Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)

Golden, crunchy onion rings cooked to perfection and served with a creamy, zesty dipping sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Onion Rings

01 - 2 large yellow onions, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rings
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1/2 cup milk
10 - 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
11 - Olive oil cooking spray

→ Dip

12 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
13 - 1/4 cup sour cream
14 - 1 tablespoon ketchup
15 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
16 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
17 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
18 - Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Peel and slice the onions into 1/2-inch thick rings, separating the individual rings carefully.
02 - Combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until fully blended.
04 - Place the panko breadcrumbs into a third shallow bowl for coating.
05 - Dip each onion ring first into the flour mixture, then the egg wash, and finally coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to adhere.
06 - Place the breaded onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray lightly with olive oil.
07 - Cook at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the rings halfway through and spraying again with olive oil, until golden brown and crispy.
08 - Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust seasoning as desired.
09 - Serve the hot, crispy onion rings immediately with the prepared dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They deliver all the satisfying crunch of classic onion rings with a fraction of the oil and none of the splattering mess.
  • The creamy, tangy dip pulls everything together and tastes like something you'd get at a diner but better.
  • You can have them on the table in half an hour, making them perfect for last-minute snack cravings or impromptu gatherings.
02 -
  • Don't skip the light spray of oil before and during cooking, it's the difference between crispy and just dry.
  • If your onion rings aren't browning evenly, rotate the basket or rearrange them halfway through so every piece gets the same heat.
  • Let the breaded rings sit for a minute or two before air frying so the coating sets and doesn't slide off during cooking.
03 -
  • For an extra-thick crust, double-dip the rings by going through the egg and panko steps twice.
  • Use the thickest onion slices you can manage, thin ones tend to shrink too much and lose their structure.
  • If you're making a big batch, keep the finished rings warm in a low oven while you finish the rest so they all stay crispy.

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