Let me show you how to make crispy onions in the air fryer without deep frying. These turn one simple onion into a crunchy little snack, and with that creamy, cheesy garlic dip on the side, how can you not want to try them?
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Watch the Crispy Air Fryer Onions video below so you can see how I make them from start to finish. If it helps, please give the video a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more easy air fryer recipes!
Why you’ll love this crispy air fryer onion snack
I love this air fryer onion snack recipe because it takes something as basic as an onion and turns it into something snacky, crispy, and actually fun to eat. No pot of hot oil, no deep frying, and no big mess on the stove.
The onions get coated with a simple flour and spice mixture, then cooked in the air fryer until they turn golden and crisp around the edges. They are great as a snack, but they also make a really good side dish if you want something a little different with burgers, sandwiches, grilled chicken, or wraps.
Texture and flavor
These crispy air fryer onions have that lovely mix of sweet onion, smoky paprika, and a light crisp coating. The edges get golden and crunchy, while the onion still keeps a little sweetness underneath.
The dip is creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and a little sharp from the mustard. I like mature cheddar if I want it more creamy and cheesy, but Parmesan is great if I want something saltier and stronger. Both work, so use what sounds better to you.
Ingredients you will need
For the crispy onions:
- 1 red onion (150 grams), or use a yellow or white onion
- 1 tablespoon of oil (15 grams), plus a little more for the air fryer basket
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour (16 grams)
- A quarter teaspoon of ground black pepper (0.5 grams)
- Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika (1 gram)
- A quarter teaspoon of salt (1.5 grams)
For the cheesy garlic dip:
- A little mature cheddar or Parmesan, grated (25 grams)
- 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, grated (5 to 10 grams)
- A little bit of mustard seeds (1 gram), or a tiny bit of regular mustard (1 teaspoon or 5 grams)
- 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise (30 grams)
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Mixing bowl
- Small bowl
- Grater
- Spoon
How to make crispy onions in the air fryer
Step 1: First, cut your onion in half, then slice it evenly, keeping the slices fairly similar in size as you go. I am using a red onion here because I prefer its milder taste and the nice color it adds to this recipe, but you can use a yellow or white onion instead, so there is no need to go out and buy a red onion just for this.
Step 2: Then, separate the onion layers with your hands. They turn out much crispier that way in the air fryer. With the layers apart, more edges can brown and crisp up as they cook. That is what gives you those crunchy little onion pieces at the end.
Step 3: Next, put the onion into a mixing bowl and add a little oil. Get your hands in there and toss the onion around until it has a light coating all over. This helps the flour and seasonings stick better when you add them, so you get a nice coating on the onion. You do not need much oil here, just enough to give the slices a light shine. Once they look lightly coated, stop mixing and leave them in the bowl.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, add two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, a quarter teaspoon of ground black pepper, half a teaspoon of smoked paprika, and a quarter teaspoon of salt. Mix it together, and that is your coating ready for the onion.
Step 5: Next, add the coating to the onion pieces in the bowl, then use your hands to toss everything together until the flour mixture starts sticking to the onion. Keep turning the pieces through the coating for a few more seconds, until the onion looks lightly covered all over and the seasoning is mixed through the slices as evenly as possible.
Step 6: Next, preheat your air fryer and sprinkle a little oil over the bottom of the air fryer basket.
Then, add the onions into the air fryer basket and spread them out in a thin layer across the bottom, so they crisp up much better as they cook. I like to sprinkle a bit more oil over the onions too, because it helps the coating turn golden and crispy. Once the onions are spread out, they are ready to cook.
Step 7: Air fry the onions for 15 minutes at 400°F (200°C), shaking the basket about halfway through so they cook more evenly. After 15 minutes, have a look and see how crispy they are. They should be golden and crisp around the edges.
If your air fryer cooks a little slower and they need more color, put them back in for another minute or two, checking them so they do not get too dark.
Note: Air fryers can cook a little differently, so start watching the onions near the end. Once onions start browning, they can go from golden to too dark pretty fast.
Step 8: While the onions are getting nice and crispy in the air fryer, let’s make a simple dip to serve with them, because a creamy dip is really good with that crispy onion texture.
- Grate a little mature cheddar or Parmesan, depending on whether you want the dip to taste more creamy and cheesy, or a bit stronger and saltier.
- Then, grate in one or two cloves of garlic, depending on how much garlic you like, so the dip has that fresh garlic flavor without making it too strong.
- Then, add a little bit of mustard seeds, or use a tiny bit of regular mustard if that is what you already have at home.
- Then, add a couple of spoonfuls of mayonnaise and mix everything together until it turns thick, creamy, and cheesy. By the time the onions are done, the dip will be ready for dipping those crispy little pieces straight in.
