Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable Format)

Golden onion rings air fried to crispiness, served with tangy homemade sauce for a tasty snack or appetizer.

# What You 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 Steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Separate onion slices into rings, reserving small inner pieces for another use.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, salt, and black pepper; the second with whisked eggs and buttermilk; the third with panko breadcrumbs mixed with smoked paprika.
04 - Dredge each onion ring in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
05 - Dip floured onion rings into the egg and buttermilk mixture, coating thoroughly.
06 - Press each ring into the panko and smoked paprika mixture until evenly coated.
07 - Place breaded onion rings in a single layer inside the air fryer basket; lightly spray with olive oil.
08 - Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again with olive oil, until golden and crispy.
09 - Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl; mix well and adjust seasoning to taste.
10 - Serve the hot onion rings alongside the prepared burger sauce.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get that deep-fried crunch without the oil splatters, burnt smell, or days of lingering kitchen odor.
  • The homemade burger sauce tastes like it came from a diner you love, but you made it five minutes ago.
  • Prep and cooking happen fast enough that these can go from raw onion to dipping sauce in under 35 minutes.
  • This recipe works as an appetizer, a snack, or the unexpected side that people talk about after dinner.
02 -
  • Overlapping rings in the air fryer basket will steam instead of crisp—give each one personal space, even if it means cooking in two batches.
  • The egg-to-breadcrumb connection is everything; if your coating falls off during cooking, your batter layer wasn't wet enough before you pressed on the panko.
  • Don't skip the second spray of oil at the halfway point—it's the difference between crispy and merely cooked.
03 -
  • Keep your breading station organized and don't rush the dredging process—taking an extra minute here prevents a messy, uneven coating later.
  • If your onion rings look pale after the first flip, give them a few more minutes; the color deepens as the outsides develop that crispy, caramelized edge.

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