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Easy Crispy Air Fryer Onions Recipe

Easy Crispy Air Fryer Onions

Thinly sliced yellow onions are lightly coated with oil and seasonings, then air-fried until golden brown and crisp. Optional cornstarch or flour adds a slightly more pronounced crunchy coating.
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Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 about 450 g/1 lb total Medium yellow onions
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil or other neutral oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon, optional Black pepper
Optional Crisp Coating
  • 1 tablespoon, optional Cornstarch or all-purpose flour

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Peel the onions and slice them very thinly, approximately 1/8 inch or 3 mm thick. Separate the slices into individual pieces or rings, then pat them dry with paper towels.
  2. Place the dry onion pieces in a bowl and toss with the oil, kosher salt, optional black pepper, and optional cornstarch or flour. Use only a light coating so the onions brown instead of becoming soft.
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F/175°C if your model requires preheating. Spread the onions in a loose, shallow layer in the basket, cooking in batches if needed.
  4. Air-fry for 12 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket or stirring the onions every 4 to 5 minutes. Begin checking early because very thin slices may finish in 10 to 12 minutes and can burn quickly.
  5. Remove the onions when they are golden brown with crisp edges. Let them cool for several minutes so they can firm up further, returning them to the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes if they need more crisping.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the basket, since overlapping onions steam rather than crisp. Yellow or white onions usually provide the best balance of flavor and texture. Store cooled onions in an airtight container and re-crisp briefly in the air fryer before serving.