Looking for blooming onion taste at home? Make mini blooming onions with these fun air fried pearl onions. This bite-sized appetizer will satisfy your deep-fried onion cravings with less effort and mess!
Frozen pearl onions are breaded and quickly air fried for a delicious appetizer that is perfect for your next game-day gathering! Dip them in a spicy dipping sauce and enjoy.
You can make an air fryer bloomin’ onion at home, but I’ll be honest, it takes some effort! Making bloomin’ onion bites from pearl onions gives you a similar flavor with much less work. Plus, these tiny crispy onions are adorable!
This idea became popular on Tik Tok over the summer, and I had to try it. My opinion – these make a tasty snack that will be gobbled up. And using the air fryer makes them quick and easy to make.
Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, these were a huge hit at recent party. Even though I tripled the recipe, they were the first appetizers to be devoured, maybe one hour, and they’re gone! Thanks, Anne. Terrific recipe.
— Jack
🧅Key Ingredients
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Frozen pearl onions
- Flour
- Paprika
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Garlic powder
- Egg
- Oil in a spray bottle
Find more tasty air fryer appetizers for game day! Try Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers, Air Fryer Bang Bang Shrimp, and Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts.
❓What is the difference between regular and pearl onions?
Pearl onions are just smaller in size. They tend to be sweeter and milder than full-size ones.
🥣How to Make Air Fryer Pearl Onions
- Microwave – Put the pearl onions in the microwave and cook for half of the suggested cooking time.
- Prep – Break the egg into a medium bowl and stir to mix. Put the flour, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder in another bowl and stir to combine.
- Drain – Drain the partially cooked onions and pat them dry.
- Flour – Take 6, place them into the flour, and coat them with the mixture.
- Egg – Then place them into the egg mixture and stir to coat.
- Flour – Finally, put them back into the flour mixture and coat. Use forks to transfer them between bowls.
- Chill – Put them in the fridge for about 10 minutes. This helps the coating stick.
- Preheat – Preheat the air fryer at 380 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Air Fry – Put the coated onions in the air fryer basket and spray with oil. Then air fry at 380 F for 3 minutes. Shake the basket and air fry them for another 3 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy.
Tip: Don’t use commercial spray oils. They contain preservatives that can damage the basket. Use a pastry brush or buy an inexpensive oil sprayer.
🍴Mini Blooming Onions Serving Ideas
These crispy little bites are best served right away! I love making homemade dipping sauces like Boom Boom Sauce, Bloomin’ Onion Sauce, or Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce.
And you don’t have to serve these as an appetizer. They go well with steak, salmon, or another meat dish. My family loves them as a snack too.
💭How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover mini blooming onions in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days. To reheat them, put them back in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-5 minutes. They won’t be as crispy as when they were first made.
⭐Tips and Variations
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Change the amount of cayenne pepper to make these more or less spicy. Or use a spice mixture like Old Bay.
- You can also thaw the frozen onions by leaving them in a bowl of cold water for an hour. Then you don’t have to microwave them.
- To make the coating process easier, use a fork to move them between bowls and only work with 6-8 at a time.
- Don’t skip the 10-minute chilling time! The coating sticks better when you chill them briefly.
- To make these in the oven, bake them at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes until they are crispy.
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Air Fryer Pearl Onions Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 bag frozen pearl onions
- 1 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 egg
- oil in a spray bottle
Instructions
- Microwave the pearl onions for half the time given on the package. This was 2 minutes of microwaving for my onions. *see notes for alternative1/2 bag frozen pearl onions
- While they partially cook, add the egg to a medium bowl and beat.1 egg
- Add the flour, paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder to another bowl and stir to mix.1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Drain the partially cooked onions in a colander and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Take 6 onions, dip them into the flour mixture and stir to coat.
- Use a fork to lift them out of the flour, shaking off any excess. Place them in the egg mixture and stir to coat.
- Use a different fork to take them out of the egg, letting any excess drip off. Put them into the flour mixture a second time and coat them with flour.
- Continue until all of the onions are coated.
- Place the prepared onions on a tray and refrigerate for 10 minutes. This will help the coating stick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Take the coated onions out of the fridge and put them in the air fryer basket. Keep them in a single layer.
- Spray them with some oil. Air fry at 380 degrees F for 3 minutes.oil in a spray bottle
- Then shake the basket, spray some more oil, and air fry for another 3 minutes.
Notes
- You can also thaw the frozen onions in a bowl of cold water for an hour. Then you don’t have to microwave them.
- When coating the onions, use a fork to transfer them between bowls and work with only 6-8 at a time.
- Don’t skip the 10-minute chilling time! The coating sticks better when you chill them briefly.
- Don’t use a commercial cooking spray in the air fryer because it can damage the nonstick finish on the basket. Use an inexpensive spray bottle filled with oil.
- To make these in the oven, bake them at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes until they are crispy.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
Can these be made another way, like in the oven or microwave?
To make these in the oven, bake them at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes until they are crispy.
Can they be deep fried?
What is suggested prep with fresh pearl onions instead of frozen?
Great idea
Wow, these were a huge hit at recent party. Even though I tripled the recipe, they were the first appetizers to be devoured, maybe one hour, and they’re gone! I followed the recipe 99% due to my personal preference, which is adding 1/4 tsp of tarragon. I add tarragon to everything and I was looking to add some color. Absolutely unnecessary to add any color, as these cooked a very deep golden brown. Thanks, Anne. Terrific recipe.