Step 9: Now, the onions should be golden and crispy, so take them out of the air fryer and give them a couple of minutes on a plate, because they will get a little crispier as they sit. Once they have had a short moment to crisp up a bit more, serve them with the cheesy garlic dip on the side and dig in while they are still fresh, warm, and crunchy.
Did you know? Onions have natural sugars, which is one reason they taste sweeter once they cook. That little bit of sweetness works so well with the smoky paprika and creamy garlic dip.
Related Recipe: You might also like my air fryer 3-ingredient chicken nuggets recipe, it is a crispy, tender, and healthier way to turn leftover chicken into something everyone actually wants to eat.
Crispy Air Fryer Onions with Cheesy Garlic Dip
Let me show you how to make crispy onions without deep frying. I never thought I would get this excited about onions, but these come out so crunchy, so snacky, and honestly, I make them all the time now.
2
servings10
minutes15
minutes310
kcal25
minutesIngredients
1 unit 1 (150–200 g) red onion
1 tablespoon 1 (15 ml) oil
2 tablespoons 2 (15 g) flour
¼ teaspoon ¼ (0.5 g) ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ½ (1–1.5 g) smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon ¼ (1.5 g) salt
- Garlic dip
unit mature cheddar or Parmesan, grated
1-2 clove 1-2 garlic, grated
unit mustard seeds or regular mustard
2 tablespoons 2 (30 g) mayonnaise
Directions
- Cut the onion in half, then slice it evenly.
- Separate the onion layers with your hands.
- Put the onion into a mixing bowl and add a little oil. Toss to coat.
- In a separate bowl, mix flour, black pepper, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Add the flour mixture to the onion slices, mixing until coated.
- Preheat the air fryer, adding a little oil to the bottom.
- Spread onion slices in a thin layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 15 minutes at 200°C (400°F), shaking halfway through.
- Grate cheese and garlic into a bowl. Add mustard and mayonnaise, mixing into a dip.
- Serve onions with the dip once they have cooled slightly.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Use Different Onions: Red onion gives this recipe a milder taste and nice color, but yellow or white onion works too. Use what you already have, as long as the onion is fresh and firm.
- Do Not Overcrowd Basket: Spread the coated onion pieces in a thin layer in the air fryer basket. If the basket looks too full, cook them in two batches so the onions can crisp instead of turning soft.
- Watch Near The End: Start checking the onions during the last few minutes of cooking. They can go from golden to too dark quickly, especially once the edges start browning.
- Shake Halfway Through: Shake the air fryer basket about halfway through cooking. This helps the onion pieces move around and cook more evenly.
- Dip And Cheese Swaps: Mature cheddar makes the dip creamy and cheesy, while Parmesan gives it a stronger, saltier flavor. If you do not have mustard seeds, use a tiny bit of regular mustard instead.
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 2
- Calories: 310kcal
- Fat: 26g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 5g
Helpful tips for the best air fryer onions
- Do not pack the air fryer basket too tightly. A thin layer helps the onions crisp better.
- Shake the basket halfway through cooking so the onion pieces move around a bit.
- Use just enough oil to help the coating stick and brown.
- Check near the end of cooking, especially the first time you make them, because every air fryer is a little different.
- Let the onions sit for a couple of minutes after cooking, because they can crisp up a little more.
Easy swaps
You can use red, yellow, or white onions for this recipe. Red onion gives a nice color and a slightly milder taste, while yellow onion is a good everyday choice, and white onion has a sharper flavor.
For the dip, mature cheddar makes it creamy and cheesy, while Parmesan makes it saltier and stronger. If you do not have mustard seeds, use a tiny bit of regular mustard instead. I would not add too much mustard at first, because it can take over the dip quickly.
Serving ideas
These crispy air fryer onions are so good as a snack with the cheesy garlic dip, but they are also great next to sandwiches, burgers, wraps, or grilled meat. You can also scatter them over a salad bowl if you want something crunchy on top.
Let’s be honest, I usually just eat them straight from the plate with the dip. They disappear fast.
Storage and reheating
These onions are best right after cooking, when they are still crisp. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days, but know that they will soften a bit.
To reheat them, put them back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes until they warm through and crisp up again. I would not microwave them, because they lose that crispy texture.
More air fryer recipes
If you liked this crispy air fryer onion recipe, check out more easy air fryer recipes below:
- Frozen Hash Browns in Air Fryer – Learn how to cook frozen hash browns until perfectly golden and crispy with almost no effort. They make a quick and tasty breakfast or side dish.
- Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer – Air fryer hot dogs are fast, easy, and come out with perfectly crisped skins. A great option for a quick lunch, dinner, or snack.
- Air Fryer Roast Potatoes – These roast potatoes turn out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, making them a simple and delicious side for almost any meal.
And if you try these, leave a comment or question below, or in the YouTube video comments, and I will try to respond to all the comments and questions.