I love how Air Fryer Onions get perfectly golden, soft and caramelized, with crispy edges. Air-fried onions recipe is my new favorite way to make sauteéd onions in less than 10 minutes. If you like this onions recipe, try Air Fryer Potatoes and Onions.
Air-fried caramelized onions are full of flavor, they get perfectly tender, and golden brown. I love to top my burgers, chicken, or salads with them. They make a great addition to fajitas, steaks, curries, you name it. Let’s make the perfect recipe for Air fryer sauteéd onions that will cook within 10 to 15 minutes. I recently added the air fryer onions to Homemade French Onion Soup. The texture is divine and the soup is at a whole new level!
What kind of onions to use?
You can use any kind of your favorite onions. I have tried yellow onions, red onions, sweet onions, or Vidalia onions. All with the same great result.
Do onions shrink during cooking? Yes, they do. Onions shrink as they cook, losing about 2/3 of their volume as the water evaporates, so slice more than you think you’ll need.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Onions
Ingredients:
1 large onion, sliced. Note: Keep in mind that onions shrink as they cook during their caramelization stage (see pictures)
1 TBS oil of choice. I like to use olive oil or avocado oil.
1 tsp seasoning of choice. I currently use Mrs. Dash Seasoning blend or organic veggie spice blend from Costco
1/4 tsp salt and pepper or to taste (optional)
Directions:
1. Slice onions thin or whichever way you like to slice onions.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 400F/200C for 3 minutes
3. In a large bowl add onions, oil, seasoning, salt and pepper, if desired.
4. Mix them well. I use the OXO food basting brush to ensure an even coating with oil and seasoning.
5. Pour onions into your air fryer basket/tray. It is better to cook them directly on the tray/basket, however, you can line the tray with parchment paper. I use unbleached Air fryer parchment paper.
6. Spread the onions in the air fryer basket (tray) in an even layer. Give them some space so they do not overlap.
7. Airfry mode at 400F/200C for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway or until the desired caramelized look. I lowered the temp to 350F and cooked for an additional 3-5 minutes because I love my onions golden brown and caramelized.
Recipe Tips and Notes for the Best Air Fryer Onions
- Make sure that the seasoning and oil are coated perfectly on the onions. You can use your hands for mixing.
- Preheat your air fryer before adding onions to it.
- Give a quick stir to the onions so that they will cook evenly. You can set your air fryer for every 5-minute interval.
- Different air fryers may vary in temperature. So, it can take more or less time.
For Diet Conscious
The onions are perfect for those on a diet or losing weight. They can use them in salads, soups, frittata, fajitas and more. You can use them on a low-carb diet, however in small amounts.
Serving Tips for Air Fryer Onions
- You can serve these air fryer onions for different dishes.
- Serve them on burgers, hotdogs, and sliders
- Use as a topping in pizzas.
- Use saute onions in pasta.
- Add them to bruschetta top with cheese for delicious flavor.
- Use for the frittata.
- Sprinkle on grilled cheese to enhance the taste.
- Use for salads.
How to store sauteéd onions?
You can store onions for up to 4 days after cooking. Let them cool, cover and put them in the refrigerator. The oil in them may become solidified, but you can reheat them again and enjoy them with your favorite meal.
You’ll love these onion recipes:
- Homemade Crispy Air Fryer Onion Rings.
- Instant Pot Gourmet French Onion Soup.
- Potato Fritters with Green Onions and Bacon.
- Blooming onion.
Best Sautéed Caramelized Air Fryer Onions
Air Fryer onions are perfectly caramelized, golden brown in color, tender, full of flavor, with crispy edges. They are delicious to top on burgers, sandwiches and salads, great as a side dish or add to veggies to make fajitas.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, sliced. Note: Keep in mind that onions shrink as they cook during their caramelization stage (see pictures)
- 1 TBS oil of choice. I like to use olive oil or avocado oil.
- 1 tsp seasoning of choice. I currently use Mrs. Dash Seasoning blend or organic veggie spice blend from Costco
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper or to taste (optional)
Instructions
Slice onions thin or whichever way you like to slice onions.
Preheat air fryer to 400F/200C for 2-5 minutes
In a large bowl add onions, oil, seasoning, salt and pepper, if desired.
Mix them well. I like to use this OXO food basting brush to ensure an even coating with oil and seasoning.
Pour onions into your air fryer basket/tray. It is better to cook them directly on the tray/basket, however, you can line the tray with parchment paper or air fryer parchment paper.
Spread the onions in the basket so they don't overlap
Airfry mode at 400F/200C for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway or until the desired caramelized look. I lowered the temp to 350F and cooked for an additional 3-5 minutes because I love my onions golden brown and caramelized.
Notes
Serving Tips for Air Fryer Onions
- You can serve these air fryer onions for different dishes.
- Serve them on burgers, hotdogs, and sliders
- Use as a topping in pizzas.
- Use saute onions in pasta.
- Add them to bruschetta top with cheese for delicious flavor.
- Use for the frittata.
- Sprinkle on grilled cheese to enhance the taste.
- Use for salads.
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I love caramelized onions. These look fabulous!
Excellent method. :O)
Thank you! Love it too. The only way I cook onions
Cooked for 25 minutes a0nd still not golden brown. They eventually dehydrated.
It’s sad that a air fryer can make sautéed onions but if you go to a restaurant they can’t and they look at you funny and you try to tell them and they still can’t do it.
That is so true. I inquire from the restaurants if they serve air fried food (I’m always hoping for wings) but sadly no. I very much hope that soon.!
Question? I have taken several bread making and other cooking courses at local community colleges and have become used to using stainless metal bowels all the time. I notice in most of your recipe pictures you show glass or porcelline. Does this make a difference in the Air Frying recipe techniques as far as times and textures such as your onion preparation for soups and other uses you show and feature? I am fairly new to Air Fryers so am not sure? I am 85 going on 86 so probably will not change. I started cooking at home with my mother and then, by accident when I was 13 at a local restaurant, when the breakfast fry cook showed up under the weather and I called the owner and he took me off of the gas pumps and under his wing and taught me the rudiments of fast breakfast cooking for tourists and truckers. Ron
Hi Ron, When using air fryer I place the food and cook directly on air fryer basket (tray).