Outback Bloomin' Onion Petals taste just like the popular recipe! Pair them with the Bloom Sauce and everyone will be begging for more!
Making Outback Bloomin' Onion Petals at home is so easy! I like making the actual spread apart onions too, just like from Outback, but I LOVe making these because they are NOT complicated at all! You don't have to worry how you cut the onion or if it's going to fall apart. Pair these with this easy Copycat Bloom Onion Sauce and you have the perfect one bite snack!
How to make Copycat Bloomin' Onion Petals:
**scroll all the way down for a full printable ingredient list and directions**
- Take the dry ingredients and mix them together in a bowl. Then take the wet ingredients and mix them together in a different bowl.
- Prep the onions by slicing the ends off and cutting them in half. Then slice the onions into 1 inch petals and set them aside.
- In a high side skillet, add oil and heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until hot and lightly rippling.
- To coat your onions, dip into the wet batter, then the dry batter, then back into the wet, and dry again. set aside and repeat for all petals.
- Yes, you want to coat them TWICE. This makes it so the batter really sticks to the onions and you don't lose it all when you are frying it...that would be tragic.
- Drop them into the hot oil and let them fry for 3-4 minutes, then carefully turn them over if needed. Remove from oil and place onto a paper towel lined plate. Repeat for all the onions.
- Serve immediately with Bloom Sauce. See step by step recipe video on how to make Bloom Sauce below!
Tips on making Outback Onion Petals:
When making the copycat outback bloomin' onion petals there are a couple things to remember:
- Make sure you h ave fresh onions! I like using Vidalia onions but you can use whatever yellow onion you prefer.
- Use a high side skillet for frying the petals. This will prevent a big mess.
- Serve these immediately. They do not keep well and will get soggy if left for a while.
How to make in the AIR FRYER:
- Follow the directions up to step 5. Do not heat oil in a skillet. After you coat the onions, then we will cook them in the air fryer.
- Place the petals into the air fryer leaving a little space between them. You will likely have to make in batches. Lightly spray the tops of the onion petals with oil spray (not pam, actual oil spray).
- Set the air fryer to 400 degrees, and 4 minutes. Open the air fryer and turn the petals over carefully. Then spray the tops again. Close and cook for 4 more minutes, adding additional minutes if not browned. Serve the copycat outback bloomin' onion petals immediately!
Best Dips to serve with these petals:
- Copycat Bloom Sauce will be your most authentic dip for the petals as it's the same dip Outback Steakhouse serves with their bloomin' onion.
- Zax Sauce is really delicious with these petals as well. It's not spicy so if you like a little milder sauce, this pairs great.
- If you are a ranch lover like me, then try this Jalapeno Ranch with the Bloomin' Onion Petals. So good!
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Outback Bloomin' Onion Petals taste just like the popular recipe! Pair them with the Bloom Sauce and everyone will be begging for more!
- 1 medium egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
- 3-4 small onions
- 4-6 cups vegetable oil , or other frying oil
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Mix all your wet ingredients in a medium bowl.
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Mix all your dry ingredients in a small shallow bowl.
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Slice the ends off your onions, then cut them in half. Slice the onions into 1 inch petals and set aside.
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In a large frying pot, add oil and heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until hot and lightly rippling.
-
To coat your onions, dip into the wet batter, then the dry batter, then back into the wet, and dry again. set aside and repeat for all petals.
-
Drop them into the hot oil and let them fry for 3-4 minutes, then carefully turn them over if needed. Remove from oil and place onto a paper towel lined plate.
-
Repeat for all the onions.
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Serve immediately with Bloom Sauce.
Recipe Video
First published April 2017. Updated April 2020.
Cinnamon Flowers
this recipe looks delicious. I know it is not a gluten free recipe, but do you it be possible to use rice flour in place of the flour? We use rice flour as the base of tempura batter, wondering if it could be here as well:)
Allyson
Hi there - since I haven't tried it, I can't say for sure. If you typically sub the rice flour, then it might work! I think it's worth a try! Please let me know how it turns out!
