Crispy and delicious, these Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings are simple to whip up for when you’re feeling snacky! Sweet onions are dredge and then dipped in a simple beer batter and breadcrumbs. The air fryer crisps these up beautifully in minutes.

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings on wire rack

Onion rings. One of the most beloved bar foods ever! Err at least they are to me because, set a basket down infront of me and I literally see rays of sunshine beaming from the glistening freshly-fried batter. No. Joke. Onion rings are better than (yes!) French fries or potato chips. And crispy beer battered onion rings are legit, I tell you. However, extremely deep fried ->insert sad face<- and also my kryptonite.

Unless of course you air fry! Bless the person who invented the air fryer, amiright?! Because now we all can indulge and feel a little less guilty. And, for the record, I felt nothing when I devoured these crispy golden halos. Not. A. Thing. #guiltless

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings

Lucky for you, I’m giving you 2 (T-W-O!) ways to make them in the air fryer. Crispy and EXTRA CRISPY. Because why not. And also because people like different levels of crisp. Look at it like a choose your own adventure sort of thing.

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings ingredients

To Make These Beer Battered Onion Rings You Will Need:

  • onions
  • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • a tablespoon season salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • an egg – beaten
  • 8 ounces beer ( I use lager)
  • 2 cups plain breadcrumbs
  • olive oil spray
  • sea salt (for seasoning after air frying)

Do yourself a favor and hunt down some vidalia onions. In a pinch, sweet onions work (see above photo) but vidalias are the absolute best.

thick cut onions in a bowl

FOR CRISPY ONION RINGS:

First, peel and slice your onions into 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch slices. Then separate them into rings.

seasoning and flour in a bowl

stir to combine

In a shallow bowl, combine the 1 cup of flour with 1 tablespoon seasoning salt, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.

beaten eggs and beer

whisked to combine

whisked egg and beer in bowl

Then, in a shallow bowl, whisk together the cup of beer with the beaten egg.

breading station

Lastly, set up your work station. 1 bowl with the oinions, another with the seasoned flour, one with the beer batter and another bowl with the plain bread crumbs.

dip thick cut onions first in flour

then in the egg and beer mixture

lastly seasoned breadcrumbs

Next add the a few onion rings to the flour mixture and toss to coat. Then transfer, one ring at a time, to the beer/egg mixture and quickly toss to coat. Next transfer to the bread crumbs and then toss to combine.

transfer to a wire rack and repeat.

As you work, place the battered onion rings onto a wire rack set over a rimmed metal baking sheet.

Preheat your air-fryer to 350℉ (or 180℃).

preheat air fryer

What Is Air Frying?

  • An air fryer is a counter top appliance that requires less oil (anything from a few spritz to 1 tablespoon) yet produces crispy food that rivals most deep fried foods. By using circulating hot air, it moves at a high speed so the food tends to cook in a fraction of the time.
  • There are a bunch of different makes and models of air fryers. My husband did the research (as he’s known to do) and found this air fryer [affiliate] to be one of the best. But do your research and purchase one that fits your lifestyle.

How is Air Frying Healthier?

  • Air frying is healthier because only a thin layer of oil coats the food and when the hot air comes in contact it will crisp. Saving you a ton of fat and calories (without sacrificing any flavor!) because food is not being submerged in a vat of hot oil.
  • Keep in mind, not all air fryers are equal. Some preheat and some do not. Some are smaller than others therefore you may need to work in smaller batches to air fry.
For more Air Fryer recipes, click here for my growing collection.

work in batches air frying the onion rings

air fried onion rings

Lightly mist the battered onion rings with olive oil spray. Work in batches, air frying the beer battered onion rings for 5 to 6 minutes. Or until lightly golden brown and crispy.

FOR THE EXTRA CRISPY ONION RINGS:

for extra crispy onion rings, dip onion slices in flourbeer and egg mixture

To make the onion rings “extra crispy” you simply batter the onions twice. First, coat the onion slices in flour and then dip in the egg mixture.

skip the bread crumbs and repeat dipping in flour

egg mixture again

seasoned breadcrumbs

Next dip back in the flour mixture and then again the egg mixture before dredging the onion rings in the breadcrumbs.

You see what I did there, right? You dip: flour, egg, flour again, egg again and then breadcrumbs. Okay, just making sure. Doing this yields a thicker coating yielding in a crispier onion ring.

you'll notice a thicker coating

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings

As you work, you’ll want to place the battered onion rings on a wire rack. Next, mist the onion rings with olive oil spray and air fry the “extra crispy” onion rings at 360° for 6 to 8 minutes or until gloriously golden.

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings

The hardest thing might be deciding what to dip them in. Ketchup or fry sauce? OR both?

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings l SimplyScratch.com

Enjoy! And if you give this Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings l SimplyScratch.com
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Yield: 6 servings

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings

Crispy and delicious, these Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings are simple to whip up for when you’re feeling snacky! Sweet onions are dredge and then dipped in a simple beer batter and breadcrumbs. The air fryer crisps these up beautifully in minutes.

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 sweet onions, vidalia onions are best
  • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose season salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup beer, I used lager
  • 2 cups plain breadcrumbs
  • olive oil spray
  • fine sea salt
  • ketchup, or fry sauce for serving

Instructions 

  • Trim off the ends of your onions and slice 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Then separate the rings.
  • In a shallow bowl whisk together the flour, season salt, baking soda and black pepper.
  • In a separate shallow bowl, whisk the egg with 1 cup of beer.
  • In a third, separate bowl add the plain breadcrumbs.

FOR THE LIGHTLY BATTERED ONION RINGS:

  • Dip the onion rings into the seasoned flour. Then, working in batches, transfer a few to the beer mixture and toss to coat. Then dip the onion rings the plain breadcrumbs. T
  • hen spritz with olive oil spray. Preheat your air fryer to 350℉ (or 180℃) and air-fry for 5 to 6 minutes or until crispy.
  • Working in batches, add the prepared onions into your air-fryer basket in an even layer. And cook for 5 to 6 minutes.

FOR THE EXTRA CRISPY BATTERED ONION RINGS:

  • Dip the onion rings into the seasoned flour. Then, working in batches, transfer a few to the beer mixture and toss to coat.
  • Then transfer the onion rings back to the flour mixture and toss to coat. Dip the onion rings back in the beer mixture before transferring to the bread crumbs.
  • Preheat you air fryer to 360° and air fry for 6 to 8 minutes or until crispy.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 281kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 579mg, Potassium: 248mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 42IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 98mg, Iron: 3mg

Air Fryer Beer Battered Onion Rings