The secret to crispy air fryer onion rings (no oil spray needed)

London Brazil taking a bite from a bowl of food.

Can you fall in love with a kitchen appliance? After making these Air Fryer French Fries I thought my devotion couldn’t grow any deeper.

That is, until I learned how incredible and EASY it is to make Air Fryer Onion Rings! After trying and failing epically at baking onion rings in the oven, the Air Fryer was my last resort.

So what finally made them work? The oil goes right into the panko instead of getting sprayed on at the end, so every crumb toasts up golden.

Then a scoop of the seasoned flour gets whisked into the egg wash, turning it into a thicker batter that actually grabs onto the breadcrumbs. (Going gluten-free? A 1-to-1 flour and gluten-free panko work just as well.)

Once battered and dipped in some Panko breadcrumbs, it took less than 8 minutes to actually cook them up. Pile them next to a burger, set out a bowl of Sriracha Mayo for dunking, and watch them disappear.

Hand holding a crispy homemade air fryer onion ring with a golden panko crust.
Plate of easy air fryer onion rings with a small bowl of ketchup for dipping.

Ingredients and Substitutions

For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.

Onions, oil, milk, flour, egg, seasonings, and breadcrumbs are the ingredients in this Air Fryer Onion Rings recipe.
  • Sweet onion: Sweet onions are the best to use since they have a subtle sweetness to them. White or yellow onions also work (red onions aren’t recommended), so just aim for a larger onion to get nice, large rings.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour gives the rings a light first coat so everything else has something to stick to. For gluten-free, a 1-to-1 blend like Bob’s Red Mill works great.
  • Garlic powder and paprika: A little of each seasons the flour, so the flavor is built right into the crust.
  • Egg and milk: One egg is whisked with a splash of milk (regular, cashew, almond, or soy all work) to form the egg wash. Stirring some of the seasoned flour into it makes it thick and tacky, which is what holds the panko in place.
  • Panko breadcrumbs: Panko-style crumbs are the best to use for an extra crispy onion ring, but regular breadcrumbs can be used if that’s what you have on hand. If you’re gluten-free, Aleia’s makes a gluten-free panko that works great in this recipe.
  • Oil: A high smoke-point oil like avocado or safflower oil is best, but olive oil may also be substituted. It gets tossed right into the panko, so there’s no spraying later.
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How to Make Air Fryer Onion Rings

Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.

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Slice the onion.

Trim both ends, peel off the outer layer, and cut the onion into rings about ½-inch thick (here’s how to cut an onion if you want a refresher). Pop the rings apart, and one large onion will give you roughly 25 onion rings.

Slicing a peeled sweet onion into thick rounds for homemade onion rings.
Sweet onion separated into ½-inch rings on a wooden cutting board, ready for breading.

Set up the three-bowl station.

Bowl one gets the flour, garlic powder, paprika, and part of the salt. Bowl two is the egg and milk with a scoop of that flour mixture whisked in until smooth, and bowl three is the panko tossed with the oil and remaining salt.

Don’t skip the flour in the egg wash. It thickens the wash into a tacky batter, so the panko clings to the onion instead of sliding off.

Three-bowl breading station with seasoned flour, egg wash, and oiled panko for air fryer onion rings.
Whisking seasoned flour into the egg wash to make a thick batter for onion rings.

Bread the rings.

Dip each ring in the flour, then the egg wash, then press it into the oiled panko. Set them on a large plate or sheet pan until they’re all coated and ready to air fry.

Pressing an onion ring into panko breadcrumbs to coat it before air frying.
Breaded onion rings lined up on a parchment-lined sheet pan before going into the air fryer.

Air fry in batches.

Preheat the air fryer to 360°F for at least 3 minutes, then add the rings in a single layer (tuck smaller rings inside bigger ones to make more room). Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.

Keep finished batches warm in the oven. Slide them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 250°F oven while the rest of the rings cook.

Breaded onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with smaller rings nested inside bigger ones.
Golden brown onion rings in the air fryer basket after cooking at 360°F.
Cosori Air Fryer.

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!

Get the AIR FRYER!

Serve right away.

Onion rings, whether baked, fried, or air-fried, taste best when they are served immediately. I’m talking absolutely ZERO downtime between the hot Air Fryer to the plate.

Crispy panko onion rings piled on a plate as a game day appetizer.

Oops! What Did I Do Wrong?!

Why is the breading falling off my onion rings?

Usually the egg wash was too thin, so make sure the flour mixture is fully whisked in before you start dipping. If it’s still giving you trouble, do a double coat: dip the ring back into the egg wash and panko a second time.

Why aren’t my onion rings getting golden?

The panko probably didn’t get enough oil, so toss it until every crumb is coated. A crowded basket can also steam the rings, so stick to a single layer.

Why are some rings burnt while others are underdone?

The slices were likely different thicknesses. Try your hardest to cut every ring about ½-inch thick so they all cook at the same rate.

Why did my onion rings get soggy?

They sat too long before serving. Keep finished batches in a 250°F oven, and re-crisp any leftovers in the air fryer.

FAQs

How long do you cook onion rings in the air fryer?

Cook them at 360°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check them at 6 minutes and give them up to 8 for a deeper golden brown.

Do I need to soak onions before making onion rings?

While not necessary, soaking the onion in water prior to cooking lessens the “bite” that many don’t love about onions. If you choose a sweeter variety, you can easily skip this step.

