Baked Blooming Onion with Creamy Dipping Sauce Recipe
This baked blooming onion recipe delivers a crispy, golden appetizer that’s perfect for sharing. Using sweet Vidalia onions coated in a flavorful seasoned flour, eggs, and panko breadcrumb mixture, then baked to perfection rather than fried, this version is lighter but still indulgently delicious. Paired with a creamy, tangy dipping sauce, it’s a crowd-pleaser ideal for parties or a fun family snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2 blooming onions (serves 4 as appetizer) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Onion:
- 2 large sweet onions (Vidalia recommended)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for a kick)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray
For the Dipping Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
- Cut the Onion: Trim off the top of the onion, keeping the root intact. Peel off the skin, then place the onion root-side down and slice it into 8–12 even segments, stopping just before the root so the onion holds together. Gently separate the petals to create the blooming effect.
- Set Up the Breading Station: Arrange three bowls: one with the seasoned flour mix (flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper), the second with whisked eggs and milk, and the third with panko breadcrumbs.
- Coat the Onion: Thoroughly dredge the onion in the flour mixture, ensuring coating between all petals. Dip it in the egg mixture, then press it into the panko breadcrumbs making sure breadcrumbs stick well between every petal.
- Bake to Golden Goodness: Place the breaded onion on the baking sheet. Spray it generously with cooking spray to achieve maximum crispness. Bake for 25–30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the onion is crispy and golden brown.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, hot sauce (if using), paprika, garlic powder, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Time to Serve: Serve the hot and crispy blooming onion immediately with a generous scoop of the creamy dipping sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Using Vidalia onions or other sweet onions improves flavor and texture.
- Spraying the onion well with cooking spray before baking is key for a crispy crust.
- The cayenne pepper and hot sauce can be adjusted or omitted for less spice.
- Ensure not to cut all the way through the onion to keep the petals attached.
- Serve the onion immediately after baking for best crispiness.
Keywords: blooming onion baked appetizer crispy onion onion petals dipping sauce party snack
