Mini Bloomin Pearl Onions
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These perfect fried Baby Blooming Onion bites served up with a homemade dipping sauce of choice are a bite-sized blessing.
These seasoned and breaded little bites using the tiny pearl onion are a take on a traditional fried onion petal that packs excellent flavor in a miniature bite.
Below we have the Deep Fried version and as requested by a lot of readers, added the AIR FRYER version!
Why you will love making Baby Bloomin’ Onions
A fun little appetizer recipe – You may be asking yourself what exactly you can do with pearl onions. Short a large outback steakhouse bloomin’ onion itself, this viral tiktok appetizer recipe is bite after bite of perfectly seasoned breading and the vibrant taste of an onion.
Great for football parties – Mini Pearl onions are great to serve up at football parties and make a perfect pairing alongside dip recipes and other finger foods.
Easy to grab and serve one by one (or by the handful), bite-sized blooming onions pair with various dipping sauces.
Ingredients:
- 1 package, 12 oz, frozen pearl onions (keep frozen)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 eggs
- cooking spray
Air Fryer Bloomin Pearl Onion Recipe
- The instructions below are specifically for an air fryer. If you prefer to use regular fried on the stove, please continue lower in the article.
Add frozen onions to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on defrost setting for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and place in a single layer on paper towels to drain.
In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, cayenne, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper and mix well. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat together eggs. Set aside.
Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 390 degrees.
Working in batches, dredge some of the onions into the egg mixture and mix to evenly coat. Place onions into the flour mixture and toss to coat. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray onions with cooking spray.
Air Crisp (Air Fry) for 3 minutes at 390 degrees. When cooking is complete, shake basket and coat onions with additional cooking spray.
Return to cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove from air fryer and serve immediately.
How to make Fried Mini Onion Bites
- These instructions are for the stovetop.
Frozen pearl onions – Thaw frozen onions in a bowl of cold water overnight before making this dish. The cold water helps not only defrost the onions but takes out some of the “bite” of the onion taste. Dry thoroughly before moving on to the breading.
- Remove onions from cold water and drain. Pat dry. Set aside.
- Mix eggs in a shallow bowl. Set egg mixture aside.
- Mix flour and spices in a separate deep bowl and mix.
- Heat vegetable oil over medium heat.
- Dredge onions first into eggs and then into flour mixture. Shake excess flour off the coated onions.
- If you prefer a crunchy onion, batter the thawed onions and flash fry them in hot oil until the outside is golden brown, which should only take a few minutes. This method results in a crispy exterior with a firm texture inside. For soft, tender onions similar to onion rings, heat the oil over low to medium heat and fry the onions slowly for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The outer layer will become crispy and golden brown while the inside stays soft and tender. Be careful not to overheat the oil, as this can burn the outside before the inside is fully cooked. To ensure the desired texture, test one onion before frying the entire batch.
- Drain Bloomin onion bites on paper towels. Optional: Season with salt while still hot.
- Serve with ranch dressing.
Would we make fried Maui Onions again?
These tiktok mini blooming onions are yummy and one we would make again with a few minor changes. The original recipe was way under seasoned, and these are best (due to the fryer) in having super-seasoned flour.
Get in there and be generous with herbs and spices. Do not be afraid to try other non-suggested spices as well!
Related Viral Appetizer Recipes
- These TikTok Buffalo Chicken Taquitos Recipe not only make a great appetizer but a kid-friendly dinner as well.
- Throw a jar of pickles with ranch seasoning for a quick, tasty snack.
- 44 Million viewers on this TikTok Pizza Bite recipe – SO easy, SO good, SO fun!
- You must try this homemade cheez-its recipe!
- Need some easy party food ideas? Try a potato cheese sticks recipe, Dorito Cheese sticks recipe, and one of our favorite recipes, the Garlic Parmesan Pizza Rolls recipe.
Mini Bloomin’ Onion (+ Air Fryer Version)
Ingredients
- 12 oz. frozen pearl onions (some bags are 14.4 oz)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- .5 tsp. black pepper
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
How to Stovetop Fry Mini Pearl Onions
- Thaw frozen onions in a bowl of cold water overnight before making this dish. The cold water helps not only defrost the onions but takes out some of the “bite” of the onion taste. Dry thoroughly before moving on to the breading.
- Remove the thawed onions from the bag and place them in the bowl with cold water. Let sit overnight in the fridge. Drain water from onions and completely pat dry. Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
- Mix all-purpose flour and spices in a separate bowl and mix them together. Dredge onions first into the egg wash and then into flour seasoning. Shake off any excess flour.
- Frying for a Crunchy Onion: If the onions are at the texture you are happy with on thaw, which is a harder crunchy onion, all you need to do is flash fry them in hot oil for 4-5 minutes or until the outside batter is golden brown. Drain grease and serve.
- Frying for a soft onion (like the inside of Onion Ring): Heat vegetable oil over low to low-medium heat.
- Place battered mini onions into cooking oil and fry slowly for about 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until crispy and brown on the outside with a soft and tender onion on the inside. Yes – 25 minutes. You must keep the oil temperature from getting too hot and regulate it as needed so its cooking the onion while it is frying. This is how you get completely soft mushy onions on the inside.
- Drain on paper towels and serve with dipping sauce.
How to Air Fry Mini Pearl Onions
- Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 390 degrees.
- Add frozen onions to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on defrost setting for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and place in a single layer on paper towels to drain.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, cayenne, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper and mix well. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat together eggs. Set aside.
- Working in batches, dredge some of the onions into the egg mixture and mix to evenly coat. Place onions into the flour mixture and toss to coat. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray onions with cooking spray.
- Air Crisp (air fry) for 3 minutes at 390 degrees. When cooking is complete, shake basket and coat onions with additional cooking spray. Return to cook for an additional 3 minutes. Remove from air fryer and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Could these be baked?
In theory, yes. But I havent tested it out so I do not have any instructions to give you. The main thing is making sure the outer layer fries.
How do you “premake” the onions? Then let them cool, then flash fry them? I’m afraid that’s a new one for me and I’m anxious to make these.
Perhaps my terminology could have been more precise. I was trying to imply that you can use the instructions on the bag of frozen onions to go ahead and premake them according to instructions so they were tender and then fry. That way the entire process could be a bit quicker.
I’m sorry, I also still don’t understand the premake concept even with the clarification…do you mean pre cook the plain onions and then battering them so you are only frying long enough to brown the batter?
yes
Could you Sous vide or microwave them before coating them thus reducing the amount of frying time?
I think as long as you like the texture of the onion, its a great solution!
Can you thaw in the morning if your not using until evening
Yes, just drain excess water very well.
Brandon, this is a fair question but I do not know the answer without testing it. An air fryer is different from an oil fryer, and without testing the batter, I am not 100% sure yet. I will work on that update in the coming weeks.
I wanted to love these. The breading texture was good but it had very little flavor. I probably would double the salt and other seasonings if trying this again.
Why did this come up in a google search when I searched “air fryer pearl onions”? These are not air fried…
I am not sure – but perhaps because people were talking about air frying in the comments.
Can they be done in the Airfryer
Yep! I added the air fryer instructions to the post.
I made these today. It’s just me so I only used half the bag of pearl onions.
YUMMY! I fried them in hot oil over the stove. Turned out great!