
- Freezing: Seal in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. The breading won’t be as crisp once it thaws, so reheat it in the air fryer rather than serving it straight.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What to serve with an air fryer blooming onion
This is appetizer-table food, so the move is to put it next to other things people can grab standing up. My Air Fryer Onion Rings are the obvious partner, since the basket is already hot and the coating routine is nearly identical.
For a game day spread, Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip can sit out on the counter the whole time while the onion cooks. That way there’s something to eat before the main event comes out of the air fryer.
If you want something breaded to go with something breaded, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries and Air Fryer Zucchini Chips both use the same crumb-and-spray method. Air Fryer Okra is the Southern version of the same idea.
Only one thing fits in the basket at a time, so plan on cooking in shifts. Air Fryer Pickles go fast and can hold on a platter while the onion finishes.
Making it a whole dinner? French Onion Chicken leans into that same sweet onion flavor and cooks on the stovetop, so nothing has to fight for the air fryer.
And the dip is not optional. That Blooming Onion Sauce is the whole reason anyone orders this at a restaurant, and it takes about two minutes to whisk together.
More air fryer appetizers to make next
Once the air fryer is out, it may as well earn its counter space. Here’s what else I’d be making with it.
Air Fryer Onion Rings
45 mins
Air Fryer Pickle Chips
30 mins
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
20 mins
Air Fryer Okra
30 mins
My first stab at this and it came out pretty good… I could not get the egg/milk mixture to stick to the onion hence the dry mixture did not stick well… I ended up mixing the liquid and the dry and it worked better… On my next attempt I think I will make more of a batter with the liquid/dry and dip the onion into it…. It was pretty tasty though….