Crispy Onion Cheese Chips (Printable)

Crunchy air-fried onion slices layered with melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese for a savory snack.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium yellow onions, peeled

→ Dairy

02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Optional Garnish

08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives or parsley

# Preparation steps:

01 - Slice the onions into thin 1/8-inch rings, separate them, and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Set the air fryer to 375°F and allow it to fully preheat.
03 - Place onion rings in a single layer on a parchment-lined air fryer basket or tray.
04 - In a bowl, combine shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses with garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt.
05 - Generously sprinkle the cheese and seasoning mixture evenly over each onion ring, ensuring thorough coverage.
06 - Cook the coated onion rings in the air fryer for 8 to 12 minutes until the cheese is golden and crispy and the onions are tender, checking frequently to avoid burning.
07 - Allow the chips to rest in the air fryer basket for 2 to 3 minutes to achieve additional crispness.
08 - Carefully transfer the chips to a serving plate, optionally garnish with fresh chives or parsley, and serve immediately.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • They taste like indulgence but fit perfectly into any low-carb lifestyle without the guilt.
  • The whole process takes less time than it takes to heat up an oven, and cleanup is genuinely painless.
  • Once you taste that contrast between the tender onion and the shattered cheese crust, you'll understand why people keep sneaking them from the platter.
02 -
  • Moisture on the onions is your biggest enemy—it steams them instead of crisping them, so don't skip that drying step even if it feels tedious.
  • Every air fryer runs at its own temperature personality, so the first time you make these, start checking at 8 minutes and use your eyes instead of blindly trusting the timer.
  • If the cheese starts browning too fast before the onions soften, lower the temperature by 25 degrees and add a few extra minutes; burnt cheese tastes bitter and ruins the whole thing.
03 -
  • Sweet onions like Vidalia have more natural sugar and caramelize faster, creating an almost candy-like sweetness that plays beautifully against the sharp cheese.
  • A mandoline slicer cuts onions to consistent thickness way faster than a knife, and consistency matters for even cooking.
  • Don't let the cheese mixture sit in the bowl too long or the moisture from the onions will make it clumpy; toss everything together right before air-frying.
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