Name: Air Fryer Blooming Onion
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 large white onion; 1/4 cup all purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika; 2 tablespoons water; 2 large eggs; 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal; Nonstick cooking spray; 2 tablespoons fat free Greek yogurt; 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce; 1 tablespoon ketchup

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This recipe for an air fryer blooming onion is a healthier and easier to make alternative to the tasty restaurant treat. My air fryer blooming onions are even Weight Watchers friendly! See all the best Weight Watchers air fryer recipes here!

Who doesn’t love to go out for dinner and order a delicious appetizer like a blooming onion? They’re so indulgent and tasty…and that sauce?! Right?! We always seem to order something like fried pickles or french fries, etc. even a funnel cake when we visit the local carnivals or street fairs.

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The good news is that I don’t have to feel bad about not indulging in these treats when we eat out. I can rest easy knowing that I have healthy alternatives at home! Keep this recipe on hand for the next time you feel the craving coming on for some classic fried treats that you’d normally order out at restaurants.

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

This recipe makes having an air fryer worth it. Seriously if you’ve been debating whether or not you want to buy one, you should invest in one and make this recipe first. It’s so easy, delicious, and it comes out perfectly without having to soak your onion in oil.

You can make this recipe gluten free if need be, just make sure to recalculate the ingredients in Weight Watchers to update the nutrition information. Just swap out the regular flour for an all purpose gluten free flour blend!

finished air fryer blooming onion recipe.

Each serving of this great air fryer blooming onion recipe includes about 1 tablespoon of sauce. You can leave that out and recalculate the points for WW as well.

How many points are in each serving of this blooming onion?

Each serving of this air fryer blooming onion is calculated for Weight Watchers as 1/6th of the onion and 1 tablespoon of sauce. There are 2 WW points per serving.

Which WW Program are these points for?

In 2023, WW is using just plain old “POINTS.”

2 Points per serving

Be sure to calculate the points value of the foods and recipes you eat in the app.
Always add ingredients and serving sizes and don’t rely on the nutrition facts in the recipe.
Accuracy will come from the information you input on the app.

Top down shot of the finished onion recipe.

What do I need to make this recipe at home?

1 large white onion
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons water
2 large eggs
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
Nonstick cooking spray

Here’s what you’ll need for the sauce:

2 tablespoons fat free Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup

Another view of the finished air fryer onions.

How to make air fryer blooming onions:

Peel the onion, place it stem side up on a plate or cutting board. Don’t cut completely through the onion but rather about 3/4 inch from the bottom. Cut the onion into quarters to form the petals of the blooming onions. After you have cut the onion into quarters cut each one into smaller slices.
Mix together the 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, paprika, salt, and flour in a bowl. In another bowl mix together the water and egg. Put the cut onion into a bowl and sprinkle it with the dry mixture, make sure to get all the nooks and crannies.
Next put the onion into another bowl and brush it with the egg mixture to coat all surfaces. Now add the cornmeal into the remaining dry mixture and then sprinkle the mixture over the egg washed onion.
Prep the air fryer basked by spraying it with cooking spray. Next, put the onion into the basket and spray it with cooking spray as well.
Fry on 375 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes until the onion is tender inside and crispy on the outside.
While the onion is cooking mix together the remaining ingredients: yogurt, mayonnaise, horseradish, ketchup, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Serve right away and enjoy hot!

View of the finished blooming onion with sauce.

Printable Air Fryer Blooming Onion:

Air Fryer Blooming Onion

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

This recipe for an air fryer blooming onion is a healthier and easier to make alternative to the tasty restaurant treat. My air fryer blooming onions are even Weight Watchers friendly!

Ingredients

1 large white onion
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons water
2 large eggs
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
Nonstick cooking spray
2 tablespoons fat free Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup

Instructions

Peel the onion, place it stem side up on a plate or cutting board. Don't cut completely through the onion but rather about 3/4 inch from the bottom.
Cut the onion into quarters to form the petals of the blooming onions. After you have cut the onion into quarters cut each one into smaller slices.
Mix together the 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, paprika, salt, and flour in a bowl. In another bowl mix together the water and egg. Put the cut onion into a bowl and sprinkle it with the dry mixture, make sure to get all the nooks and crannies.
Next put the onion into another bowl and brush it with the egg mixture to coat all surfaces. Now add the cornmeal into the remaining dry mixture and then sprinkle the mixture over the egg washed onion.
Prep the air fryer basked by spraying it with cooking spray. Next, put the onion into the basket and spray it with cooking spray as well.
Fry on 375 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes until the onion is tender inside and crispy on the outside.
While the onion is cooking mix together the remaining ingredients: yogurt, mayonnaise, horseradish, ketchup, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Serve right away and enjoy hot!

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 96Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 64mgSodium 284mgCarbohydrates 13gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 1gSugar 3gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 4g

As with any of our recipes, carb counts, calorie counts, WW points and nutritional information varies greatly. As a result, your nutritional content depends on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish. The auto-calculation is just an automated estimate and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.