If you're craving crispy, golden onion rings without the greasy mess of deep frying—this Air Fryer Onion Ring Recipe is your new best friend. Better yet? These bad boys are stuffed with gooey cheese. They're crunchy, melty, and seriously addictive.
Air fryer onion rings are the ultimate upgrade to your snack game—less oil, less mess, and all the crunch. Perfect for game days, summer BBQs, or just a Netflix-and-munch moment. These cheesy onion rings are a next-level twist that’s surprisingly easy to pull off.
If you're into air fryer snacks, you're also going to love these recipes: Air Fryer Beef Taquitos, Air Fryer Cauliflower Pizza, and Air Fryer Cod Fillet.
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💖 Why This Recipe Works
- Crispy Perfection: Get that satisfying crunch without the oil bath.
- Healthier Snacking: Less grease, same great taste.
- Easy Ingredients: You’ve probably already got most of these on hand!
Learn how to make the best Air Fryer Onion Rings from scratch—cheese-stuffed or classic style.
🧅 Star Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for your homemade onion rings:
- Yellow or Sweet Onions: Choose yellow onions for that classic sharp bite or go with sweet onions for a more mellow, caramelized flavor. Either way, they’re the MVP of every crunchy ring.
- Mozzarella or Cheddar Cheese: Want creamy and mild? Go with mozzarella. Craving bold and tangy? Cheddar’s your best bet. Both melt beautifully into that cheesy center.
- Panko & Spices: This triple-threat combo—cornstarch, flour, and airy panko—delivers unbeatable crunch. Paprika and turmeric bring warmth and color, garlic powder punches up the flavor, and a pinch of salt and pepper pulls it all together.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- No Cheese? Skip it! These onion rings are just as good without. Use vegan mayo for a dairy-free option.
- Switch Up the Spices: Smoked paprika, chipotle, curry powder—customize your coating!
If you're loving this recipe, you'll also want to check out our Air Fryer Huli Huli Chicken, Air Fryer Salmon Fillets, or Air Fryer Baby Bella Mushrooms for your next crispy fix.
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Onion Rings Stuffed With Cheese
Making cheese-stuffed air fryer onion rings is so simple and takes just a few steps. Learn how to make onion rings in the air fryer here:
- Step 1: Slice onions into thick rings and separate layers. Match pairs with space for cheese in between.
- Step 2: Cut cheese slices to fit between rings. Nestle cheese inside each onion pair. Skip steps two and three if you don't want onion rings with no cheese!
- Step 3: Mix flour, cornstarch, water, and spices into a thick batter. Place panko in a separate bowl.
- Step 4: Dip each cheese-stuffed ring into the batter, then roll in panko to coat.
- Step 5: Spray the air fryer basket and onion rings with oil. Cook at 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Step 6: While they crisp up, mix mayo, sweet chili sauce, and minced garlic for the dipping sauce.
💡 Hint: Keep your cheese slices snug between the onion rings to avoid melty blowouts.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Pick the Right Onion: Yellow or sweet onions caramelize best and taste amazing.
- Double Coat = Double Crunch: Batter then panko for that pro-level crisp.
- Cheese Control: Match the cheese to the ring size so it melts, not oozes.
- Reheat Like a Pro: Air fry leftovers for 10 mins to bring back the crunch.
💭 Cheesy Onion Rings FAQs
Yes! Assemble and freeze them in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag. Air fry from frozen, adding 2–3 minutes to the cooking time.
Serve immediately or keep them warm in the air fryer at 250°F. Don’t cover them—they’ll steam and lose their crunch.
Your batter might be too thin or the cheese too small. Keep the cheese snug inside and make sure your batter coats every crevice before adding panko.
Absolutely. Pepper jack adds spice, provolone melts beautifully, and vegan cheeses work well too—just make sure they’re sliceable and firm.
💖 Serving Suggestions
Here’s what to pair with your crispy air fryer onion rings:
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings – The ultimate party combo.
- Beetroot and Black Bean Burgers – Plant-based perfection.
- Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs – Classic summer vibes.
- Antipasto Kabobs – Great for grazing boards.
- Kale Apple Salad with Pomegranates – For a fresh contrast.
- Crispy Air Fryer Carrot Fries – Double the crunch.
Once you've finished making crispy onion rings in the air fryer serve them with a side of ketchup, BBQ sauce, Honey Mustard Salad Dressing, Herby Ranch Dressing or Lemon Beet Hummus.
🍽 Serve With These Fantastic Dips
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Air Fryer Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 2 Large Yellow Onions Or Sweet Onions
- 8 Oz Block Of Cheese Mozzarella, Or Cheddar
- ½ Cup Cornstarch
- ½ Cup Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- ¼ Cup Water
- 2 Cups Panko Breadcrumbs
- ½ Cup Mayonaise
- 3 Tablespoons Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic Minced
Instructions
- Slice the onion horizontally into 1 - ½-inch-thick slices. Using the widest rings first, separate the layers. Pair every other layer of the onion.
- You want an onion layer-sized space between rings. Save the remaining smaller onion slices for composting, freeze for vegetable broth, or use in another recipe.
- Slice the cheese into ⅛-inch-thick slices, then cut the slices to match the height of the ring. Skip steps two and three if you don't want onion rings with no cheese!
- Place the slices of cheese between the rings filling the void. You may need to slice smaller pieces of cheese to fill any gaps.
- In one shallow dish, mix the cornstarch, flour, and spices. Add water until the flour mixture resembles a thick batter.
- In another shallow dish, add the panko mixture.
- Dip onion rings carefully through the batter fully coating them. Then place the coated rings in the panko bread crumbs fully coating them.
- Fill any space not coated with crumbs. It’s best to coat the assembled rings one or two at a time.
- Place the coated onion ring in your oil-sprayed air fryer basket. The. Spray the top of the rings with olive oil.
- Cook at 400° for 15 minutes. Flip gently halfway through cooking.
- While the onion rings are cooking, mix the mayonnaise, chilli sauce, and minced garlic in a bowl for the dipping sauce.
- Once cooked, remove onion rings from the air fryer basket. Allow the onion rings to cool. Serve the cooled onion rings with the dipping sauce. Enjoy!
These onion rings were next-level good! The cheesy center totally takes them over the top—melty, crispy, and so addictive. Definitely making a double batch next time!