How to make an Air Fryer Blooming Onion

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I am a huge fan of the Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’ Onion. It is one of my favorite appetizers. And I really love using my air fryer, so of course, I had to make a blooming onion at home in my air fryer. I might like these better than Outback, haha. And they are quite a bit cheaper to make at home. Time to learn how to make an air fryer blooming onion or onion blossom, start to finish, it will be ready in about 35 minutes.

Ingredients

To make an easy air fryer blooming onion at home, you need just a handful of simple ingredients:

• Onion – Of course, you need the star of the dish. I like to use large yellow onions; any sweet onion variety or Vidalia onion will work great. You can use a white onion, too; it just isn’t as good. Pretty much any large onion is fine, some are better than others.
• Flour – Use all-purpose flour.
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Cumin
• Dried oregano
• Cayenne pepper
• Eggs
• Milk – It can be any milk, including non-dairy milk.
• Water
• Salt
• Pepper
• Oil – in a spray bottle

NOTE: All the amounts will be listed below in the printable recipe card. This makes enough for at least 2 blooming onions, or you can use the leftover flour mixture and egg wash for onion rings, chicken wings, fried shrimp, etc.

Equipment/Tools

• Air Fryer
• Bowls
• Spoon
• Tongs or spider ladle
• Oil spray bottle

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How to make a blooming onion in the air fryer

Begin by mixing the dry ingredients in a large bowl. So whisk together the flour, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients, the eggs, water, and milk.

Cut the top off the onion about 1/2 an inch. Then remove the outer skin layer.

Place the onion in a mason jar ring and then slice straight down until the knife hits the ring. Then slice again the other way, continue doing this until you make 8 slices with the knife, which will make a total of 16 rows of slices of onion. Gently pull the petals of the onion apart.

TIP: If you plan to do this often, there is a specific blooming onion cutter that you can buy.

If you don’t have a mason jar ring, place the onion cut side down. Then slice straight down about 1/2 inch from the middle root area. Do this all around the onion until you make 16 cuts.

Optional: After cutting the onion, add it to cold water for 20 minutes. This can help open the onion slices up a little more. I don’t always do this.

Cook the Onion either by air frying it, baking it, or deep frying it

Add the onion to the large mixing bowl of dry ingredients. Use fingers, a spoon, etc., and add the flour mixture all over the onion petals. Make sure to gently open up the slices of onion and put flour down in there. Then raise the onion up and turn it over, allowing the excess flour mixture to fall off. Give it a gentle tap on the bottom to help release loose flour.

Place the floured onion into the bowl of wet ingredients. Move it around, use a spoon, etc., to make sure it gets completely coated with egg mixture. Open the slices up a bit as well to get the egg wash down in there. Turn it over and allow the excess to drip off.

Place it back in the dry ingredients and coat it really well with the flour mixture. Turn over and allow the excess flour to fall off. It is ready!

At this point, you can air fry it, deep fry it, or bake it in the oven. I am going to show you how to air fry it. I will mention how to cook it, the other two ways down below as well.

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Add the onion to the air fryer basket. Then spray it fairly well with olive oil. I just put normal olive oil in my oil sprayer. Make sure most of the dry bits of flour get a thin coating of oil. This will help it get nice and crispy and prevent you from eating dry bits of flour, haha.

NOTE: If you are deep-frying it, don’t worry about doing this. If you are cooking it in the oven, you will need to do this.

I don’t preheat my air fryer, but you certainly can. Place it in the air fryer and air fry at 350°F/176C for 7 minutes. Remove it and give it another spray.

Do this a few more times until you have cooked it for 21 to 25 minutes, and it is golden brown. Remove it from the air fryer basket and place it on a plate. Sprinkle the top with salt and pepper.

Deep Frying the Blooming Onion

Take a large deep pot and fill with cooking oil (vegetable, canola, peanut, coconut, lard, beef tallow, etc.) It will need to be fairly deep, almost as deep as the onion is tall.

Heat the oil between 350 and 375°F (176 and 192C). Deep fry 5 to 7 minutes until golden brown. Use a wooden spoon or metal spatula to gently press the top of the onion down in the oil. Then use a tongs or a spider ladle to remove it from the hot oil and place it on a wire rack. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

*NOTE: The deep-fried version is my favorite way to eat it. Air frying is great too, but it just doesn’t turn out as well not taste as good as deep frying, haha.

Baking the Blooming Onion

Place the onion on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 375°F/192°C. Bake the onion for 20 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Make sure to still spray it with cooking oil periodically while it bakes.

How to make a Blooming Onion Dipping Sauce

To make the onion blossom dipping sauce, in a small bowl, mix together the ketchup, mayo, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use this or your favorite dip for onion rings, even if it is just plain ketchup.

There you go! Homemade blooming oven to rival the ones at Outback Steakhouse. Enjoy!

How long will the air fryer onion blossom last?

It is best if eaten right away; after a while, it loses its crispiness. You can save it in an air-tight container and place it in the fridge for a couple of days. Crisp it up back in the air fryer before serving.

If you like this air fryer recipe, you may like these other ones as well:

Air Fryer Onion Rings

Air Fryer Potato Skins

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer