Perfectly crispy air fryer onion rings are way better than the frozen variety (and easy to make)!

Satisfy your craving and skip the takeout (and the extra fat). Onion rings aren’t difficult and taste amazing.

close up of Air Fryer Onion Rings on a plate

Air Fryer Onion Rings

Finally, we can enjoy crispy, crunchy onion rings without a vat of oil!

We love air fryer recipes because they come out so crispy and are so easy to make! The air fryer needs less oil, creates fewer fat calories, and plus it takes less time. What’s not to love?

onions to make Air Fryer Onion Rings

Ingredients

ONIONS We like large, sweet onions like Vidalias, but if Walla Wallas are available, those are the best!

FLOUR This simple dredge adds seasoning but most of all helps the coating stick to the onions.

BUTTERMILK & EGG This helps the crumbs stick. If you don’t have buttermilk, cream or milk will work.

PANKO Panko bread crumbs have more crunch for a crispy coating. If you only have regular bread crumbs, those work too.

process of coating Air Fryer Onion Rings with batter

How to Make Air Fryer Onion Rings

Make a double batch of these beauties, because you can be sure that they will disappear in no time!

  1. Cut onions into ½ inch slices and separate the rings.
  2. Combine flour, seasoned salt, & cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Whisk eggs in another bowl until they are frothy. Stir breadcrumbs, oil, & cornmeal in another bowl.
  4. Dip each ring into eggs, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, then place in the preheated air fryer.

top view of coated Air Fryer Onion Rings on a sheet

  1. Fry rings in a single layer until golden brown & crispy on the outside, about 12 to 15 minutes.
  2. Remove onion rings from the air fryer & sprinkle with seasoned salt or sauce. Serve immediately.

Can you Freeze Onion Rings?

Freeze cooked and cooled onion rings in a zippered bag with the date labeled on the outside. They’ll keep fresh for up to 8 weeks in the freezer.

Cook from frozen in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Onion Rings in the air fryer

Air Fryer Appetizers

Did you enjoy these Air Fryer Onion Rings? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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close up of Air Fryer Onion Rings on a plate
4.89 from 80 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Air Fryer Onion Rings

Crispy & crunchy air fryer onion rings are perfect as a snack with dipping sauce, or as a side dish with burgers or hot dogs!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 27 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings 4
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Ingredients  

  • 1 large sweet onion
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • cup buttermilk
  • 2 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons cornmeal optional

Instructions 

  • Peel onion and cut into ½ " thick slices. Separate slices.
  • Combine flour, salt, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Whisk egg and buttermilk in a second bowl. Toss breadcrumbs, oil, and cornmeal in a third bowl.
  • Dip each onion into egg mixture and then into the flour mixture. Dip it back into the egg mixture and finally into the bread crumb mixture pressing to adhere.
  • Once all rings are coated, spray each with cooking spray. Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
  • Place onion rings in the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 12-15 minutes or until crisp on the outside.
  • Remove from the air fryer and sprinkle with seasoning salt.
4.89 from 80 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 357 | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 881mg | Potassium: 281mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 212IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Air Fryer Onion Rings in the air fryer with writing
cooked Air Fryer Onion Rings with writing
Air Fryer Onion Rings in the air fryer with a title
Air Fryer Onion Rings in the air fryer and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. These were fantastic! Only change I made was using regular breadcrumbs instead of of panko only because I didn’t have them. I may have cut my onions a bit thinner than 1/2 in. Took 10 min on 350 for perfect crunch. Served them with a basic ‘fry sauce’ (mayo, ketchup, horseradish, S&P). Definitely a keeper!5 stars

  2. Sorry,,,, but, placing the onions in the egg dip, then the flower mix, Did not work,,, nothing stuck. Afterwards, my wife said, “Always, put the onions in corn starch first,, then dip”,,, so, nice flavor etc.. but must do the flower or cornstarch first I guess….

    1. Did you do egg, flour, egg, then bread crumbs? Egg, flour, egg should ensure a thick coating of the bread crumbs!

  3. mine were terrible.
    but it’s my first time and very likely not your fault.
    you do not give time and temp.4 stars

    1. Hi Paul, sorry to hear these didn’t turn out like you had hoped! The temperature and time is listed in the recipe card, 350° for 12-15 minutes.

