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Looking for a mouthwatering appetizer or snack? This crispy air fryer blooming onion recipe is the answer! With our step-by-step photos to walk you through, you can guarantee a restaurant-worthy snack that’s guaranteed to impress.

Air fryer bloomin onion on a white plate.
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Is There Anything The Air Fryer Can’t Do?

You’ve heard of the classic deep-fried bloomin’ onion (and maybe even the baked version), but have you tried an air fryer blooming onion?

We’re talking golden layers of onion petals, perfectly seasoned and crunchy on the outside, while sweet and tender on the inside. Each bite lends a satisfying crackle that will have you making this recipe on repeat!

Whether it’s game day, snack o’clock, or a random Tuesday craving, this blooming onion delivers all the flavor in a much healthier way (and with way less mess!).

Air fryer bloomin onion in an air fryer.

Here’s What You’ll Need

To make these easy air fryer blooming onions, you just need a handful of simple ingredients. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements—this is an overview!

  • Vidalia Onion: We’ll 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: This 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, pepper, and cayenne provide the perfect balance of seasonings.
  • Milk And Egg: Milk and egg help the breading adhere to the onion petals. If you prefer, you can use dairy-free milk as a substitute.

Picking The best onions

Vidalia onions are the go-to for blooming onions, thanks to their naturally mild, sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with the spiced coating. Don’t have Vidalias? No problem! Any large onion will do—just remember, the bigger the onion, the more impressive the bloom!

Air fryer bloomin onion on a white plate.

Air Frying A Blooming Onion Is Easy

This air fryer blooming onion recipe is almost too simple to be true. (Jump to the recipe card for the full printable instructions!)

Step 1: Cut The Onion
Cut the top off the onion and peel it (leave the root intact). To create the iconic blooming appearance, make vertical cuts into the onion, starting from the top and working towards the root.

Onion on a cutting board.
The root acts like the glue that holds your onion together. Don’t trim it off!
Onion on a cutting board.
Avoid slicing all the way through the onion, or you’ll end up with chunks instead of Insta-worthy petals.
Onion on a cutting board.
Gently spread apart the onion petals with your fingers to fully expose the layers for even coating and cooking.

Step 2: Prepare The Breading Station
Combine the flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a bowl. Whisk the milk and egg in a separate bowl.

Step 3: Bread The Onion
Time to bread the onion! Double-dip the onion in the flour and egg mixture to give it an ultra-crispy, crunchy coating.

Dredging an onion for air fryer bloomin onions.
Tap off any extra flour before dipping the onion in the milk-egg mixture to prevent clumping.
Dredging an onion for air fryer bloomin onions.
Use a spoon to help drizzle the egg mixture into those hard-to-reach layers.
Dredging an onion for air fryer bloomin onions.
Work flour into all of the crevices for a crispy texture in every bite.

Step 4: Oil The Onion
Coat the prepared onion with a light layer of sprayable cooking oil.

Spraying an onion in the air fryer with spray.
Spraying the onion with cooking oil promotes even browning and crispiness, so don’t skip it!

Step 5: Air Fry It
Set the air fryer to 300°F (150°C) and let the onion cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

Air fryer bloomin onion in an air fryer.
The hot air circulation evenly cooks the onion, resulting in a satisfying crunch on the outside while maintaining a tender texture on the inside!

Step 6: Sauce And Serve!
While the onion cooks, mix the optional sauce. Serve your air fryer blooming onion with a side of creamy sauce, and enjoy!

Bloomin’ Onion Sauce

Typically, blooming onions are served with a tangy, creamy dipping sauce made from a combination of mayonnaise, creamy horseradish sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper. The sauce adds a delicious flavor and complements the crispy and savory nature of the blooming onion, so I don’t recommend skipping it!

Air fryer bloomin onion on a white plate.

Hosting Game Day?

Air fryer bloomin onion on a white plate.

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @liveeatlearn on Facebook or Instagram!

Air fryer bloomin onion on a white plate.
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Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe (Step-By-Step)

3.34 from 3 ratings
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Looking for a mouthwatering appetizer or snack? This crispy air fryer blooming onion recipe is the answer! With our step-by-step photos to walk you through, you can guarantee a restaurant-worthy snack that’s guaranteed to impress.

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
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Instructions 

  • Cut Onion: Cut off the top of the onion, leaving the root intact (it will hold the onion together). Peel the skin off 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.
    Onion on a cutting board.
  • Prep Dredging Station: In a large bowl, combine the flour and all spices. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.
  • Bread The Onion: Gently place your onion in the flour bowl, lightly dusting it with the mixture. Tap off excess, then dunk it in the egg to completely coat it. Let excess drip off, then place it back in the flour mixture. Work flour into all the crevices.
    Dredging an onion for air fryer bloomin onions.
  • Oil It: Use a sprayable cooking oil to coat the whole onion lightly (and all of its nooks and crannies) in oil—this will make it brown and crispy.
    Spraying an onion in the air fryer with spray.
  • Air Fry: Cook the onion in the air fryer at 300°F (150°C) for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
    Air fryer bloomin onion in an air fryer.
  • Sauce (optional): While the onion cooks, stir together the sauce.
  • Serve: Serve hot with sauce!
    Air fryer bloomin onion on a white plate.

Notes

This doesn’t store well after cooking, so enjoy it while it’s hot!
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? If you don’t have an air fryer, you can still make a blooming onion by deep frying it. Follow the same cutting and breading steps, then carefully lower it into a pot of hot oil and fry until golden and crispy. You can also make a baked blooming onion by cooking it at 350°F (186°C) for about 15 minutes
Can I make this recipe ahead of time? It’s best enjoyed fresh and hot, but 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 ready to serve, simply air fry the onion according to the instructions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (without sauce) | Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.5g | Protein: 4.7g | Fat: 5.5g | Saturated Fat: 1.3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 325mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 3.3g | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
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3.34 from 3 votes

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3 Comments

  1. Debbie says:

    3 stars
    It ended up being kinda floury and not as crispy as I expected. I sprayed it twice with Pam. Flavor was good.

    Reply
  2. Mike says:

    2 stars
    Just tried this and it didn’t work very well. Nothing seemed to stick to the onion.

    Reply
  3. Shirley says:

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Reply