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My air fryer onions are an easy, versatile recipe you’ll want to make again and again! Learn how long to air fry onions, how to sauté them in the air fryer, and how to make caramelized or crispy air fryer onions. Whether you prefer them soft and tender or golden brown and crispy, this recipe gives you all the options!
Came out super good! Will be my go to onion recipe for sure. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Gary
⭐ Air Fryer Onions Ingredients
To make air fryer onions, you’ll need:
- One sweet onion (8 ounces / 227 grams)
- One tablespoon olive oil (or your preferred cooking oil)
- Salt
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!
I’m keeping it simple with just salt, but feel free to mix things up with your favorite seasonings. Try Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or Everything Bagel seasoning to add more flavor.
The one thing I recommend avoiding is seasoning blends with added sugar—it can alter the cooking time and make the onions more likely to burn.
The amount of onions you use affects cooking time—fewer onions will cook faster. While you can use yellow, red, or white onions, sweet onions are the best choice for caramelization.
This recipe works with most air fryers, including the Ninja Foodi, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, and Breville. However, cooking times may vary, so keep an eye on your onions when using a new air fryer for the best results!
🧅 How to Air Fry Onions
Here are the step-by-step instructions for my air fryer onions recipe:
Start by slicing the onion. First, cut off both the blossom end and the stem end. Make a shallow cut from end to end and peel off the skin. Cut the onion in half, then slice it into thin half-moons, about ⅛-inch (0.3 cm) thick.
Place the sliced onions in a bowl, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt. Spread them out in the air fryer basket or on an air fryer tray. Don’t worry if they overlap—onions shrink as they cook.
Now, let’s cook them down!
️⏲️ How Long to Cook Onions in the Air Fryer
Air fry onions for a total ofAir fry at 350°F (177°C) for 12 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. This will give you lightly sautéed onions.
For golden brown onions, lower the temperature to 300°F (150°C) and air fry for an additional 5-10 minutes.
After 10 minutes at 300°F, the onions will start to get crispy. For even crispier onions, extend the cooking time slightly.
Air fryer onions won’t caramelize exactly like stovetop onions. The rapid air circulation and dry heat mean they crisp up faster instead of slowly softening. If you’re looking for deep, slow-cooked caramelization, the stovetop may be a better option. However, for a quick and easy method, air frying is a fantastic choice!
How do you air fry onions with no oil?
Though you can technically make air fryer onions without oil, they don’t tend to turn out well. The oil helps keep the onion from drying out too early and burning. Oil-free onions that are half burnt and half raw aren’t on anyone’s menu.
How do you cook a whole onion in the air fryer?
I’ve seen recipes claiming you can cook a whole onion in the air fryer. However, some say the onion won’t get soft. Unless you’re cooking whole pearl onions, I’d stick to air frying chopped onions or sliced onions.
How do you dehydrate onions in an air fryer?
You can make air fryer dehydrated onions using the lowest temperature setting on your air fryer. Though they’ll take less time than using a food dehydrator, you’ll need to stir the onions far more often. Also, the air fryer can only dehydrate a very small batch of onions at a time.
🌡️ Air Fryer Onion Storage
Air fryer onions keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Note that leftover crispy onions may get soggy, so just make what you need.
How long can you store crispy fried onions without a freezer or fridge?
Air fryer crispy fried onions should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. These onions have not had moisture removed as thoroughly as the ones from the store. This means they’re more likely to go bad if not refrigerated.
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Onions (Sauté, Crispy, or Caramelized!)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces onion (227 grams; I recommend using sweet onion)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Peel the onion, cut it in half, and then slice it into thin half-moons. Make the slices to be about ⅛-inch (0.3 cm) thick.
- Put the onions in a bowl, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt. Spread the onions out in an air fryer basket or on an air fryer tray.
- Air fry onions for a total of 12 minutes at 350°F (177°C). Stir the onions after 10 minutes of cooking. This will give you lightly sauteed onions.
- For golden brown onions, next turn the air fryer heat down to 300°F (150°C) and air fry 5-10 minutes more. Make the air frying time a little longer for crispy onions.
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). If you’re having trouble including enough veggies in your diet, why not start with onions? They’re nutritious, low calorie, inexpensive, widely available, and delicious! Additionally, this simple air fryer recipe is vegan, low carb, and gluten free. Just about everyone can eat these air fryer onions! Nutrition information is for ¼ of the recipe.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
😋 Ways to Use Air Fried Onions
Air fryer onions are a delicious topping for burgers and so much more! Air fryer French fried onions are a healthier take on those crispy onions often used in green bean casserole.
Here are some of my favorite foods to pair with air fried onions:
- Air Fryer Pierogies
- Frozen Bison Burger (Air Fryer)
- Keto Big Mac Salad Bowl
- Air Fryer Potato Skins
- Air Fryer Bone In Ribeye Steak
👨🏾🍳 More Recipes with Onions
Looking for more ways to use onions? Here are some delicious recipes that feature onions:
🧑🏿🍳 Other Air Fryer Veggie Recipes
Now that you’ve mastered crispy onions without deep frying, why not explore more delicious veggie recipes for your air fryer? Try these next:
- Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
- Air Fryer Red Cabbage Steaks
- Butternut Squash Zig Zags in the Air Fryer
- Roasted Baby Carrots (Air Fryer Recipe)
- Air Fryer Whole Baby Potatoes
Psst… don’t miss my entire collection of Air Fryer Recipes!
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Perfect, thank you so much for posting this.
Made these with a yellow onion. Just did the basic 300F / 22 min. Came out super good! Will be my go to onion recipe for sure.
Hi Gary, so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for the feedback and rating 🙂