Outback bloom petals were an appetizer at Outback Steakhouse that was essentially a smaller version of the famous bloomin onion. Though the blooming petals have been discontinued, you can still make them at home with this copycat recipe. Learn to make the best onion petal recipe (including how to cut onion petals), with these easy step-by-step instructions. You’ll love these onion petals that are coated with seasoned flour, fried until crispy, and served with delicious Outback bloom sauce.
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🧅 How to Make Outback Bloom Petals
Here are the ingredients you need to make my blooming onion petals recipe:
- 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia onions)
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika (regular paprika or smoked paprika for extra flavor)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- Oil for frying (refined peanut oil or vegetable oil)
- Bloom sauce
Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!
Feel free to change up the seasonings or add more to get the perfect flavor for you. Also, make sure you have a good knife, cast iron Dutch oven, meat thermometer, and slotted spoon on hand.
How to Cut Onion Petals
To make bloom petals like Outback, start by cutting your onion. First, peel the onion, and cut off the stem and root end.
Next, cut the onion into 1/12s and remove the middles (cores?) of the onions. You can save these for another recipe. Then you just need to separate the cut onions into individual pieces, and you’re ready to make Outback onion petals.
Onion Petals Recipe
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make Outback onion petals:
- Cut the onion into individual petals as described above. Set aside.
- Fill a cast iron Dutch oven about 1½-2 inches deep with oil (I used approximately 1½ quarts.) Heat the oil to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C) over medium heat on the stovetop.
- Mix the dry ingredients (flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper) together in a large shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
- Dip each onion petal in the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, and then place it back in the flour mixture to thoroughly coat it.
- Deep fry the petals in the heated oil for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping them with a slotted spoon or strainer. (If the oil is deep enough in the pot, you may not need to flip them.) Cook them in two batches, and reheat the oil to 400F (200C) between the batches.
- Allow the Outback bloom petals to cool and drain on paper towels before serving with bloom sauce.
Though you can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, bloomin onion petals are best enjoyed freshly made.
Blooming Onion Petals Air Fryer Recipe
To make air fryer blooming onion petals, coat the onion as directed and spray with cooking spray. Air fry for 8-12 minutes at 400F (200C), or until the onion is tender and coating is golden brown. Flip the onion pieces halfway through the air frying time.
➕ What is Outback Bloom Sauce made of?
Outback's Bloom Sauce is a creamy and tangy dipping sauce that pairs well with their bloomin' onions and other appetizers. While the exact recipe is proprietary, the sauce generally includes a blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, ketchup, and various seasonings. Sweet Baby Ray’s Secret Sauce also has a spicy kick from horseradish and makes a good substitute bloom sauce.
Here are a few more dipping sauce ideas for Outback bloom petals:
- Ketchup
- Ranch dressing
- Keto cheese sauce
- Vegan honey mustard recipe
FAQs
Bloom petals at Outback were crispy, seasoned appetizers made from onion pieces that were battered and fried to a golden brown. The fried onion slices are typically served with a dipping sauce (“bloom sauce”).
Yes, Outback still serves their signature blooming onions, a popular appetizer featuring a whole onion cut to resemble a flower, battered, deep-fried, and served with a special sauce.
Yes, according to a Tweet by Outback Steakhouse, they have discontinued their bloom petals. Arby’s onion petals were discontinued as well, and replaced with onion rings.
To make baked onion petals, coat onion slices in a mixture of breadcrumbs, herbs, and seasoning. Place them on a baking sheet and bake until crispy. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.
Outback offers a free bloomin’ onion with purchase on occasional Mondays throughout the year if you say “Bloomin’ Monday” to your server. Check your local Outback Steakhouse for their latest promotions. They may also offer a free bloomin onion on National Onion Day (June 27).
👩🏻🍳 More Onion Recipes
Outback bloomin onion recipes aren’t the only delicious way to eat onions! Here are some other easy recipes with onions to try:
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📖 Recipe
Outback Bloom Petals (Fried Onion Petals Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia onion)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- oil for frying
- bloom sauce
Instructions
- Peel the onion and cut off the stem and root end. Next, cut the onion into 1/12s and remove the middles of the onions. You can save these for another recipe. Separate the cut onions into individual pieces and set aside.
- Fill a cast iron Dutch oven about 1½-2 inches (3.8-5 cm) deep with oil (I used approximately 1½ quarts.) Heat the oil to 400℉ (200℃) over medium heat on the stovetop.
- Mix the dry ingredients (flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper) together in a large shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.
- Dip each onion petal in the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, and then place it back in the flour mixture to thoroughly coat it.
- Deep fry the petals in the heated oil for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping them with a slotted spoon or strainer. (If the oil is deep enough in the pot, you may not need to flip them.) Cook them in two batches, and reheat the oil to 400℉ (200℃) between the batches.
- Allow the Outback bloom petals to cool and drain on paper towels before serving with bloom sauce.
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