Deliciously Crispy Blooming Onion in the Air Fryer

Having an air fryer at home means I can enjoy this crispy, savory appetizer without the need for deep frying. The air fryer’s high heat is ideal for achieving that perfect crispiness in dishes like blooming onions. It uses significantly less oil than traditional deep frying, making it a somewhat healthier alternative. That said, I wouldn’t categorize this dish as healthy, even with air frying—it’s still a delicious indulgence. But every once in a while, it’s nice to treat yourself to something special and unique.

Easier Than You Think

Although a blooming onion might seem daunting, it’s not as tricky to make as you might imagine. The most important step is cutting the onion into the iconic blossom shape. Once that’s done, the rest is simple. However, this recipe can get a bit messy, so be prepared for your hands to get dirty and for multiple bowls to be used along the way.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for this dish:

Large Onion – I recommend using a sweet onion like Vidalia, as it has a milder taste and fewer sulfur compounds, which means less tearing while cutting. Yellow or white onions are fine, but sweet onions are my top choice for flavor.
Flour – Flour is used to coat the onion before air frying. You won’t need all the flour listed in the recipe, but it’s important to have extra to get into all the nooks and crannies of the onion.
Eggs and Milk – These ingredients help create the crispy coating when combined with the flour.
Seasoning – The coating is flavored with paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Spray Oil – While the air fryer uses less oil than deep frying, you’ll still need some oil to ensure the onion petals get crispy.

Spray Oil

Like many air fryer recipes, this one calls for oil in a spray bottle. It might be tempting to use store-bought aerosol oils, but the preservatives in these can damage the coating of your air fryer basket, potentially causing it to peel. Since replacement baskets can be expensive, I suggest purchasing an inexpensive spray bottle and filling it with your favorite oil. Olive oil works great, but oils with higher smoke points, such as canola oil, are also good choices.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Slice the Onion
The most crucial step in this recipe is cutting the onion without damaging the root area. The root helps hold the onion together as it blooms. If you’d like, you can buy a blooming onion cutter, but it’s not necessary unless you plan to make these often. Use a sharp knife to cut about half an inch off the top of the onion, then peel off the outer skin. Place the onion on a cutting board with the cut side down and the root facing up. Make a downward cut, about half an inch from the root, all the way through to the board. Repeat this process around the onion, making four evenly spaced cuts. Then, make three additional cuts in each of the four sections, resulting in 16 cuts in total. Turn the onion over and let it rest for five minutes to help the petals relax. After five minutes, gently separate the petals with your fingers to allow the onion to bloom.
Flour the Onion
In a large bowl, combine flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, and oregano. Whisk them together. Place the onion in a clean bowl with the cut side up and pour the flour mixture on top. Use your fingers or a spoon to coat the onion, ensuring the flour gets between the onion petals. Turn the onion over and gently tap off any excess flour. Set the bowl of flour aside for later use.
Dip the Onion
In another bowl, mix eggs, milk, and 1 cup of water. Stir until well combined. Dip the floured onion into the egg and milk mixture, ensuring it’s evenly coated. Let any excess drip off.
Flour the Onion Again
Place the onion in a clean bowl and coat it with the flour mixture once more. Tap off any excess flour and set the onion aside on a plate. You should have a thin layer of flour on the onion, with plenty of leftover flour.
Preheat the Air Fryer
While the onion is chilling in the refrigerator, preheat your air fryer to 350°F and let it heat for 10 minutes. Preheating is essential for this recipe, so don’t skip this step.
Air Fry the Onion
Take the onion out of the fridge and lightly spray it with cooking oil. To avoid burning yourself, create a sling using aluminum foil to transfer the onion into the air fryer basket. Cook the onion at 350°F for 20 minutes, checking halfway through. Spray additional oil on any flour spots that remain visible. If the onion is golden brown with slightly darker tips on the petals, it’s done. If not, cook for a few more minutes, being careful not to burn it. Use the foil sling to carefully remove the onion from the air fryer.

How to Serve

Serve the blooming onion with your favorite dipping sauce. I’ve included a recipe for a Blooming Onion sauce, similar to what you’d find at a steakhouse. Alternatively, try serving it with fry sauce, ketchup, mustard, or even cheese sauce for a delicious variation!

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Create a restaurant-quality appetizer at home with this delicious Air Fryer Blooming Onion. It’s the perfect fun snack for game day that your family and friends will adore!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

1 large sweet onion
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup water
Salt and pepper, to taste
Oil in a spray bottle

Instructions

Slice the Onion:
Cut ½ inch from the top of the onion and peel off the outer skin. Place the onion cut-side down. Starting about ½ inch from the root, make a downward cut all the way through to the cutting board. Repeat this process to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion. Then, make three additional cuts between each section, resulting in 16 evenly spaced cuts. Turn the onion over and let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the petals to relax. Gently separate the outer pieces with your fingers.
Prepare the Coating:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and water until well combined.
Coat the Onion:
Place the onion in a clean bowl, cut-side up, and pour the flour mixture over the top. Use a large spoon to coat the onion with the flour, ensuring it gets between the onion petals. Turn the onion over and gently pat off the excess flour. Set the flour mixture aside.
Dip the floured onion into the egg mixture, making sure it’s evenly coated. Let any excess drip off, then transfer the onion back into the reserved flour mixture. Coat the onion again with the flour and gently tap off any excess. You’ll have leftover flour in the bowl.
Chill the Onion:
Place the coated onion in the refrigerator to chill while you preheat the air fryer.
Preheat the Air Fryer:
Preheat the air fryer to 350ºF for 10 minutes.
Air Fry the Onion:
After preheating, remove the onion from the refrigerator and spray it generously with oil from a spray bottle. Using a sling made from a sheet of aluminum foil, transfer the onion into the air fryer basket, cut-side up.
Set the timer for 25 minutes and cook the onion. During the cooking process, spray the onion with oil 2-3 times, especially on any areas with visible flour.
Finish and Serve:
After 25 minutes, carefully remove the onion using the aluminum foil sling. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with your favorite blooming onion dip.