Looking to make a delicious bloomin’ onion in a snap? This Air Fryer Blooming Onion recipe is the answer. With the convenience of an air fryer, you can achieve a crispy and flavorful blooming onions right at home (and we’ve got step-by-step photos to help you through the whole process).
You’ve heard of the classic deep fried bloomin’ onion. And maybe even baked bloomin’ onion. But have you heard of…air fryer blooming onion?
Brace yourself for an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you yearning for more. Picture this: a perfectly cooked onion, delicately sliced and artfully arranged to resemble a blooming flower, enveloped in a delectable crispy coating.
Whether you’re hosting a gathering, searching for a fun new appetizer recipe, or simply looking to elevate your air fryer cooking repertoire, the blooming onion promises to deliver an unforgettable appetizer experience.
Air Fryer Blooming Onion Ingredients
You just need a handful of ingredients to make these easy air fryer onions.
- Vidalia Onion: We use a large Vidalia onion for its mild and sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the crispy coating. Look for the biggest onion you can find!
- Flour: The flour serves as the base for the crispy coating. It helps create a light and crunchy texture that contrasts with the tender onion layers.
- Spices: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne provide a balanced seasoning, enhancing the flavors of the onion and the coating.
- Milk & Egg: Milk and egg help the breading to adhere to the onion petals. You can use dairy-free milk as a substitute if desired.
best onion for blooming onion
Vidalia onions are commonly used for blooming onions because of their mild and sweet taste, which complements the spiced coating of the blooming onion. Feel free to use any type of onion you have on hand – the bigger the better!
How to make Air Fryer Blooming Onion
Step 1: Cut Onions
Prepare the onion by cutting off the top and peeling off the skin while leaving the root intact. The root is important as it holds the onion together during the cooking process. To create the iconic blooming appearance, vertical cuts are made into the onion, starting from the top and working towards the root, without cutting all the way through. Gently spreading apart the onion petals with your fingers exposes the layers, which will crisp up beautifully in the air fryer!
Step 2: Prepare Dredging “Breading” Station
Combine flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a bowl for a flavorful coating. Whisk together milk and egg in separate bowl to create a binding mixture.
Step 3: Bread The Onion
Now it’s time to bread the onion. Gently place the prepared onion in the flour mixture, ensuring it gets lightly dusted all over.
Tap off any excess flour before dipping the onion in the milk-egg mixture, making sure it gets fully coated. Let excess drip off, then place it back in the flour mixture.
Work flour into all of the crevices. The flour coating adds a crispy texture, while the milk-egg mixture helps the coating adhere to the onion, resulting in a deliciously golden and flavorful blooming onion.
Step 4: Oil It
Coat the prepared onion with a light layer of sprayable cooking oil. This promotes browning and crispiness, enhances flavor and texture, and ensures even coating.
Step 5: Air Fry It
Set the air fryer to 300°F (150°C) and let the onion cook for 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, the hot air circulation in the air fryer will evenly cook the onion, resulting in a satisfying crunch on the outside while maintaining the onion’s tenderness on the inside!
Step 6 & 7: Sauce and Serve!
While onion cooks, prepare the optional sauce (just stir all of the ingredients together). Serve the hot and delicious air fryer blooming onion with the creamy sauce. Enjoy!
What sauce is typically served with blooming onion?
The sauce typically served with a blooming onion is a tangy and creamy dipping sauce made from a combination of mayonnaise, creamy horseradish sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper. It adds a delicious flavor and complements the crispy and savory nature of the blooming onion.
FAVORITE AIR FRYER
After trying out a bunch of different air fryers, this is my favorite!
FAQs
Can I use a different type of onion?
While Vidalia onions are commonly used for blooming onions due to their mild and sweet flavor, you can try using other sweet onion varieties.
Can I make a blooming onion without an air fryer?
Yes, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can still make a blooming onion by deep frying it. Follow the same steps for cutting and breading the onion, then carefully lower it into a pot of hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy. You can also make baked blooming onion by cooking it at 350°F (186°C) for about 15 minutes
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the blooming onion ahead of time. However, it is best enjoyed fresh and hot, right after cooking, to maintain its crispiness. If you need to prepare it in advance, you can follow the steps up to breading the onion and then refrigerate it until ready to cook. When you’re ready to serve, simply air fry the onion according to the instructions, ensuring it is heated through and golden brown.
More Game Day Air Fryer Apps
Your air fryer is a game changer when it comes to game day appetizers! Here are a few of our favorites for you to try:
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @liveeatlearn on Facebook or Instagram!
Ingredients
Air Fryer Bloomin' Onion
- 1 large Vidalia onion
- ½ cup all-purpose flour can use gluten-free
- 1 tsp each garlic powder, smoked paprika
- ½ tsp each salt, black pepper, cayenne
- ½ cup milk can use unflavored dairy-free milk, 120 mL
- 1 large egg
Sauce (optional)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp creamy horseradish sauce
- 1 Tbsp ketchup
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut Onion: Cut off the top of the onion, leaving the root intact. as it will hold the onion together. Peel off the skin of the onion. Make 4 vertical cuts into the onion, starting from the top and working towards the root end, ensuring you don't cut all the way through the root. Gently spread apart the onion petals with your fingers to expose the layers and give it the bloomin' appearance. Be careful not to break the petals off.
- Prep Dredging Station: In a large bowl, combine flour and all spices. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and egg.
- Bread The Onion: Gently place your onion in the flour bowl, lightly dusting it all over with the mixture. Tap off excess then dunk it in the egg to completely coat. Let excess drip off, then place it back in the flour mixture. Work flour into all of the crevices.
- Oil It: Use a sprayable cooking oil to lightly coat the whole onion (and all of its nooks and crannies) in oil – this will make it brown and crispy.
- Air Fry: Cook in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Sauce (optional): While onion cooks, stir together the sauce.
- Serve: Serve hot with sauce!
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