Amanda
I had the same issue and tried the rice flour and it came out great
laura
can you use an air fryer for the onions
Allyson
I haven't tried that, but I bet so!
Sue
If anyone tries this recipe using an air fryer, I would be interested in finding out how they turn out. Thank you!!
Stephanie, One Caring Mom
I am in love with bloomin onions!!! Unfortunately I can’t sit at Outback every week and eat them endlessly. I am so excited to try these at home. And not have to be embarrassed by how many (or how quickly) I eat!
Allyson
This made me LOL! I hope you enjoy them!!! Dont forget the sauce!
Kathy
These are spot on copycat (taste-wise) blooming onions! My husband is still raving about these and wants me to make them all the time now! I even made the sauce and it was also perfect
Allyson
I am so happy you loved them!!!
Toni
This is such a delicious appetizer! Everyone loves it!
MaryKay Wood
These look so delicious!! Can’t wait to try them. 😍
Suzy
These tasted better than the real thing! Loved the sauce too!
Lauren Kelly
I surprised my son with this yesterday! This has always been his favorite and this was even more delicious!
Katie
Can't wait to try this recipe! Looks so good!
Dorothy Reinhold
I have always wanted to know the spice blend! Can't wait to make a batch.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
These Outback Bloomin’ Onion Petals would disappear in our house!
Kimberly
These look incredible!! So crispy, I can't wait to try them!
Vikki
I love these! Super tasty just like the original, and my family agreed!
Cathy
These are SO GOOD... just like Outback!
Rob Keesee
When someone asked about cooking these in an air fryer you replied you did not know but you thought so. Then how come on this same page you gave instructions on how to cook the Onion Petals in an Air Fryer?
I am very confused...and that's too bad because up to this point I have bee very impressed with the Domestic Super Hero. So, which is it, Allison? Do you know how to cook the Onion Petals in an air fryer or not? I would like to know (and maybe so would a lot of other people) before I go on to try ANY of your recipes.
Thanks,
Rob
Allyson
Hi Rob- Thanks for your comment! As you can see (or maybe it's hard to notice) but that comment was asked in 2018 when this recipe was first published as a fried recipe. If you look to the recipe card, you can see that I updated this recipe in April 2020 with instructions for the air fryer. Once I was more comfortable with my air fryer I took the time to test the recipe with the air fryer and then publish the recipe. I don't post ANY recipes that haven't been developed and tested. As you can see in 2018, I was honest and told the commenter that I thought it would work but I hadn't tried it, because I am not going to give false information. Cheers and happy cooking.
Rob Keesee
Thanks for your response, Allison. I confess I had missed the different date on your air fryer entry. So now I'm going to print out the Onion Petal recipe AND the air fryer instructions! Then, hopefully, if all goes well, my partner and I will make the onion petals and your copycat dip sometime in the next week. We are both huge fans of the Outback onion petals and dip, when we make them that will probably be dinner. Even though I am considered the "chef" of the house, he has become the Master of the Air Fryer. So, Allison, I will let you know how they turn out.
BTW. Allison, a couple of weeks ago we made your air fryer roasted asparagus, and my partner who does not like asparagus so much liked the way it turned out that he surprised me and ate several stalks!
Allyson
I am sooo happy to hear you loved the asparagus! Feel free to leave a review on that recipe as well! Let me know how the onions turn out! Also, feel free to sign up for my email list so you get new recipes directly to your inbox!
Melanie
I tried this recipe today and it is great. I used Italian seasoning instead of oregano because that’s what I had in my pantry. Seasoning is perfect! Used Thousand Island salad dressing and Dill salad dressing for dip! I love it!
Allyson
YUM YUM YUM! Happy you loved it as much as we do!
Cathey
Can u cutler buttermilk how u think do instead of milk it’s thicker I don’t like buttermilk or regular milk but u think buttermilk be ok u know KFC uses buttermilk in their cole slaw I love it