Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)
Golden, crunchy onion rings cooked to perfection in the air fryer, served with a zesty and creamy burger sauce for dipping.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Onion Rings
01 - 2 large yellow onions, peeled and sliced into ½-inch rings
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - ½ cup buttermilk
10 - 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
11 - Olive oil spray
→ Spicy Burger Sauce
12 - ½ cup mayonnaise
13 - 1½ tablespoons ketchup
14 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tablespoon finely chopped pickles
16 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
17 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
18 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
19 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes to ensure optimal cooking temperature.
02 - Separate the sliced onions into individual rings and set them aside for breading.
03 - Prepare three shallow bowls: mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in the first; whisk eggs and buttermilk in the second; and place panko breadcrumbs in the third.
04 - Dredge each onion ring in the flour mixture, dip into the egg wash, and finally coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Place the coated rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with olive oil.
06 - Cook at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying with more oil if necessary, until golden brown and crispy.
07 - While rings cook, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickles, hot sauce, smoked paprika, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Mix well and season to taste.
08 - Serve the hot onion rings immediately with the spicy burger sauce on the side for dipping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The panko coating gets impossibly crispy in the air fryer without any real oil, so you get that diner texture with way less guilt.
- The spicy burger sauce is addictive enough that you'll find yourself making it for other things—fries, chicken nuggets, even sandwiches.
- It takes less than 40 minutes from peeling to plate, making it perfect for when you want something craveable right now.
02 -
- Don't skip the cornstarch in the flour mixture—it sounds like a small detail, but it's the difference between crispy and soggy.
- If your coating is sliding off during cooking, your egg mixture was too thin; a thicker buttermilk egg wash holds everything on through the heat.
03 -
- If you want extra crunch, double-dip the rings in the egg mixture and panko—the second coat creates layers of texture that are irresistible.
- Slice your onions just before breading them; onions that sit too long after slicing start to dry out and won't stay as tender inside.