Fitness / March 9, 2024

Air Fryer Onions

With an air fryer, caramelized onions are quick, tasty, and healthy!

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Who doesn’t love crisp and flavorful caramelized onions? There are so many things to do with them, adding a flavor punch to so many different meals. The challenge is picking the right type of onion (there are hundreds) and finding a way to make caramelized onions not so greasy and unhealthy. Luckily, both of those things are possible with an air fryer. In fact, air fryer onions are quicker to make than they are with a skillet.

This recipe is as quick and easy as it gets. There are only a few ingredients and the air fryer does most of the work. There is no need to stand over the stove, flipping and stirring the onions while grease splatters all over the place. Instead, the air fryer gives you onions that are crisp, easy to make, and ready to add flavor to any number of dishes.

Of course, if you want have even more fun with onions, we can suggest baked onion rings, which make a great side dish. We also know how to make onion ring sauce that can set off the natural flavor of the onion.

Are Air Fryer Onions Healthy?

Compared to the greasy onions you might fry up on a skillet air fryer onions are significantly more healthy. In addition to producing crunchy onions that taste good, the air fryer cooks them with a minimal amount of oil, which reduces the amount of fat and calories in the onions. Plus, depending on the variety of onion you use, there are plenty of potential health benefits of incorporating onions into any meal. Yellow onions, for instance, are full of nutrients and antioxidants and have been known to improve digestive health and regulate blood sugar.

What to do with air fryer onions?

Perhaps a better question is what can’t you do with fried onions? After all, onions that are loaded with flavor instead of grease can be used any way you want. They are perfect for putting on top of a burger, a hot dog, or even a pizza. It’s also common to use fried onions in a frittata, an omelet, or your favorite pasta dish. You can even do something as simple as mixing them with potatoes, cheese, or bruschetta. If you think about it, there are countless foods that can be improved with air fryer onions.

INGREDIENTS

1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
1 tablespoon avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon of your preferred herb blend like Italian seasoning or Herbes de Provence
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Thinly slice the onion and toss it with oil and seasoning for an even flavor coat.

Preheat

Warm up the air fryer to the perfect temperature for cooking onions to caramelized perfection.

Cook

Spread the onions in the air fryer basket for even cooking and air fry until they’re golden and tender with a hint of crispiness.

Enjoy

Top your favorite dishes with these versatile, caramelized onions for an instant flavor boost.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

If you’ve made too many onions, wait for them to cool and place them in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Do onions shrink when they cook?

Yes, the water in onions evaporates when they cook, so they lose more than half of their volume. Keep this in mind when chopping your onion into pieces of a particular size.

Slice Evenly

Do your best to slice the onion evenly, which will ensure that the pieces cook evenly in the air fryer.

Should I adjust cooking times?

If you cook large slices of onion, they may need more time to cook. Also, certain types of onions, specifically red onions, are a little harder than yellow onions and may require longer cook times.

A Little spice

If you want your onions to pack a punch, consider adding cayenne pepper or pepper flakes to the recipe.

Serving Suggestions

As mentioned, onions prepared in an air fryer are great to put on a burger. Specifically, think about adding them to an already flavorful cajun burger. If a great breakfast dish is more your speed, you have to consider adding onions to the best fritatta recipe. Finally, keep in mind that onions can be added to just about any pizza, even this amazing and unique pumpkin pizza.

Air Fryer Onions

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 13

Total Time 23

Servings

Calories 42kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
1 tablespoon avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon of your preferred herb blend like Italian seasoning or Herbes de Provence
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (optional)

Instructions

Begin by slicing the onion into thin strips, remembering that they will reduce in size as they cook and caramelize.
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes to ensure it’s ready for immediate cooking.
In a mixing bowl, toss the sliced onions with the oil seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper if you choose. Mix well to coat the onions evenly. And extra bonus, this also help the onions caramelize beautifully.
Arrange the seasoned onions in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Take care not to overcrowd to allow even cooking.
Set the air fryer to cook at 375°F for 10 minutes. Give the onions a gentle stir halfway through or flip to ensure they brown evenly.
You can remove from the air fryer once they have reached a caramelized state with some crispy edges.