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With just three simple ingredients, these Crispy Air Fryer Onions are the perfect challenge to french fries. They’re perfect for topping burgers, hotdogs, or adding a flavorful crunch to any dish. This recipe utilizes the air fryer to create perfectly caramelized onions with minimal oil and effort.

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Crispy cooked air fryer onions in the basket of the air fryer, ready to serve.

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Quick and Easy Crispy Air Fryer Onions Recipe

Air fryer onions are a simple and healthier alternative to deep-fried onions, providing all the taste without the excess grease. They come out evenly cooked and wonderfully crispy, ideal for enhancing a variety of meals.

The great part about frying foods with less oil is that the flavor stands out. The outer layer of the onions has the perfect texture that proves that cooking in the air fryer truly is the best method for this dish.

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When it comes to air frying sliced onions, you’re going to love how fast and easy it is to make perfectly crispy onions in less time than any other cooking method.

Crispy air fried onions in a bowl, ready to serve.

Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Onions

  • Olive Oil: Helps to coat the onions, allowing the seasoning to stick and enhancing the caramelization process.
  • Ground Black Pepper: Adds a slight kick and depth of flavor.
  • Large Onion: When sliced, onions develop a sweet, rich flavor as they cook, perfect for achieving a crispy texture.
Sliced onions on a plate, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

How to Cook Crispy Air Fryer Onions

STEP 1 – Start by preheating your Air Fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes to ensure it’s ready for immediate cooking.

STEP 2 – Peel and slice the large onion. In a large bowl, combine the sliced onions with olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper, tossing well to ensure all the onion slices are evenly coated.

Onions sliced, in a bowl, and topped with salt, pepper, and olive oil.

STEP 3 – Transfer the seasoned onions to the air fryer basket. Arrange them in a single layer with slight overlaps permissible, but ensure there is enough space for air to circulate freely.

Onions in the basket of the air fryer, ready to cook.

STEP 4 – Cook the onions at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes. Halfway through, flip or shake the onions to promote even cooking and browning.

Crispy air fried onions in the basket of the air fryer.

NOTE: This recipe was made using a basket style 5.8 qt air fryer. If you’re using a different brand of air fryer, you may need to adjust the time and temperature according to the type of air fryer you have.

Tips for Making the Best Crispy Air Fryer Onions

  • Even Slicing: Slice the onions uniformly to ensure they cook at the same rate and achieve a consistent texture.
  • Prevent Burning: Keep an eye on the onions as they cook, as thinner slices may cook faster and risk burning.
  • Batch Cooking: If you have more onions, cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding and to allow for maximum crispiness.

Crispy Air Fried Onions Variations

  • Spicy Onions: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder to the seasoning mix for onions with a bit of heat.
  • Herbed Onions: Toss the onions with dried herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or oregano before cooking for an aromatic twist.
Seasoned air fried onions served on sausages and ready to eat.

Crispy Air Fryer Onions FAQs

Can I store leftover air fryer onions?

Yes, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to regain crispiness.

What are the best dishes to serve with crispy air fryer onions?

Crispy onions are versatile and can top burgers, steaks, or sausages, and they’re also great in salads or as a part of a crunchy topping for casseroles.

Can I use red onions instead of yellow?

Absolutely! Red onions can be used for a milder flavor and add a vibrant color to your dishes. The cooking time and temperature remain the same.

Enjoy your Crispy Air Fryer Onions as a quick and easy way to add a delightful crunch and flavor to any meal. They’re sure to become a favorite garnish or side dish in your cooking repertoire!

More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes:

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Crispy air fried onions in the basket of the air fryer.
4.25 from 4 votes
Servings: 4

Air Fryer Onions

By Jen
Crispy air fryer onions are a simple and healthier alternative to deep-fried onions, providing all the taste without the excess grease. They come out evenly cooked and wonderfully crispy, ideal for enhancing a variety of meals.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
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Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients 

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 large onion

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit /200 degrees Celsius for 3-5 minutes. In a large bowl, add the sliced onions, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well. 
  • Add the seasoned onions in a single layer into the air fryer basket. A little overlap is ok, but you want to make sure the airflow gets through the onions to cook them all evenly. 
  • Air fry the onions at 400 degrees F/200 degrees C for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway or until they have reached your desired caramelized look. 
  • Serve with your favorite food items such as burgers and sausages.

Notes

This recipe was made using a basket style 5.8 qt air fryer. If you’re using a different brand of air fryer, you may need to adjust the cook time slightly and adjust it as needed for your specific brand of air fryer. 
You can easily change this recipe to homemade air fryer onion rings! All you need is some large eggs, some panko breadcrumbs, and a large onion, and you can slice, dip, and fry!
The great thing about cooking with onions. All seasonings are great. If you like heat, adding cayenne pepper is fast and simple to do. You can also sprinkle on some onion powder and garlic powder as well.

Nutrition

Calories: 17kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 0.5g, Fat: 0.05g, Saturated Fat: 0.02g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 62mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 2IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Jen West

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4.25 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. Sur says:

    4 stars
    Loved this onion recipe, but for some reason they were a little tough. I followed the recipe. Am I doing something wrong?

    Reply
    1. Becky Abbott says:

      Hi Sur. Thank you for trying our recipe! It could be the slices might have been a little too big? Or they needed a little more air frying time? Not sure what wattage your air fryer has, so that could be the difference. Hope that helps.

      Reply