Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)

Golden, crunchy fried onion rings paired with a creamy tangy dip in under 35 minutes.

# 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

→ Dip

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready in under 15 minutes of actual cooking, no babysitting a deep fryer.
  • The panko coating stays crunchy even after sitting out, unlike breaded versions that turn limp.
  • That dipping sauce tastes like a restaurant upgrade but comes together in the time it takes to preheat.
02 -
  • Don't skip the baking powder—it's the reason these turn out light and puffy instead of dense and heavy like some homemade versions.
  • If your coating falls off during cooking, your rings were likely too wet before going in the basket; let them sit on the tray for a minute to firm up next time.
  • The dip tastes noticeably better after chilling for at least 10 minutes because the flavors meld and become less sharp and more harmonious.
03 -
  • Don't crowd the air fryer basket—give rings space to breathe, and cook in batches if needed, because a single crowded layer steams instead of crisps.
  • Buttermilk is worth buying just for this recipe; its acidity and slight tang create a more complex coating than regular milk or heavy cream.

Go Back