Can I make gluten-free onion rings in the air fryer?

Yes! Use a gluten-free 1-to-1 flour and gluten-free panko (Aleia’s works great). Everything else stays exactly the same.

What do I do with leftovers?

If you don’t think you’ll eat them all in one sitting, it’s better to only air fry what you’ll eat. Cooked rings keep in an airtight container (with parchment between the layers) in the fridge for 3-4 days.

For the best texture, freeze them before cooking. Lay the breaded rings on a sheet pan until firm, move them to a freezer bag for up to 3 months, and air fry straight from frozen with a few extra minutes added. Already-cooked rings can be frozen for up to 2 months, but heads up: they lose some of their crunch. Re-crisp them in the air fryer straight from frozen.

How do I reheat air fryer onion rings?

Return the onion rings to a 300-325°F air fryer for 3-4 minutes, adding a few extra minutes if they’re frozen.

Tap stars to rate!

4.86 from 7 votes

Air Fryer Onion Rings Recipe

By: London Lea
Air Fryer Onion Rings are super crispy and crunchy, easy-to-make, and made with way less oil than deep-fried! Use a 3-bowl technique to coat your sliced onions with flour, an egg wash, and breadcrumbs. You’ll then cook them in the Air Fryer until golden brown and ultra crispy. They make a great game day snack or weeknight dinner appetizer or side dish!
Ultra crispy onion rings are served as an appetizer on a white plate.
Yield 8 servings
Prep 25 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 45 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 1 large sweet onion
  • ½ cup flour all-purpose or gluten-free
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt divided, to taste
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup milk or cashew or almond milk
  • 1 ½ cups Panko bread crumbs or gluten-free panko
  • 2 tablespoons oil avocado or safflower oil

Instructions 

  • Slice the Onion: Trim ends from onion and remove the outer peel. Cut onion into rings about ½-inch thick.
    1 large sweet onion
  • Coat the Onions: In three separate shallow bowls mix together the following:
    Bowl 1: Add flour, garlic powder, paprika, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Whisk until well combined.
    Bowl 2: Add egg and milk. Whisk until well combined. Add in ⅓ cup of flour mixture from bowl 1 and mix until smooth.
    Bowl 3: Add Panko bread crumbs, remaining salt, and oil. Toss until crumbs are well coated in the oil.
    Dip one onion ring in the flour mixture, dredge the egg wash, and then coat with the bread crumbs.  Repeat this process with the remaining onion rings and place on a plate until ready to air fry.
    ½ cup flour, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon paprika, 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, 1 large egg, ⅓ cup milk, 1 ½ cups Panko bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons oil
  • Cook in Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 360°F for at least 3 minutes. Add onion rings in a single layer making sure not to overlap them. You can place smaller rings inside of bigger rings to make more room. Cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping rings halfway through. Repeat this step with remaining onion rings until they are all cooked.
    Keep onion rings warm between batches by placing on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a 250°F oven.
  • Serve immediately with a side of ketchup and enjoy!
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

4.86 from 7 votes

Notes

  • Serving size: Roughly 3-4 onion rings per serving.
  • Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free 1-to-1 flour and gluten-free panko (Aleia’s works great). Everything else stays the same.
  • Keep warm: Place cooked rings on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 250°F oven between batches.
  • Even cooking: Slice every ring about ½-inch thick so they cook at the same rate, and don’t overload the air fryer.
  • Make ahead: Slice the onions a day or two early. Breaded, uncooked rings keep in the fridge for 2-3 days; pull them out 10-15 minutes before air frying.
  • Storage: Store cooked rings in an airtight container with parchment between the layers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Freezing: For the best texture, freeze breaded, uncooked rings on a sheet pan until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months and air fry from frozen with a few extra minutes. Cooked rings can be frozen for up to 2 months, but they lose some of their crunch.
  • Reheating: Reheat in a 300-325°F air fryer for 3-4 minutes, adding a few extra minutes if frozen.

Nutrition

Calories: 113kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 402mg, Potassium: 30mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 106IU, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!

What to Serve with Air Fryer Onion Rings

Onion rings and a good dipping sauce go hand in hand. Ketchup is a classic, but a quick Sriracha Mayo, tangy Secret Sauce, or homemade Ranch Dressing takes them over the top.

Love a sweet and tangy dunk? My Chick-fil-A Sauce is SO good here too.

They’re also the perfect sidekick for burger night. Serve them with Korean Beef Burgers or Greek Turkey Burgers for a burger-and-rings combo that beats the drive-thru.

Building a game day spread? Since the air fryer is already out, cook Air Fryer Pickle Chips, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, or an Air Fryer Blooming Onion with Blooming Onion Sauce back to back.

Just keep the finished batches warm in that 250°F oven while the next one cooks.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Once the air fryer comes out, it tends to stay out. These crispy favorites are the ones I keep reaching for.

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These 7 Simple Skillet Dinners make cooking on busy weeknights a delicious breeze! 😋
4.86 from 7 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    Tastes amazing. Biggest challenge is getting the panko to stick to the onion. Any suggestions/tips to your recipe?

    Reply

    1. This part can definitely be a little tricky, David. What I’ve done in the past is a double-coating if it’s not working the first time around – so dip in eggs/coat with crumbs and then dip in eggs again and coat in more crumbs. Let me know if you try it again!

      Reply

      1. Thank. You I will try this again on the weekend. Not sure if it will work if nothing stuck the first time

        Reply