Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Print Version)

Golden, crunchy onion rings with creamy garlic aioli, cooked perfectly in the air fryer.

# What You’ll 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
02 - Separate onion slices into rings and set aside.
03 - Arrange three bowls: Bowl 1 with flour mixed with salt and pepper, Bowl 2 with eggs whisked together with buttermilk, Bowl 3 with panko breadcrumbs combined with Parmesan cheese and smoked paprika.
04 - Dredge each onion ring in the flour mixture, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Gently press to ensure the coating adheres properly.
05 - Arrange coated onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with olive oil.
06 - Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Work in batches if necessary.
07 - In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
08 - Serve the hot crispy onion rings immediately with garlic aioli dip on the side.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • You get that restaurant-quality crunch without the grease splatter and kitchen smell that lingers for days.
  • The garlic aioli is so good you'll find yourself making extra dip just to have it around.
  • Air frying means you can serve these hot and crispy in under 40 minutes, start to finish.
02 -
  • Don't skip the egg and buttermilk mixture—it's what creates that thick, clinging coating that gets impossibly crispy in the air fryer.
  • If you pile the rings on top of each other, they'll steam instead of frying and you'll end up with soft, greasy disappointment instead of crispy perfection.
03 -
  • Spray your air fryer basket with a tiny bit of oil before adding the rings so nothing sticks and you're not cursing while scraping.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, have two batches ready to go so you can keep feeding people instead of making them wait while each batch cooks.
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