Air Fried Pearl Onions (Printable Version)
Crispy, golden pearl onions air fried to tender perfection with olive oil and smoky seasonings.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 pound pearl onions, peeled
→ Seasoning and Coating
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
# How To Make It:
01 - Set the air fryer to 375°F and allow it to preheat for 3 minutes.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss the peeled pearl onions with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until every onion is evenly coated.
03 - Place the seasoned onions in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring none overlap for even crisping.
04 - Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the onions develop a golden, crispy exterior and become tender inside.
05 - Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy immediately as a snack, appetizer, or side alongside your favorite entrée.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- You barely need five ingredients and zero cooking skill to make something people genuinely crowd around.
- That shatteringly crisp outside giving way to a soft, almost jammy center is the kind of contrast that makes you forget youre eating vegetables.
02 -
- Overcrowding the basket is the fastest way to end up with steamed, soggy onions instead of the crispy beauties you want.
- Shaking the basket at the halfway mark is non-negotiable because the onions resting against the mesh cook faster and will char if left untouched.
03 -
- If using frozen pearl onions, pat them completely dry with a paper towel before oiling, because excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
- Double the batch but cook in two rounds rather than crowding the basket, because the second batch always turns out just as good as the first.