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Blooming Onion Recipe Air Fryer
Ash Tyrrell

Blooming Onion Recipe Air Fryer

Making a blooming onion recipe in the air fryer is one of those cooking adventures that never gets old. It’s crispy, flavorful, and way less greasy than the deep-fried version you’d get at a restaurant.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large sweet onion – typically Vidalia or Walla Walla which are naturally milder and crisp up beautifully in the air fryer
  • 2½ cups all‑purpose flour – extra reserve helps coat all those petals evenly
  • 1 tablespoon paprika – adds gentle smokiness
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper – adjusts the heat; reduce if you’re spice‑averse
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin – earthy undertone
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme – fragrant herb lift
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano – complementary savory note
  • 2 large eggs – help the breading stick and add richness
  • 1 cup milk – balances the egg and helps dredge
  • 1 cup water – thins out the egg‑milk mixture for smoother coating
  • Salt and pepper to taste – essential seasoning
  • Oil in a spray bottle – use avocado or light olive oil spray for crisping

Method
 

  1. First, slice off about ½ inch from the top to give it a flat base and peel off the outer skin. Place the onion cut-side down with the root facing up. Make four vertical cuts, evenly spaced, starting about ½ inch from the root so you leave it intact—that root is what keeps it together. Then, slice twice more in each of the four sections so you wind up with 16 petals. Flip it over and let it sit five minutes to let the petals open naturally—you’ll be amazed at how it transforms into a flower.
  2. In one bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, cayenne, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. With cut-side up in a clean bowl, coat the onion thoroughly with this seasoned flour, working it into each petal—this step is crucial for even flavor. Tap off the excess flour, then dip the onion into your egg-milk-water mixture, letting any extra drip back. Transfer it back to the flour and coat again, gently tapping off any surplus so you’ve got a thin, even layer that won’t weigh it down.
  3. After coating, pop the onion into the fridge while you preheat the air fryer to 350°F for about 10 minutes. This chill firm ups the coating, helps it set, and ensures even cooking once air frying begins—definitely don’t skip it.
  4. Take the onion out of the fridge, spritz it with oil until the petals glisten, and place it in the air fryer basket using an aluminum foil sling. Cook for 20 minutes, then pause to spray again—especially on any pale or floury spots—and cook another 5 minutes. The result? A gorgeous, golden‑brown bloom with crispy edges and a tender interior, just like a restaurant appetizer.
  5. Gently lift the blooming onion out with the foil sling, season it with a little extra salt and pepper, and serve right away with your favorite dipping sauce—think spicy ranch, cheese dip, or the classic blooming onion sauce.