Posted by This Air Fryer Blooming Onion is a crispy, golden-brown appetizer that looks impressive and tastes just like the restaurant version – but healthier and less messy! It’s made with a large sweet onion, coated in flavorful breadcrumbs, and air fried to perfection. A perfect party snack served with a dipping sauce on the side.
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 packet (2.5 oz) seasoned coating mix
- Salt and pepper (optional, for final seasoning)
- Oil spray (for air fryer)
- Blooming onion dipping sauce (optional)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Onion
- Cut about ½ inch off the top of the onion and remove the outer peel.
- Place the onion cut-side down on a flat surface.
- Starting about ½ inch from the root, make downward cuts through the onion to the cutting board. Make 4 cuts evenly spaced around the onion.
- Then make one cut between each of the 4, giving you 8 sections.
- Turn the onion upright and gently pull apart the “petals.” Let sit for 5 minutes to allow it to open up.
2. Mix the Breading and Egg Wash:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, chili powder, turmeric, and black pepper.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, and melted butter.
3. Coat the Onion (First Layer):
- Place the onion in a bowl, cut-side up.
- Sprinkle the flour mixture all over, using your fingers or a fork to get in between each petal.
- Dump extra flour over the top. Let it sit for a few minutes.
- Gently turn the onion over and shake off the extra flour back into the bowl. Save the leftover flour.
4. Egg Wash the Onion:
- Pour the egg mixture over the onion, making sure it reaches into all the petals.
- Open each petal with your fingers to let the mixture soak in.
- Let it sit in the egg wash for a few minutes, then lift it out and let the extra liquid drip off.
5. Second Breading Layer:
- Mix the leftover flour with the packet of seasoned coating mix.
- Place the onion in a new bowl or on a piece of foil and sprinkle this mixture over it.
- Avoid sprinkling deep inside the petals (to make it easier to spray with oil later).
- Brush more egg wash over dry spots if needed.
- Place the onion in the fridge to chill while you preheat the air fryer.
6. Air Fry the Onion:
- Preheat air fryer to 300°F (150°C).
- Take the onion from the fridge after 10 minutes and spray it well with cooking oil.
- Be sure to spray all visible flour so it cooks properly.
- You can place the onion on foil for easy cleanup.
- Air fry for 20 minutes, spraying it once or twice during cooking until golden brown.
- Carefully remove and season with a little salt and pepper if you like.
Tips & Tricks
- Use your hands to gently pull the onion petals apart before breading. This helps the coating stick better and gives a full “bloom.”
- Keep your knife steady when cutting – always work on a flat surface.
- Chill the onion in the fridge before air frying. This helps the coating stay on better.
- Spray the onion several times with oil during air frying to help it crisp up.
- You can use beer instead of milk in the egg wash for a different flavor.
- If the petals don’t spread enough, gently open them with a fork while cooking.
Air Fryer Blooming Onion
A healthier version of the restaurant classic, this blooming onion is crispy on the outside and tender inside, made easily in the air fryer.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 10
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 packet seasoned coating mix (2.5 oz)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Cooking oil spray
- Dipping sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Cut ½ inch from the top of the onion, peel it, and slice into 8 sections without cutting through the root. Gently spread petals.
- In one bowl, mix flour and spices. In another, whisk egg, milk, and melted butter.
- Coat the onion with flour mix, getting between petals. Shake off excess.
- Pour egg wash over the onion. Let it soak into the petals.
- Mix leftover flour with coating mix. Sprinkle over the onion, avoiding deep inside petals.
- Chill onion for 10 mins. Preheat air fryer to 300°F.
- Spray onion generously with oil. Air fry for 20 mins, spraying halfway through.
- Serve hot with dipping sauce!
