Air Fryer Blooming Onion

The Ultimate Appetizer, Made Healthier in the Air Fryer

If you love restaurant-style blooming onions, but don’t want all the grease from deep frying, this Air Fryer Blooming Onion is the perfect solution! It’s crispy, flavorful, and golden brown, with the perfect blend of spices.

Instead of deep frying, this method uses an air fryer to achieve that crispy texture with less oil, making it a healthier but equally delicious alternative. Plus, it’s easy to make at home and pairs perfectly with a creamy dipping sauce!

Ingredients

For the Onion:

1 large sweet onion (about 400g), such as Vidalia
100g all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)

For the Egg Wash:

2 eggs
60ml (¼ cup) milk

For Cooking:

2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking spray

For the Dipping Sauce:

60g (¼ cup) mayonnaise
60g (¼ cup) sour cream
1 tablespoon ketchup
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Onion

Cut the onion – Place the onion root-side down and carefully cut into 12-16 sections, stopping about 1 cm from the base so it stays intact.
Gently separate the petals, being careful not to break them.

Step 2: Coat the Onion

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
In another bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
Dip the onion into the flour mixture, ensuring it’s well coated.
Then, dip it into the egg wash, making sure every petal is covered.
Finally, coat it once more in the flour mixture for an extra crispy texture.
Lightly spray with cooking oil to help it crisp up in the air fryer.

Step 3: Air Fry the Blooming Onion

Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for 3 minutes.
Place the onion cut-side up in the air fryer basket.
Air fry for 20-25 minutes, spraying lightly with oil halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.

Step 4: Make the Dipping Sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Stir well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step 5: Serve & Enjoy!

Carefully remove the blooming onion from the air fryer and transfer to a serving plate.
Serve immediately with the creamy dipping sauce and enjoy!

Nutritional Information (Per Serving – Serves 4)

Calories: 290 kcal
Carbohydrates: 28g
Protein: 6g
Fats: 16g
Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 5g

Note: Nutritional values may vary based on ingredient choices.

Tips & Tricks for the Best Air Fryer Blooming Onion

✨ Choose the right onion – Vidalia or sweet onions work best for their mild flavor.

✨ Cut carefully – Use a sharp knife and stop about 1 cm from the base so the onion holds its shape.

✨ Double coat for extra crispiness – Flour → Egg wash → Flour again = the crispiest blooming onion!

✨ Don’t skip the cooking spray – Lightly spraying with olive oil helps achieve that golden, crunchy texture.

✨ Shake or rotate the basket – This helps ensure even cooking.

✨ Serve immediately – Blooming onions are best eaten fresh for maximum crispiness!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔ Crispy & golden brown without deep frying
✔ Healthier than restaurant versions
✔ Easy to make at home
✔ Perfect for game nights, parties, or appetizers
✔ Comes with a delicious homemade dipping sauce