Air Fryer Onion Rings

These Air Fryer Onion Rings are a cinch to make and they stay much crispier than deep fried onions rings without all the added calories and fat. To give them the best crispy breading they are first dipped in buttermilk and eggs, then in seasoned flour, back in the buttermilk and eggs, and then in panko breadcrumbs. Air fry up a batch and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce.

My family just can’t get enough of these flavorful onions rings. If anyone is running late for dinner simply pop them back into the air fryer for a couple of minutes to warm them up and they taste just like they did when you first air fried them.  I love to serve them with as a snack or side dish with my Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese or Reuben Sandwich.

How to make Air Fryer Onion Rings

Start by slicing two medium sweet onions into rings that are about 1/2 inch wide.  Then arrange three bowls one filled with the flour mixture, one with the buttermilk and egg mixture, and one with the panko breadcrumbs.  Now dip the ring in the buttermilk egg mixture, then in the flour mixture, back into the buttermilk egg mixture, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs.  Then simply spritz or brush with a little oil.

Preheat the air fryer for about 3 minutes.  Then arrange the onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer.  I usually lean a couple up on the side of the basket. Air fry in batches cooking them for about 6 minutes or until golden brown. Check on them several times as some air fryers run a little hotter and some a little cooler than others.

Recipe notes and helpful tips

• Use sweet yellow or vidalia onions.  Slice in 1/2 inch rounds.  I bag the little tiny rings and store in the refrigerator for use in other recipes like my French Onion Soup.
• Inevitably your flour and panko bread crumb mixture will get wet and icky.  Avoid this by splitting the flour mixture and the panko breadcrumbs between two bowls.
• Save yourself some money and make your own buttermilk.  Combine 2/3 cup milk and 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar.  Let sit for 5 minutes before breading the onions.
• Avoid the dreaded breading fingers by using one hand for the dipping in the buttermilk mixture and the other hand for dipping the onions in the flour and panko breadcrumbs.
• Use an oil mister or pastry or barbecue brush to lightly spread oil over the breaded onion rings and in the air fryer basket.  Do NOT use any aerosol non-stick cooking sprays in the air fryer as they can damage it. 
• Actual air fryer temps (not the temp you set it at) vary widely so it is recommended that pop open the door and check on these several times.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
• When reheating these onion rings simply place them back in the preheated air fryer for a couple of minutes.

The best dipping sauces for fried onion rings

• Southern Comeback Sauce – this simple six ingredient southern sauce will quickly become one of your favorites. Try it on panko breaded shrimp, beer battered onion rings and buffalo wings.  One taste and you will be hooked.
• Boom Boom Sauce – this is a slightly spicy slightly sweet mayonnaise based chili sauce. This is one of my favorite dipping sauces!
• Yum Yum Sauce –  this is a delectable easy seven ingredient Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse sauce that comes together in less than five minutes and just happens to taste AMAZING on onion rings.
• Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce – this easy Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce is made with five ingredients in less than five minutes and is just as good as the famous restaurant’s sauce without the hassle of leaving the house.  We love to dip all kinds of yummy goodies in this sauce.

More air fryer recipes you will love!

Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings

These fun and easy Air Fryer Onions Rings are flavor packed and perfectly crispy without all the added fat and oil from deep frying.

5 from 36 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, side

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 270kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 2 medium yellow onion sliced ½ inch thick and separated into rings
• ¾ cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons old bay seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• ⅔ cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• vegetable oil

Instructions

• Arrange three bowls.  In one bowl combine the flour, old bay seasoning, salt and pepper.  In the second bowl whisk together the buttermilk and the egg, in the last bowl add the breadcrumbs.
• Dip each ring in the buttermilk/egg mixture, then in the flour mixture, back into the buttermilk/egg mixture, and then into the panko breadcrumbs.
• Brush or spritze the air fryer basket with vegetable oil and preheat to 360 degrees   Do not use an aerosol spray.  Brush or spritz the onion rings with vegetable oil.
• Lay in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook 6-7 minutes or until crispy.  Check on them several times as air fryer times vary.

Notes

• Use sweet yellow or vidalia onions.  Slice in 1/2 inch rounds.  I bag the little tiny rings and store in the refrigerator for use in other recipes like my French Onion Soup.
• Inevitably your flour and panko bread crumb mixture will get wet and icky.  Avoid this by splitting the flour mixture and the panko breadcrumbs between two bowls.
• Save yourself some money and make your own buttermilk.  Combine 2/3 cup milk and 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar.  Let sit for 5 minutes before breading the onions.
• Avoid the dreaded breading fingers by using one hand for the dipping in the buttermilk mixture and the other hand for dipping the onions in the flour and panko breadcrumbs.
• Use an oil mister or pastry or barbecue brush to lightly spread oil over the breaded onion rings and in the air fryer basket.  Do NOT use any aerosol non-stick cooking sprays in the air fryer as they can damage it. 
• Actual air fryer temps (not the temp you set it at) vary widely so it is recommended that pop open the door and check on these several times.
• To reheat these onion rings simply place them back in the preheated air fryer for a couple of minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 571mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 154IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 3mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @smalltownwomanfoodnut or tag #smalltownwomanfoodnut!

On the hunt for more delicious recipes?  Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.