Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)
Golden, crunchy onion rings air-fried to perfection with a tangy homemade sauce for dipping.
# What You'll Need:
→ Onion Rings
01 - 2 large yellow onions, sliced into 1/2-inch rings
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1/2 cup buttermilk
07 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - Olive oil spray
→ Burger Sauce
10 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
12 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
13 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped pickles
14 - 1 teaspoon pickle juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
16 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - Set the air fryer to 400°F and allow it to reach temperature.
02 - Separate onion slices into individual rings, reserving small inner pieces for another use.
03 - Place flour combined with salt and black pepper in the first bowl; whisk eggs and buttermilk in the second; mix panko breadcrumbs with smoked paprika in the third.
04 - Dredge each onion ring in the seasoned flour, tapping off excess.
05 - Dip floured rings into the egg and buttermilk mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
06 - Press the egg-coated rings into the panko mixture until evenly coated.
07 - Place breaded rings in a single layer inside the air fryer basket and lightly spray with olive oil.
08 - Cook the onion rings for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through and reapplying olive oil spray, until golden brown and crispy.
09 - While cooking, blend mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
10 - Serve the hot onion rings accompanied by the prepared burger sauce.
# Tips from dashanddishes:
01 -
- They're genuinely crispy outside and tender inside without deep-frying or gallons of oil.
- The burger sauce tastes homemade in the best way, tangy and rich enough to make you forget store-bought condiments.
- Ready in under 35 minutes from onion to plate, which means you can actually make these on a weeknight craving.
02 -
- Don't skip the egg and buttermilk step—it's what helps the breadcrumbs stick and creates that tender interior, and I learned this the hard way by trying to shortcut it once.
- Flip them halfway through cooking; the bottom side won't brown as much without a flip, and you'll end up with one crispy side and one merely golden side.
03 -
- Keep your oil spray bottle on hand—a second quick mist halfway through cooking is what pushes them from golden to absolutely shatteringly crispy.
- If you want extra spice, mix a pinch of cayenne into the panko crumbs or add hot sauce to the burger sauce; the cooling effect of the mayo balances the heat perfectly.