A classic dish that has been loved by generations--onion rings! Forget spending a fortune on bags of them in the frozen section or heating up your whole house making them in the oven. These Air Fryer Onion Rings are a breeze to make and taste amazing.

Why You'll Never Grab Frozen Onion Rings Again

Fast. A quick and easy appetizer made from scratch in under 30 minutes.
Easy. Slice the onions, double batter, and air fry.
Delicious. Just as good as the frozen ones--if not better!
Family Friendly. From ages 1 to 100, the whole family will love them.
Inexpensive. A much more affordable option than buying a bag from the frozen section.

Equipment Needed

Ingredients You'll Need

A recipe doesn't get much more basic than this. Combine some of your kitchen staples for a delightful appetizer or snack.

Here's what you'll need:

Onions
Egg
Heavy Cream
Panko
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Paprika

What Kind Of Onions Do You Use For Air Fryer Onion Rings?

For this air fryer onion ring recipe, I prefer to use Vidalia onions because they are sweeter than other varieties of onions.

The less intense, sweet flavor pairs extremely well with the salty batter for a completely comforting bite.

How Long Does It Take To Air Fry Onion Rings?

Forget waiting for the oven to preheat for a "quick" treat. Use your favorite kitchen gadget for air fryer onion rings that are ready in only 13 minutes!

How Do You Make Onion Rings From Scratch In An Air Fryer?

Follow these instructions to make this easy air fryer recipe:

Slice onions into half-inch rings
Gently remove any excess moisture from the onion slices by dabbing with a paper towel
Whisk together eggs and heavy cream in a bowl
Mix panko, flour, and spices in a separate bowl
Dip the onion rings into the egg mixture
Coat the rings in the panko mixture
Repeat dipping the onions in the egg mixture
Coat the onion rings in the panko mixture a second time
Place the coated onions in the air fryer basket in a single layer
Lightly spray them with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil from an oil sprayer
Air Fry for 13 minutes at 400F or until crispy on the outside

Tips And Tricks

Dry Them Off. After you slice your onions, dab them with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture that may be released. This will help the batter stick for extra crispy onion rings.
Double Dip. Why dip the onion rings in batter once when you can dip them twice? For the perfect onion to batter ratio, dip the onion rings in the egg wash and batter and then into the egg wash and batter a second time.
Get Creative. Let's be honest. It's hard to mess up an onion ring. So use whatever you have in your pantry to make these work. Only have regular bread crumbs? They'll work in place of panko. No breadcrumbs at all? Crush up some pork rinds. Down to the last day or two before you go grocery shopping again? Dredge them in flour and air fry.

Dip Away. Sometimes there's nothing better than the perfect dipping sauce to make onion rings even better. So, get crazy and try a little bit of everything until you find your favorite.

How To Make Frozen Onion Rings In The Air Fryer

Short on time or ingredients?

While these won't be quite as tasty as the homemade onion rings in this recipe, it's still completely possible to make frozen onion rings in your air fryer.

Here's how you do it:

Preheat your air fryer to 400F
Air Fry for 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking cycle
Check for doneness. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes for an extra crispy bite.

Want More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes?

If you love these Air Fryer Onion Rings as much as we do, make sure you share the recipe with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can try them too!