  4. I’m really confused about this recipe being rated so highly. I did everything as stated and could not get anything to stick to my onions, so when they came out they weren’t crispy at all :(

  5. Good texture but they were kinda bland. Would recommend more seasoning. Also use bowls and not shallow plates! A made a mess

    1. Hi Rose, I have not tried a toaster oven/air fryer so I can’t say for sure. You could try following the recipe as written with just a couple of onion rings and then make another batch and adjust as needed. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!

  6. Hi Holly. When you say ” spray each with cooking spray” do you mean non stick cooking spray….or is there another kind?

  7. Well those certainly didn’t turn out like I thought. The ones that actually had something stick to it tasted okay I suppose. Way more work trying to get the crumbs to stick to it. Didn’t seem like it should be hard to do. Chalk it up to a bad day in the kitchen.

    1. Oh no! How disappointing Kim. Next time you can try patting the onions dry before coating them. Also make sure at each coating step the onion ring gets really well coated and then moved to the next step right away. I hope this helps!

  8. I thought these were amazing and I had to alter recipe to fit my ingredients that I had. First, I had regular not panko bread crumbs which makes a difference. Second, a bigger difference would be that I was out of milk, so I open a box of almond milk/mixed with a little vinegar to make a sort of buttermilk. I had everything else. My air fryer only needed 6 minutes for these. I mixed sriracha sauce with mayonnaise to dip these into which was perfect for these. Next time, I’ll have right ingredients on hand. I know they’ll be even better!5 stars

  9. Made these for the first time tonight, followed recipe as printed except substituted 1 teaspoon of a low sodium seasoning from The Spice House from the third ward in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.called Fox Point seasoning, used 2teaspoons in the floor instead of1 teaspoon of 1 teaspoon of seasoning salt. very good and much lower sodium this way!! very Yummy!,5 stars

  10. Amazing!!
    I added additional Spices to both the flour and to the breading.
    I would say the best non-deep fried O R I have ever eaten.5 stars

  11. Hi Holly, I made these Air Fryer Onion Rings along with the Onion Ring Sauce today… I am eating them as I type! These are delicious. DEEE-licious! Easy to make. Super crispy. Not greasy. I used a red onion & had all the other ingredients listed on hand.
    Thanks very much for your great recipes. ~MargieW.5 stars

  12. I’ll never do that again! Hey I’m no expert chef but adding oil to the dry mix and expecting it to stay on the onion is a big mistake! Plus 15 minutes at 350 wasn’t even close with mine. I’ll just stick with the deep fry method!1 star

    1. Hi Dan, for these onion rings we dip in an egg wash first, into a flour mixture, back into the egg wash, and then finally into the breadcrumb mixture pressing it gently to adhere to the onion ring. Make sure to let your air fryer preheat to 350°F before adding the onion rings into the basket. Hope that helps!

    2. We found nearly all of the wet and dry mixes to be used up before we even breaded half the onion. What was left was sticky, wet, balled up unusable panko, which I think I will form into a patty and fry up for breakfast with butter and honey. This recipe made about 8 good onion rings, if that. The rest were a mess and so was my kitchen. Sorry but not worth the effort, in my opinion.1 star

  13. Hi Holly, I am new to your site but so far the two recipes I’ve made have been wonderful. I’ve been looking to buy an air fryer, but there are so many to choose from. What kind do you have and are you really happy with it? Is there anything you wish your brand had added? Thank you for giving us such great recipes.
    Sheila

  14. I love your recipes. They are so down to home and something I’d make and enjoy. The problem is I do not have an air fryer. Do you have a great recipe for onion rings that can be made in the oven.

    Maybe alternate cooking options could be included in the Air Fryer recipes?

  15. Can’t wait to try this recipe, Holly..!! I’ve been following you for a long time and all your recipes are great..!! Thanks so much.

      1. Hi Erin, I have not tried freezing these before cooking but would love to hear how they turn out.