Easy Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe (2024)

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All the flavors of going out to eat in the comfort of your own home. Check out this Easy Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe that will knock your socks off.

One of our favorite special appetizers, when we go out to eat at Outback Steakhouse, is a Blooming Onion. Those things are a meal all by themselves. Those little bits of fried onion with that sauce are insanely delicious! Check out how easy it is to make this Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe! It eliminates the mess of frying the big onion and makes this appetizer something you can enjoy anytime!

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How to Cut Onion

While you can buy those blooming onion cutters online, all you really need is a sharp kitchen knife.

1. Start by cutting off 1/2 inch from the top of the onion, then peel the outer skin from the onion.
2. Place the onion cut-side down. Starting about 1/2 inch from the root, make a downward cut all the way through to the board.Repeat to make four evenly spaced cuts around the onion.
3. Make 3 additional cuts between each section until you have 16 evenly spaced cuts.
4. Turn the onion over and set aside for 5 minutes to allow the petals to relax. Prior to breading use your fingers to gently separate the outer pieces.

Breading & Air Frying

Now that your onion is cut it is time to work on the breading.

1. In a bowl place your flour and spices.
2. Whisk them together and set aside.
3. In another bowl beat together eggs, milk, and water.
4. Place the onion in a clean bowl, cut-side up, and pour the flour mixture on top. Using a large spoon to coat the onion with the flour mixture, especially between the onion petals. Turn the onion over and pat off the excess flour. Reserve the bowl of flour.

• Transfer the onion into the egg mixture and coat evenly. Remove and let the excess drip off.
• Then transfer back into the reserved flour mixture and repeat the flouring process.

At this point you can put your onion in the fridge while you preheat your Air Fryer to 350 degrees F.

• Use some aluminum foil to create a sling for your onion. You are going to sit the onion on it and use it to raise and lower it from your air fryer basket. Keep this in mind while you are cutting and folding it.
• Set your onion on the sling and spray your onion with cooking oil (vegetable oil). Don’t be stingy.
• Place it in the air fryer and let it cook for 25 minutes at 350. Remember to stop the air fryer 2 or 3 times during the cooking process to give it another little spray with the cooking oil. This will create that crispy fried texture without actually frying it.

When it is done carefully use the foil to pull your onion out of the air fryer basket and place it on a serving plate.

Sauce

Can you even enjoy an Air Fryer Onion Blossom without the special sauce? This sauce deserves a post of its own, but this is going to have to do for now. To make this Copycat Outback Blooming Onion Sauce you need.

• mayonnaise
• sour cream
• ketchup
• horseradish
• paprika
• salt
• garlic powder
• dried oregano
• Black pepper to taste
• Cayenne pepper to taste

All of the measurements are in the recipe card below. Simply whisk them all together. This dipping sauce is better if it has time to sit for all of the flavors to incorporate. I like to make it first and let it sit in the fridge for a while first.

Gluten Free

One of the big perks to making this Air Fryer Blooming Onion at home is that you can make it gluten-free! Just make the simple substitution of using your favorite gluten-free flour instead of regular. As always, double-check your other ingredients to make sure there is no hidden gluten.

Storage

If you have any onion or sauce left you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It is best reheated in the air fryer to restore the crispness.