air fryer blooming onion

Here’s a crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion recipe that’s much lighter than the restaurant version.

Blooming Onion

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia if available)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Cooking spray or oil spray

Instructions

1. Cut the Onion

1. Peel the onion and trim about ½ inch from the top (leave the root intact).
2. Place root-side down.
3. Cut downward into 12–16 sections, stopping about ½ inch from the root so the onion stays together.
4. Gently separate the layers with your fingers.

2. Prepare the Coating

• In one bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.
• In another bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.

3. Bread the Onion

1. Coat the onion thoroughly with the flour mixture, getting between the petals.
2. Dip into the egg mixture.
3. Coat again with the flour mixture for extra crispiness.
4. Spray generously with cooking spray.

4. Air Fry

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
2. Place onion in the basket, root-side down.
3. Air fry for 18–22 minutes, spraying lightly again halfway through if needed.
4. Cook until golden brown and crisp.

Quick Dipping Sauce

Mix:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tsp horseradish
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• Dash of cayenne

Tips

• If the onion won’t fit, choose a medium-large onion rather than an extra-large one.
• For extra crunch, substitute ¼ cup of the flour with panko breadcrumbs.
• Let it rest for 2–3 minutes after cooking so it crisps up further.

Serves: 2–4 people
Cook time: About 20 minutes in the air fryer.