Air Fryer Blooming Onion

This Air Fryer Blooming Onion is crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned with a crunchy coating—all without deep frying. Served with a creamy, zesty dipping sauce, it’s a fun appetizer that’s sure to impress.

Ingredients

For the Onion

• 1 large sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
• 2 tbsp olive oil or cooking spray

Coating

• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Egg Wash

• 2 large eggs
• 2 tbsp milk

Dipping Sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp prepared horseradish
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Peel the onion and trim about ½ inch off the top (leave the root end intact).
2. Place the onion root-side down. Starting about ½ inch from the root, make 12–16 evenly spaced cuts down through the onion to create “petals.”
3. Gently spread the onion open with your fingers.
4. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and black pepper.
5. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
6. Coat the onion thoroughly with the flour mixture, making sure it gets between the petals.
7. Dip the onion into the egg wash, then coat again with the flour mixture.
8. Lightly spray the onion with olive oil or cooking spray.
9. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes.
10. Place the onion in the air fryer basket, root-side down.
11. Air fry for 18–22 minutes, until the onion is tender and the coating is crisp and golden.
12. Meanwhile, mix all the dipping sauce ingredients until smooth.
13. Serve the blooming onion hot with the dipping sauce.

Tips

• A large sweet onion works best because it opens easily and has a mild flavor.
• Coat well between the petals for maximum crispiness.
• Spray the coated onion generously with oil to help it brown evenly.
• If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil during the last few minutes.

Serving Suggestions

• Burgers
• Grilled steak
• Barbecue chicken
• Chicken wings
• French fries
• Fresh vegetable platter

Storage

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
• Reheat: Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes until crispy.
• Freezing: Not recommended, as the coating will lose its crunch.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18–22 minutes
Total Time: 40–45 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: Approximately 280 calories per serving (including dipping sauce)