Soft and easy air fryer onion bread

Let me show you how I make this super simple air fryer onion bread with spring onions. It comes out soft and fluffy, and I still get a little surprised by just how well the air fryer handles baking bread.

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I honestly hardly buy bread anymore because recipes like this are just so easy to make at home.

Check out my soft air fryer onion bread recipe video below and see just how easy it is to make. If you enjoy it, tap like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more easy air fryer baking recipes.

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Why you’ll love this air fryer onion bread

This is the kind of homemade bread I really enjoy making because there is nothing complicated about it. The dough uses simple everyday ingredients, and most of the time is just waiting for the yeast to do its thing.

I also love adding spring onions because they give the bread a lovely savory flavor without taking over. You get little pieces of onion throughout each slice, but it still tastes very much like homemade bread.

And yes… you really can bake a whole loaf like this in the air fryer. How can you not love that?!

Texture + flavor

This air fryer onion bread comes out soft and fluffy in the middle, with a lightly chewy, golden crust on the outside.

The spring onions add a mild savory onion flavor, while the olive oil helps keep the bread soft. Warm from the air fryer, this is seriously good.

I especially like cutting a thick slice while the bread is still just a little warm. Add some butter on top… sooo good.

Air fryer onion bread ingredients

You only need a short list of ingredients to make this easy air fryer onion bread:

• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon (250 ml) lukewarm water
• 1⅔ teaspoons (5 grams) instant dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon (20 ml) olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2¾ cups (350 grams) all-purpose flour, plus a little more if needed
• 1 small bunch spring onions, finely chopped
• A little olive oil, for the bowl and handling the dough
• Warm water, for brushing the bread

About the flour

The original amount is 350 grams, but bread dough can behave a little differently depending on your flour and even the humidity in your kitchen.

The dough should be very soft and slightly tacky, but it should still come together. Try not to keep adding flour just because it feels softer than a typical sandwich bread dough.

NOTE: Adding too much extra flour can make your air fryer onion bread heavier and drier.

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Second mixing bowl for rising
• Wooden spoon or sturdy spatula
• Pastry brush
• Air fryer
• Air fryer liner or parchment paper

Make sure any parchment paper you use is held down by the dough. Loose parchment can lift toward the heating element once the air fryer fan starts.

How to make air fryer onion bread

Step 1: Mix the yeast mixture.

To make this soft air fryer onion bread, start by pouring 250 milliliters of lukewarm water into a large mixing bowl.

Add 5 grams of instant dry yeast, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 20 milliliters of olive oil. Give everything a good mix until the yeast and sugar are mixed into the water.

The water should feel comfortably warm, not hot. Very hot water can damage the yeast and leave you wondering why your dough refuses to rise.

TOP TIP: If you are unsure about the water temperature, aim for roughly 100°F to 110°F (38°C to 43°C). It should feel pleasantly warm rather than hot.

Step 2: Add the flour, salt, and spring onions.

Add roughly half of the flour to the bowl, followed by 1 teaspoon of salt.

I like adding the flour in 2 parts because the softer dough is much easier to mix at this stage, and it gives you a chance to work the spring onions evenly into the dough before adding the rest.

Give everything a good mix, then add the finely chopped spring onions and stir them through.

Add the remaining flour and continue mixing until you have a very soft dough that has come together.

If the dough is extremely wet and impossible to handle, add a small amount of extra flour. Do not turn it into a stiff dough.

Step 3: Work the dough until soft and elastic.

Keep mixing and working the dough until it becomes soft, stretchy, and more elastic.

This is a softer bread dough, so do not expect it to become firm. A little stickiness is completely fine.

DID YOU KNOW: Softer bread dough generally gives the yeast more room to expand, which can help produce a lighter loaf than dough that has been loaded with extra flour.

Step 4: Let the dough rise.

Take a separate mixing bowl and lightly brush the inside with olive oil so the dough does not stick.

Place the dough in the bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and leave it somewhere warm until it has doubled in size.

Depending on the temperature of your kitchen, this usually takes around 1 to 2 hours.

Do not worry too much about the clock here. The size of the dough is the better guide.

Shaping your air fryer bread

Step 5: Shape the risen dough.

Once the dough has doubled in size, uncover it and gently shape it into a round ball.

Try not to squash every bit of air out of it. You just want to tidy it into a nice shape that will fit comfortably inside your air fryer basket.

Place the dough into an air fryer basket lined with an air fryer liner or parchment paper.

Step 6: Give it a second rise.

Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise again for another 20 to 30 minutes.

By the end of the second rise, your air fryer onion bread dough should look noticeably puffier and feel light when you gently touch it.

This second rise is worth waiting for. It gives the dough another chance to expand before the outside starts setting during baking.

