Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Print Version)

Golden, crunchy onion rings made healthier in the air fryer, served with a creamy tangy sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Onion Rings

01 - 2 large yellow onions
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - ¾ cup buttermilk
08 - 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
09 - Cooking spray

→ Dipping Sauce

10 - ½ cup mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
12 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
14 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
15 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Peel onions and slice into ½-inch thick rings. Separate rings and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and smoked paprika.
03 - In another bowl, beat eggs with buttermilk until thoroughly combined.
04 - Place panko breadcrumbs in a separate bowl for breading.
05 - Dip each onion ring first into the flour mixture, then into the egg and buttermilk mixture, and finally coat evenly with panko. Arrange coated rings on a tray.
06 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
07 - Place coated onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spraying lightly with cooking spray. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp. Work in batches if necessary.
08 - While the onion rings cook, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until serving.
09 - Serve hot onion rings alongside the chilled dipping sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside and tender inside without the guilty feeling of deep frying, because the air fryer does all the work with just a light spray of oil.
  • The buttermilk coating creates a surprisingly tender crumb that rivals restaurant quality, and you'll wonder why you ever bothered with the drive-thru.
  • That tangy dip is so addictive it'll disappear faster than the rings themselves.
02 -
  • Don't skip the egg wash or try to shortcut with just water—the buttermilk mixture is what holds the panko on and keeps the interior impossibly tender instead of dense.
  • If your rings are falling off in the air fryer, your coating wasn't dry enough before they cooked; let them sit for five minutes on the tray before you start frying.
  • The moment of flipping them halfway through is when you decide if they're cooking evenly or if one side needs more time, so don't skip that step.
03 -
  • If your onions are very large, you can halve the rings lengthwise after slicing so they're not too thick in the middle and undercooked.
  • Don't skip shaking off excess coating between dips—too much batter makes them soggy instead of crispy, and the difference is real.

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