Air Fryer Onion Rings

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In under 30 minutes, you can whip up a batch of golden brown, tantalizingly crispy onion rings that’ll will transport you straight to the coziest booth of your favorite diner all with the convenience of an air fryer! Thick rings of onion get coated in an egg wash, then covered in bread crumbs and air-fried to crisp, golden brown perfection.

Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, alongside a burger for a cookout, or topped with chili and cheese for a full-on indulgent meal. For more air fryer recipes, try my crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer Chicken Tenders next!

What You Need To Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make air fryer onion rings.

Sweet onions — yellow onions like Vidalias, Walla Wallas, and Maui onions are my preferred options, but in a pinch, you can use white onions or even red onions.

All-purpose flour — essential for dredging the onion rings so the buttermilk and egg wash have something to cling onto, allowing the bread crumbs coating to stick.

Paprika — for a hint of complex flavor and a touch of color. Feel free to use a smoked variety for an added layer of flavor, or even hot paprika if you like your sides spicy.

Buttermilk — if you don’t keep buttermilk on hand, you can how to make buttermilk by following my easy recipe.

Eggs — another key ingredient to binding the breading to the onion rings. I always use large eggs, but since this isn’t a baking recipe, if you have eggs another size, feel free to use them.

Panko breadcrumbs — these Japanese-style breadcrumbs are lighter and flakier than regular breadcrumbs, resulting in a super crunchy exterior for your rings.

Olive oil — no need to use the bottle of fancy finishing oil; just your normal (not extra-virgin) cooking oil is perfect here!

Cooking spray — make sure to opt for a brand of oil spray that doesn’t have an aerosol dispenser, as the propellants can damage the inside of your air fryer basket.

How To Make Air Fryer Onion Rings

Set of two photos showing an onion sliced into rings and flour mixed with paprika.

1. Peel and then slice the onion into 1/2-inch-think rounds. Separate the onion slices into rings.

2. In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, salt, and paprika. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.

Set of two photos showing oil added to breadcrumbs and a piece of onion coated in the flour mixture.

3. In another shallow dish, stir together the panko bread crumbs and oil until well combined.

4. Coat the onion rings in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess.

Set of two photos showing the flour coated onion added to the egg mixture then coated in the flour mixture again.

5. Dip each flour-coated onion ring in the milk mixture.

6. Coat with the flour mixture again.

Set of two photos showing the coated ring added back to the egg mixture and then coated in breadcrumbs.

7. Re-dip in the egg mixture. (This creates a thick coating for the crispiest onion ring!)

8. Coat the rings well with breadcrumbs. Place the breaded rings on a baking sheet.

Set of two photos showing onion rings added to the air fryer basket and flipped after air frying.

9. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F if your model requires it. Spray the basket of an air fryer with cooking spray. Working in batches, place a few rings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving about ¾ inch of space around each ring. Spray the rings lightly with cooking spray.

10. Air fry at 350°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, flipping the rings and spraying again with cooking spray halfway through (about 6 minutes). Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

A plate of air fryer onion rings with a second plate and a serving platter with more in the background along with a bowl of ketchup.

Pro Tips For Making This Recipe

If you’re the plan-ahead type, you’ll be delighted to know these homemade onion rings are freezer-friendly. Make the onion rings up until cooking. Freeze the breaded rings in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then stash them away in a zip-top freezer bag. When sudden cravings or unexpected guests arrive, simply pop them directly from the freezer into the air fryer and cook as directed.
Don’t skip the double dredge. It might feel oddly repetitive, but that’s how you’ll build up a deliciously crispy exterior crust that shatters when you bite into it.
Make them fit your diet. If you’re gluten-free, swap in your favorite gluten-free flour and panko. Can’t do dairy? Make buttermilk using soy, oat, or almond milk. Eggs are a no-go? Swap in a vegan liquid egg equivalent.
Season them how you like! Mix up the flavor by adding garlic powder, onion powder, or ranch dressing powder to the flour mixture before breading the onion rings. For a spicy kick, add cayenne pepper!

A platter of air fryer onion rings with a small bowl of ketchup with a stack of plate in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get batter to stick to them?

I actually prefer using a standard breading rather than a batter for making onion rings in the air fryer. To get the breading to stick, double-dredge in flour and an egg wash. Don’t skip those steps and go in the order directed.

Can they be frozen?

Absolutely! I like to make a batch on my meal prep day, then before I air-fry them, I place them in the freezer in a single layer on a parchment-lined plate or baking pan. When they’re frozen solid, they can be transferred to a zip-top freezer bag and kept for up to 2 months. Then, whenever we’re craving a snack or side dish, I simply pop the frozen onion rings in the air fryer — no defrosting required.

What are the best onions to use?

I prefer sweet yellow onions like Maui or Walla Walla. That said, red or white onions will also work!

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