With an air fryer, caramelized onions are quick, tasty, and healthy!
Who doesn’t love caramelized onions? There are so many things you can do with them, and they add a flavor punch to so many different meals. But traditional caramelized onions aren’t the healthiest—or quickest—thing to cook. So, I set about finding a way to make caramelized onions quicker, and not so greasy and unhealthy. Turns out, the ever-useful air fryer helps solve the mystery, as long as you don’t mind a bit more crunchy of an onion.
In an air fryer, you use a fraction of the oil or butter you’d typically need to caramelize onions. In fact, air-fryer onions cook a lot faster than they do in a skillet. There is no need to stand over the stove stirring the onions. With an air fryer, you get onions that are crisp, easy to make, and ready to add flavor to any number of dishes.
Simply slice your onions, toss in oil, season them how you like, and place them in the air fryer. In ten minutes, you’ll have that amazing sweet-salty onion flavor we all know and love.
Are Air-Fryer Onions Healthy?
Compared to the greasy onions you might fry up in a skillet, air-fryer onions are significantly healthier. In addition to producing crunchy onions that taste good, the air fryer cooks them with a minimal amount of oil, which vastly reduces the amount of fat and calories in the onions. Plus, onions are a source of vitamins and minerals, such as potassium and vitamin C.
What To Do With Air-Fryer Onions
Perhaps a better question is, what can’t you do with air-fryer onions? 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 serving them with potatoes, cheese, or on bruschetta. If you happen to make these around Thanksgiving, consider using these on top of your Green Bean Casserole.
How To Make Ahead And Store
If you’ve made too many onions, lucky you! Wait for them to cool and place them in an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you don’t need them to be crispy, you can freeze them for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag or container. You’ll lose the crispy texture, but they’ll still be flavorful and useful in a lot of different recipes.
Serving Suggestions
As mentioned, onions prepared in an air fryer are great to put on a burger, so consider adding them as the perfect complement to a flavorful Cajun Burger. If a great breakfast dish is more your speed, you have to try them in a Fritatta Recipe. And keep in mind that onions can be added to just about any pizza, even this amazing and unique Pumpkin Pizza.
If you want to have even more fun with onions—or you just have a ton of onions to burn through—I absolutely suggest Baked Onion Rings, which make a great side dish to almost any dinner main. Here are some other classic ways to get the most out of an onion: Roasted Onions, Sautéed Onions, and the ever-delicious French Onion Soup.
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow onion
- 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
- Slice the onion into thin strips. Note that the onions will reduce in size as they cook. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the sliced onions with the oil, your seasoning of choice, and a pinch of salt and pepper if you choose. Mix well to coat the onions evenly.
- Arrange the seasoned onions in a single layer in the air-fryer basket or tray. Take care not to overcrowd the onions to allow for even cooking.
- Cook in the air fryer for 10 minutes. Give the onions a gentle stir halfway through, or flip them, to ensure even browning.
- Remove onions from the air fryer once they have reached a caramelized state with some crispy edges.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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