Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings (Printable)

Golden crunchy onion rings air fried to crispness with a creamy, tangy dipping sauce for perfect snacking.

# What You Need:

→ Onion Rings

01 - 2 large yellow onions, sliced into ½-inch rings
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - ⅔ cup milk
09 - 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
10 - Cooking spray or oil mister

→ Dipping Sauce

11 - ½ cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
13 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
15 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Slice onions into ½-inch thick rings and carefully separate individual rings.
02 - Combine all-purpose flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl.
03 - Whisk eggs and milk together in a second shallow bowl until fully incorporated.
04 - Place panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow bowl.
05 - Dip each onion ring in the flour mixture, coating completely. Transfer to egg wash, allowing excess to drip off, then press firmly into panko to adhere.
06 - Place breaded onion rings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly mist with cooking spray.
07 - Cook at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping rings halfway through cooking time. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
08 - Whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
09 - Serve onion rings immediately while hot and crispy, accompanied by the dipping sauce.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crunch rivals any restaurant version without a drop of oil splattering your stovetop
  • That smoky paprika cream sauce will make you forget about ketchup forever
  • They disappear faster than you can make them so consider doubling the batch
02 -
  • Double dipping in flour then egg before the final panko coat makes an enormous difference in crunch
  • Room temperature eggs stick better to the onions than cold ones do
  • Crowding the air fryer basket is the quickest way to end up with sad soggy rings
03 -
  • Let the coated onion rings sit for about 15 minutes before air frying to help the coating adhere better
  • Use a light touch with the cooking spray too much makes the panko soggy instead of crispy

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