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This Air Fryer Blooming Onion with Spicy Dipping Sauce is a lightened-up take on the restaurant favorite, made with wholesome ingredients and no deep frying required. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and paired with a creamy, spicy dip, it’s the perfect healthy appetizer or game day snack that’s easy to make at home.
Depending on the restaurant and the region you’re in, the name can vary – Awesome Blossom, Bloomin’ Onion – but they’re all the same thing. Don’t miss my Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta, Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta, and Drunken Chicken Noodles – all healthy copycat recipes from restaurants.
Why I Love This Blooming Onion Recipe
I love that this blooming onion isn’t deep fried—it doesn’t even need any cooking oil or olive oil! This healthy blooming onion recipe is naturally gluten free and can be baked or air fried, giving you all the crunch and flavor without sacrificing your healthy lifestyle. I’ve even whipped up a spicy dipping sauce that perfectly complements the crispy onion and adds just the right kick!
Enjoy!
– Becca
Ingredients in Blooming Onion
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Eggs: The use of an egg wash in this recipe helps the flour mixture stick and form a better moisture seal.
- Almond flour: In place of bread crumbs, I like using almond flour to give a crunchy fried texture without actually frying.
- Greek yogurt: I like to use Greek yogurt because it has less fat and more protein than other ingredients like sour cream or cream cheese. You won’t even be able to tell the difference!
How to Make a Blooming Onion in the Oven
Step 1: Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400º F
Cut off the top of your onion (not the root), remove and discard the outer layer of the onion.
Place the recently cut, flat part of the onion on the cutting board, root side up.
Starting about ½ inch from the root, cut the onion straight down. Go all the way around the onion with evenly spaced cuts.
Step 2: Turn the onion back over and allow the onion petals to fan out, then remove the center of the onion.
Place the onion on a cookie sheet or air fryer tray.
Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and water.
Step 4: In a second bowl, mix together the almond flour, garlic salt, paprika, and pepper.
Step 5: Lightly sprinkle the onion with a little bit of the flour mixture. Then spoon some of the egg mixture and, using a silicone basting brush, coat the onion with the egg mixture.
Note: You may not need to use all of the egg mixture.
Step 6: Cover the onion with the rest of the almond flour mixture. Using a spoon to get into all of the layers of the onion.
Step 7: Bake, air fry, or air roast your onion for 20-25 minutes until browned and onion petals are soft.
Step 8: While the onion is baking, mix the Greek yogurt, hot sauce, chili powder, and garlic salt together in a bowl.
Serve the blooming onion and dipping sauce immediately.
Recipe Tips
- For easy clean-up, use air fryer sheets or line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- If you want to make this Blooming Onion without egg, you can use any egg substitute for binding that you like.
Air Fryer Blooming Onion FAQs
Traditional blooming onions are deep-fried in oil, while this version uses the air fryer (or oven) for a crisp texture with far less fat. I also make a lighter dipping sauce using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. For more restaurant-style makeovers, check out this post on how to make chipotle chicken, and my healthy Buffalo Chicken Roll Ups.
Yes! The base for our breading is almond flour.
Some of my favorite entrees to serve with this blooming onion are my Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Recipe, Instant Pot Risotto, and Air Fryer Turkey Burgers.
Healthy Eating Plans
Weight Watchers Points
- ¼ of the onion and ¼ of the sauce (using fat free yogurt) is: 1 2025 Point
21 Day Fix Containers
- Entire recipe: 2 Green Containers, 2 Blue Containers, 1 Red Container. The sauce is 1 Red Container.
- Per serving (¼ of the onion, ¼ of the sauce): ½ Green Container, ½ Blue Container, ¼ Red Container. The sauce is ¼ Red Container.
If you tried this recipe for Air Fryer Blooming Onion with Spicy Dipping Sauce or any other recipe on my site please leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comments!
Air Fryer Blooming Onion with Spicy Dipping Sauce
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Equipment
- Kitchen Knife
- Air Fryer Lid
Ingredients
Blooming Onion
- 1 onion large, white or sweet
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp water
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
Dipping Sauce
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper to make it spicy
- ½ tsp garlic salt
Instructions
Oven
- Preheat your oven to 400º F
- Cut off the top of your onion (not the root), remove the outer layer of the onion and discard. 1 onion
- Place the recently cut, flat part of the onion on the cutting board, root side up.
- Starting about ½ inch from the root, cut the onion straight down. Go all the way around the onion with evenly spaced cuts.
- Turn the onion back over and allow the onion petals to fan out, then remove the center of the onion.
- Place the onion on a cookie sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and water. 2 eggs, 1 tbsp water
- In a second bowl, mix together the almond flour, garlic salt, paprika, and pepper. ¼ cup almond flour, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp black pepper
- Lightly sprinkle the onion with the flour mixture. Then spoon some of the egg mixture and, using a silicone basting brush, coat the onion with the egg mixture. (You may not need to use all of the egg mixture)
- Cover the onion with the almond flour mixture. Using a spoon to get into all of the layers of the onion.
- Bake your onion for 20-25 minutes until browned and onion petals are soft.
- While the onion is baking, mix the Greek yogurt, hot sauce, chili powder, and garlic salt together in a bowl. Set aside in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. ¾ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp hot sauce, 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp garlic salt
Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF
- Cut off the top of your onion (not the root), remove the outer layer of the onion and discard. 1 onion
- Place the recently cut, flat part of the onion on the cutting board, root side up.
- Starting about ½ inch from the root, cut the onion straight down. Go all the way around the onion with evenly spaced cuts.
- Turn the onion back over and allow the onion petals to fan out, then remove the center of the onion.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and water. 2 eggs, 1 tbsp water
- In a second bowl, mix together the almond flour, garlic salt, paprika, and pepper. ¼ cup almond flour, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp black pepper
- Lightly sprinkle the onion with the flour mixture. Then spoon some of the egg mixture and, using a silicone basting brush, coat the onion with the egg mixture. (You may not need to use all of the egg mixture)
- Cover the onion with the almond flour mixture. Using a spoon to get into all of the layers of the onion.
- Place the onion in your air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes. Or until browned and onion petals are soft.
- While the onion is air frying, mix the Greek yogurt, hot sauce, chili powder, and garlic salt together in a bowl. Set aside in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. ¾ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp hot sauce, 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp garlic salt
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Looking to try this, with whole wheat flour or other alternate flours. Thanks!
Ewwww ewwww ewwww the egg gathered at the bottom the tips got black the worst recipe I ever followed. I’m buying an air fryer
Not brown at all not crunchy not anything but an open onion on top of a gross cooked egg with black tips on the top of the onion. I’m going to try to save my onion and fry it now even tho I didn’t want to fry 🥺 not trying to be mean I wish I could show u a pic.
Really sucks
Hi there, I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you. It sounds like maybe the egg mixture wasn’t mixed enough? And maybe instead of pouring it on just brush it. For the burnt edges it sounds like 400 in your oven isn’t the same as mine.
I love that dipping sauce! It has just the right amount of kick to it. This will be perfect for this weekend.
Thank you! I need a low carb blooming onion so I’m not tempted by the fattening real one!
This is my favorite appetizer from Outback, so I’m glad to have a recipe to make it at home now! Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh, I remember getting these at Damon’s! Sadly, I think they all closed. Can’t wait to make it again!