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Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings Recipe

Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings

These golden onion rings use panko breadcrumbs for a light, crunchy coating and cook in the air fryer instead of a deep pot of oil. Serve them as an appetizer, snack, or crisp side dish for burgers and sandwiches.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 3 servings

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 large, about 10-12 ounces Large sweet or yellow onion
Seasoned Flour
  • 1 cup All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Egg Wash
  • 2 large Large eggs
Crispy Coating
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
For Cooking
  • As needed Nonstick cooking spray or olive-oil spray

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Peel the onion and slice it into rounds about 1/2 inch thick. Separate the rounds carefully into individual rings, saving the small inner pieces for another recipe if they are too narrow to coat.
  2. In one shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, paprika, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. In a second bowl, beat the eggs until smooth, and in a third bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
  3. Coat each onion ring in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Dip it into the beaten egg, then press it firmly into the panko so the crumbs cover the surface.
  4. For a sturdier crust, dip each ring in the egg and panko a second time. Lightly spray the air fryer basket and arrange the coated rings in a single layer without overlapping.
  5. Lightly spray the tops of the onion rings with oil. Air-fry at 375°F for 5–7 minutes, turn carefully, and cook for another 5–7 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.

Notes

Work in batches because overlapping rings will steam rather than crisp. Panko gives the best crunch, and a light oil spray helps the coating brown evenly. Optional variations include 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper in the flour or replacing 1/4 cup of the panko with grated Parmesan.