Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)
Golden, crunchy onion rings cooked to perfection and paired with tangy homemade sauce.
# What goes in:
→ 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
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Separate onion slices into individual rings; reserve small inner pieces for another use.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, salt, and pepper; a second with beaten eggs and buttermilk; and a third with panko breadcrumbs mixed with smoked paprika.
04 - Dredge onion rings in the flour mixture, shaking off excess; dip into the egg mixture, then press into the panko mixture until fully coated.
05 - Place breaded rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket; lightly spray with olive oil.
06 - Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again with olive oil, until golden and crispy.
07 - Combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl; mix well and adjust seasoning as desired.
08 - Serve hot onion rings alongside the burger sauce.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They're impossibly crispy on the outside and tender inside with barely any oil, so you don't feel guilty eating three servings.
- The burger sauce is tangy and complex enough that people always ask what restaurant you got them from.
02 -
- If your rings are turning out soggy in the middle, your air fryer isn't hot enough or you're making them too thick—preheat properly and slice consistently.
- The egg and buttermilk mixture is thinner than you'd expect, which is exactly why it works; too thick and you get heavy, bread-forward rings instead of delicate ones.
03 -
- If you want extra heat, mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper into the panko breadcrumb mixture or add a few dashes of hot sauce to the burger sauce—both ways work, but the cayenne stays more evenly distributed.
- The small inner onion pieces you set aside make an incredible french onion soup base or can be caramelized for burgers later in the week, so nothing goes to waste.