Want the taste of crispy fried onions without the extra calories from deep frying? This Crispy Onions recipe is for you! Thin strips of onion are tossed in olive oil and salt and crisped to perfection in the air fryer. It’s the perfect topping for burgers and sandwiches, a salad must-have, or side dish for any meal!
Remember those crispy onions atop that delicious green bean casserole during the holiday season? You know, French Fried Onions? They came in a little tub that seemed to vanish faster than you could blink.
Well, this recipe is going to show you how to make that, but with a fun twist. In this recipe, we’re using the air fryer to fry onions for an exciting pop of crunch to top salads, like this Cheeseburger Salad with out keto thousand island dressing (a weekly staple in the Girl Carnivore meat labs), juicy Smoked Burgers, or some Whiskey Brats.
Trust us when we say that these Crispy Onions are great topping for pretty much anything that needs a little extra crunchy goodness!
What Are Crispy Onions?
We’re using the air fryer for this recipe because the hot air circulates around the onions, creating a nice crispy texture without deep frying, using a ton of hot oil, or coating in a flour mixture. We love this recipe because it’s perfect for the keto diet, like this Steakhouse Keto Spinach and Bang Bang Shrimp.
Crispy Onion Ingredients
This list could not be shorter.
- Medium Onions – Use your favorite type of onions for this recipe.
- Olive Oil
- Salt – We always use kosher salt when cooking.
How to Make Air Fryer Onions
Yes, these are harder than store bought fried onions, but with as fast as they’re devoured, it’s worth it.
Prep the onions
- First things first, grab those onions and peel off their papery skin. Then, using a sharp knife, slice onions into thin slices.
- Toss the thinly sliced onions into a large mixing bowl and drizzle in a little oil. Don’t forget a sprinkle of salt to take things to the next level. Give it a good toss until the sliced onions are completely coated.
Air Fry the Onions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F. Drop those oiled-up onions into the air fryer basket. Now, set the timer for 20 minutes and let the magic happen. Don’t forget to give the basket a good shake every 4-5 minutes. This allows the onions to cook evenly and get a nice crispy coating.
- After 20 minutes of air frying bliss, your onions should have achieved maximum crispiness.
Serve or Save for later
- Carefully transfer the onions to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool. Now comes the tough decision. Are you ready to devour these crispy onion strings right away? If so, grab a plate and start munching!
- Or, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Girl Carnivore Expert Recipe Tips
- Play around with different seasonings. If you’re longing for something more than salt, unlock your creative side and throw in some garlic powder, paprika, and even freshly grated parmesan cheese! Really feeling bold, sprinkle umami powder over them.
- If you don’t have olive oil, you can also use avocado oil or grapeseed oil, as these oils have a high smoke point which is perfect for air frying.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket with onion slices or they might not cook evenly. Instead, work in small batches so the onions get golden brown and crispy.
- If you aren’t trying to eat low-carb, toss the onion slices in some bread crumbs for even more texture and crunch! We find they are hard to stick, so we will roll them in a little mayo first for our take on a bloomin’ onion.
How to serve Air Fryer Onions
These crispy onions are a great topping for burgers, hot dogs, Spicy Mustard Brats, or this Steakhouse Hamburger Salad!
We use them on tuna salad, over top of green bean casserole or creamed leeks, we even sprinkle them on top of sloppy joes or baked potatoes. Literally, crispy onions are our go-to condiment for so many meals just to add a little pop of flavor and texture.
MORE DELICIOUS SIDE DISH RECIPES
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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
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Roasted Butternut Squash
Side Dish Recipes
Air Fryer Vegetables
Making Crispy Onions is a great way to get that crunchy texture of onion rings without lugging out the deep fryer. We guarantee this easy recipe will become your new go-to whenever you want an easy snack or topping!
Air Fryer Crispy Onions
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 onions we like sweet vidalia onions for this, but regular yellow or sweet onions will work
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Peel the onions and cut into thin slices.
- Add the onions to a large mixing bowl and add the olive oil and salt. Toss to coat.
- Add the onions to the air fryer basket and cook for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- Shake the basket every 4-5 minutes. Air fry until crispy.
- Carefully remove the onions from the air fryer basket onto a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool.
- Serve or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Play around with different seasonings. If you’re longing for something more than salt, unlock your creative side and throw in some garlic powder, paprika, and even freshly grated parmesan cheese! Really feeling bold, sprinkle umami powder over them.
- If you don’t have olive oil, you can also use avocado oil or grapeseed oil, as these oils have a high smoke point which is perfect for air frying.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket with onion slices or they might not cook evenly. Instead, work in small batches so the onions get golden brown and crispy.
- If you aren’t trying to eat low-carb, toss the onion slices in some bread crumbs for even more texture and crunch! We find they are hard to stick, so we will roll them in a little mayo first for our take on a bloomin’ onion.
Nutrition
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Save Recipe BookmarkRecipe FAQs
Caramelized onions are sautéed on the stovetop for at least 45 minutes to an hour. This recipe only takes 20 minutes, so less than half the time, making it perfect for those who don’t have a ton of time or patience!
White onions, yellow onions, and red onions are perfect for this recipe! If you prefer sweet onions, go with yellow!
Can’t wait to make these!