Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)

Golden crunchy onion rings paired with creamy garlic aioli, perfect for sharing.

# What You Need:

→ 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 freshly ground black pepper
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 cup buttermilk
07 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - Olive oil spray

→ Garlic Aioli Dip

11 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Separate onion slices into individual rings and set aside on a clean surface.
03 - Create three separate bowls: Bowl 1 with mixed flour, salt, and pepper; Bowl 2 with whisked eggs and buttermilk; Bowl 3 with combined panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and smoked paprika.
04 - Dredge each onion ring in the flour mixture, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture. Gently press the coating to ensure proper adhesion.
05 - Place coated onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping. Lightly spray with olive oil.
06 - Air fry at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy. Work in batches if necessary to maintain proper spacing.
07 - While onion rings cook, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and well incorporated.
08 - Transfer hot crispy onion rings to a serving plate immediately. Serve with garlic aioli dip on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The air fryer does all the heavy lifting without heating your kitchen or leaving your hands smelling like a deep fryer for three days.
  • Panko and Parmesan create this addictive texture that somehow stays crispy even when you're stress-eating them straight from the basket.
  • The garlic aioli is garlicky enough to feel fancy but simple enough that even tired weeknight versions taste intentional.
02 -
  • Overlapping onion rings in the air fryer basket is the fastest way to end up with some crispy and some chewy, which defeats the entire purpose of making them.
  • The oil spray makes the difference between actual crunch and dense coating—two light coats work better than one heavy one, even though it feels less efficient.
03 -
  • Letting the coated onion rings sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before air frying helps the coating set and stay intact, which matters more than it sounds.
  • The moment you take them out of the air fryer, they're at peak crunch—give them three minutes to cool and they start to soften no matter how many regrets follow.
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