Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe or a Sweet Vidalia Onion Blossom is a quick and easy recipe using a whole onion to create the best crunchy, crispy breaded appetizer. Dip the onion petals in a zesty dipping sauce. Fry the onion using the Power Air Fryer, Phillips, Nuwave, or any air fryer brand.
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FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.
Back in high school I learned what a Blooming Onion was at my first Friday Night Football game. Who has a Blooming Onion? Outback Steakhouse has it. They used to serve the onions and fresh, grilled burgers in the concession area.
What is a Blooming Onion at Outback Steakhouse? It’s a large onion that is cut to resemble a flower and then it’s deep-fried and served as an appetizer.
How unhealthy is a Blooming Onion? According to the Outback Nutrition Facts, the Bloomin Onion has 1,950 calories and 155 grams of fat. You can cut the fact tremendously in this recipe by air frying.
How Do You Cut an Onion into a Blooming Onion?
Make sure you are using a sharp knife. Cut the tip off one side of the onion. Make you cut so that you are able to level out the onion easily on a flat surface. Leave the root completely intact. Place the onion root side up and cut side down.
Make 4 evenly spaced cuts into the onion, at least a half an inch from the root. The closer you cut to the root, the easier the onion will fall apart.
Next, make 3 cuts in between each of the 4, still slicing away from the root.
Open and fluff out the petals.
How to Make a Blooming Onion in an Air Fryer
- Once you have your onion sliced up, create a cooking station. Add flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper to a bowl large enough to dredge the onion.
- Add milk and beaten eggs to a separate bowl large enough to dredge the onion.
- Cover the onion in flour, then the milk mixture, and the flour mixture again.
- Wrap the onion in foil and freeze.
- Remove the onion and air fry.
Air Fryer Temperature
I like to use 400 degrees.
Air Fryer Cook Time
Cook the onion for 10 minutes and then spray it again with oil. Be sure to get any of the spots with flour. Air fry again for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the onion is completely crisp.
Blooming Onion Dipping Sauce
To make the best dipping sauce to your liking, decide if you like it to have more of a horseradish taste, more ketchup taste, or do you want something that is more mild, and a light combo of the two?
The dipping sauce recipe doesn’t have a bold horseradish taste, so if that’s what you’re going for, use 2 tablespoons of horseradish, as opposed to 1.
How Do You Reheat a Blooming Onion in the Air Fryer
Place the onion in the air fryer and spray with additional oil. I cannot get the onion to crisp up again without additional oil, and even then it isn’t as good as when it has been cooked fresh. Air fry for a few minutes until crisp on 400 degrees.
Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Air Fryer Fried Zucchini Chips
Air Fryer Southwestern Egg Rolls
Air Fryer Pizza
Air Fryer French Fries
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Click here for a complete listing of Air Fryer Recipes.
Air Fryer Blooming Onion Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion I used Vidalia
- 1 -1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour I used about 1 cup of flour, you may need more or less depending on the size of your onion.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup milk I used 2%.
- cooking oil
Blooming Onion Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 2 teaspoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon horseradish
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut off the pointy stem of the onion leaving the root end intact. Peel the onion and place it cut side down. The root end of the onion should be facing up.
- Starting 1/2 an inch from the root end, cut downward to make 4 evenly spaced cuts. In each section, make 3 additional cuts. There should be 16 cuts in the onion. This recipe includes a video that shows exactly how to cut the onion.
- Turn the onion over and fluff out the "petals."
- Place the flour in a bowl with the garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the milk and eggs to a separate bowl and stir.
- Place the onion in the flour mixture and dredge completely. Use a spoon to get into every area of the onion.
- Next dip the onion in the milk and egg batter. Use a spoon or cooking brush to ensure it is fully coated.
- Return the onion to the flour mixture again and cover completely.
- Wrap the onion in foil and freeze for 45 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil or use air fryer parchment paper. Unwrap the onion and spray it with cooking oil. Focus on the spots with white flour. Spray them with oil and also remove any excess wet batter from the onion.
- Cook for 10 minutes on 400 degrees.
- Open the air fryer and spray any white areas with cooking oil. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until crisp.
Blooming Onion Dipping Sauce
- Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Stir and mix well.
Debbie
Very excited to try this. My son is allergic to wheat. Think GF flour would work?
staysnatched
Almond flour can be used, but it does not adhere as well as all purpose flour. That’s the only gluten free flour I have experience with.
Debbie
Thank you. I’ll have to try one of the GF flours and see how it goes! Really love this recipe!
staysnatched
Let me know how it turns out!
Katie
I absolutely love blooming onions and I love how quick and convenient this one is!
staysnatched
Glad it worked out!
Linda
Woohoo! I finally got my Bloomin’ Onion at home! This was the easiest recipe to follow and turned out so good that I had to make another for the hungry guests. I also tried it with panko after I dipped it in the eggs and it came out super crunchy. Thanks for the great recipe.
staysnatched
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Whitney
As soon as I saw this I had to make it. This one hit the spot and was really easy!
staysnatched
I’m glad you found it easy!
Terrie S
This recipe sounds great! I’m going to try to make it tonight. I’m curious as to why you freeze it before air frying it?
Thanks!
staysnatched
The batter won’t stick if you don’t.
Karen
I can’t say enough good things about this recipe! I made it along with the dipping sauce —my husband and I ate it up so fast I immediately made a 2nd one because we did not get enough! So good!
staysnatched
haha I love hearing that! I’m glad you enjoyed it!