TOP TIP: Do not wait until the dough is spilling across the entire basket. You want it nicely puffed but still strong enough to rise a little more once it starts baking.

How long to cook air fryer onion bread

Step 7: Brush the top with warm water.

Remove the plastic wrap and lightly brush the top of the dough with warm water.

This helps keep the outside from drying too quickly when the bread first goes into the air fryer.

Step 8: Air fry until golden.

Bake the air fryer onion bread at 356°F (180°C) for about 25 to 30 minutes.

After about 15 minutes, quickly open the basket and brush the top with a little more warm water. Return it straight to the air fryer and continue baking.

Start checking around the 25-minute mark. The top should be nicely golden, and the bread should feel firm rather than doughy when gently pressed.

If you have an instant-read thermometer, the center should be around 190°F to 200°F (88°C to 93°C).

And the smell at this point… your kitchen is going to smell seriously good.

Related Recipe: If you liked this simple air fryer bread recipe, then check out my other super simple 4-ingredient air fryer bread recipe here also.

What if the bottom is pale?

Some air fryers heat much more aggressively from the top than from underneath.

If the top of your air fryer onion bread is beautifully golden but the bottom still looks pale near the end of cooking, carefully turn the loaf over and air fry it for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Check it frequently because the exposed bottom can brown quickly once it is facing the heating element.

NOTE: You may not need to flip the bread at all. It depends on how your particular air fryer circulates and distributes heat.

How do I know it is done?

Color is helpful, but a golden top does not always mean the center of the bread has finished baking.

Your air fryer onion bread should feel fairly light for its size, and the center should no longer feel wet or gummy when sliced.

If you are using a thermometer, reaching at least about 190°F (88°C) in the center is a much more reliable check than judging the top alone.

If the outside is browning too quickly before the middle is ready, reduce the temperature slightly and give it a few more minutes.

Common air fryer bread mistakes

A few small things can make a big difference with yeast bread:

• Using water that is too hot: Lukewarm water helps the yeast get started. Hot water can damage it.
• Adding too much flour: This dough is supposed to stay soft. Too much flour can make the finished bread dense.
• Rushing the first rise: Let the dough actually double rather than relying only on the clock.
• Skipping the second rise: The second rise helps give the bread a lighter, softer middle.
• Judging only by the golden top: Air fryers brown from above very quickly, so always check that the center and bottom are cooked too.

Easy ingredient swaps

• You can make a couple of simple changes without changing the basic air fryer onion bread recipe.
• Regular vegetable oil can replace the olive oil if that is what you have.
• You can also reduce the spring onions if you want a milder flavor. I would not add a huge amount more, though, because too many fresh onions add extra moisture to the dough.
• For a plain version, simply leave the spring onions out and make the same soft air fryer bread without them.

How to serve this spring onion bread

• This bread is especially good while it is still a little warm.
• I love it sliced with fresh homemade butter, but it is also great alongside lentil soup, eggs, salads, or anything with a sauce you do not want to leave behind on the plate.
• You can also slice it and use it for sandwiches. The mild spring onion flavor works really well with cheese, eggs, chicken, or deli meats.

Let’s be honest… sometimes I just pull off a piece and eat it exactly as it is.

How to store air fryer onion bread

• Let the bread cool completely before storing it. Putting warm bread into a sealed container traps steam and can make the outside damp.
• Keep your air fryer onion bread in an airtight container or bread bag at room temperature for around 2 days.
• For longer storage, slice the loaf and freeze the individual pieces. That way you can take out only what you need.

How to reheat it

• A slice only needs a short reheat.
• Place it in the air fryer at about 320°F (160°C) for 2 to 3 minutes, just until it is warm again.
• For frozen slices, give them another minute or two as needed.
• Keep an eye on them because bread can go from warm to very toasted surprisingly quickly in an air fryer.

More air fryer baking recipes

If you liked this air fryer onion bread recipe, check out more of my air fryer baking recipes below. There are plenty more easy breads and homemade bakes to try in your air fryer.

• Air Fryer Bread Rolls – These homemade air fryer bread rolls come out soft and tender inside with a lovely golden crust. They’re an easy way to make fresh bread without using the oven.
• Air Fryer Baked Oats Recipe – These air fryer baked oats are soft, fluffy, and simple to prepare. They make an easy breakfast or sweet snack when you want something warm and filling.
• 20 Minute Air Fryer Cheesecake – This creamy air fryer cheesecake takes just 20 minutes to cook. It’s a quick and easy homemade dessert when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

And if you make this air fryer onion bread, leave me a comment below or ask me any questions about the recipe. You can also leave a question in the YouTube video comments, and I will try to reply to all of them.