Four Ways to Make Fried Onions

Fried onions are used in many cuisines and are great for meal prep. Use them for biryanis, curries, soups, and more. I’m showing you four different ways to make them, including air fryer onions!

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Onions are the one vegetable I go through the most. I use onions in almost everything I cook (other than desserts!)

Fried onion is a versatile ingredient that adds a sweet, caramelized flavor and a crunchy texture to recipes. In this recipe, onions are fried until golden brown and crispy.

In Indian and South Asian cooking, fried onions are known as birista. They’re used as garnish or topping for many dishes, including biryani, rice, curries, and soups.

You can also use fried onions on Western recipes such as steak, green bean casserole, or pizza!

You can fry onions on the stovetop, in an air fryer, microwave, or oven. I’ll show you all the different ways to fry onions, which you can use in different recipes.

🧂 Ingredients for Crispy Onions

You’ll need onions and oil. Salt and pepper are optional.

🔪 How to Make Fried Onions

Coat the sliced onions with oil. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired. I don’t add any seasonings. I use my hands to coat the chicken so all surfaces are covered.

Don’t overcrowd the onions, or they won’t cook evenly. If necessary, cook them in batches.

Then proceed with one of the following methods. Once the onions become light brown, they can burn quickly! Check on them more often at this point.

♨️ Air Fryer

Air frying onions uses less oil than the stovetop, and the onions come out less greasy. This option is great for smaller quantities of onions. It also takes less time than the oven and stovetop methods.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
2. Add one tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket.
3. Add onions to the air fryer basket and spread them out evenly.
4. Air fry the onions for 10 minutes, stirring them up after 5 minutes.
5. Lower the temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius) and air fry for another 8 to 10 minutes, stirring them every 2 minutes.
6. The onions are done when they’re golden brown.
7. Transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined tray and let them cool completely.

🔥 Oven

Making onions in the oven uses less oil than on the stovetop, and the onions come out less greasy. This option is great for larger quantities of onions. If necessary, you can bake/fry multiple baking sheets of onions. This method takes the longest amount of time.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius).
2. Transfer onions to a large baking sheet and spread them out evenly.
3. Roast the onions for 30 minutes, stirring them after 15 minutes.
4. At the 30-minute mark, if the onions are not brown enough, increase the temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and bake for another 5 to 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
5. Once the onions are golden brown, take them out and let them rest for 15 minutes.
6. Transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined tray and let them cool completely.

🕑 Microwave

Use the microwave to make smaller quantities of onions. This is the quickest method, and the onions are not greasy. Note: the time required will depend on the wattage of your oven! This is my favorite way to make fried onions quickly.

1. Place one cup of onions in a microwave-safe dish that’s big enough for the onions to be spread out.
2. Microwave on full power for 5 minutes.
3. Stir up the onions and microwave in 1 to 2-minute intervals for another 3 to 7 minutes. One cup of onions takes me 5 minutes plus 3 minutes.
4. Let them cool completely.

🥘 Stovetop

For the stovetop, you don’t need to coat the onions with oil beforehand. Don’t overheat the oil before adding the onions; the onions will brown too quickly and won’t be evenly cooked.

With this method, the smell of onions can permeate your kitchen, clothes, and skin. And the onions can be greasy. But the flavor of deep-fried onions can’t be beat!

1. Heat half a cup of oil over medium-high heat in a frying pan until just warm. Don’t overheat!
2. Add the onions to the frying pan.
3. Fry the onions until they start getting a golden color, stirring frequently.
4. Lower the heat to medium-low and fry them until golden brown, stirring constantly. Make sure they don’t over-brown or they will be bitter. They can go from golden to dark brown very quickly!
5. Transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined tray and let them cool completely.

See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.