Air Fried Pearl Onions (Printable)
Crispy, golden pearl onions roasted in the air fryer with herbs and olive oil. Ready in 25 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 lb pearl onions, peeled
→ Seasonings
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp sea salt
04 - ½ tsp black pepper
05 - ½ tsp garlic powder
06 - ½ tsp dried thyme (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss the peeled pearl onions with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme until evenly coated.
03 - Place the seasoned onions in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring even spacing for proper air circulation.
04 - Cook for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the onions are golden and crispy on the outside with a tender interior.
05 - Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately as an appetizer or side dish.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Pearl onions transform into sweet, crispy bites with almost zero effort, making you look far more impressive than the work warrants.
- They disappear fast at gatherings, so maybe double the batch if you want to actually taste them yourself.
02 -
- Do not skip the single layer rule, because stacked onions will steam instead of crisp and you will end up with something sad and soggy.
- A pinch of smoked paprika added at the tossing stage completely changes the flavor profile and makes them taste like they came off a charcoal grill.
03 -
- Shake the basket firmly at the halfway mark because the onions on the edges cook faster and need to be redistributed toward the center.
- Finish with torn fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice right before serving to brighten everything up beautifully.