This homemade blooming onion is the ultimate appetizer — a beautifully “bloomed” whole onion, seasoned, battered, and fried (or baked!) to perfection. Served with a zesty bloom sauce, it’s just like Outback’s… maybe better. 😉
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10–15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Calories per Serving: ~380 kcal
🛒 Ingredients
For the Onion:
🧅 1 large sweet onion (like Vidalia)
🍚 1 cup all-purpose flour
🌿 1 tsp paprika
🌿 1 tsp garlic powder
🌿 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
🧂 1/2 tsp salt
🧂 1/2 tsp black pepper
For the Wet Mix:
🥚 2 eggs
🥛 1/2 cup milk
For Frying or Baking:
🛢️ Vegetable oil (for frying)
🔥 Or: cooking spray + 425°F oven (for baking)
🍶 Bloom Sauce (Copycat Outback)
🥣 1/2 cup mayo
🍅 2 tbsp ketchup
🌶️ 2 tbsp horseradish
🥄 1/2 tsp paprika
🌿 1/4 tsp garlic powder
🌿 1/4 tsp oregano
🧂 Pinch of salt & pepper
💧 Dash of hot sauce (optional)
Mix and chill until serving.
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cut the Onion:
Cut 1/2 inch off the top (stem side) of the onion and peel. Leave root intact. Place root side down, and make 4 even cuts down toward the root, stopping 1/2″ from the bottom. Then make 3 more cuts in between each section to create 16 petals total. Gently separate layers to bloom the petals.
2️⃣ Make the Flour Mixture:
In a bowl, whisk flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
3️⃣ Make the Egg Wash:
In another bowl, beat eggs and milk until combined.
4️⃣ Coat the Onion:
Dredge the onion in the flour mixture, spreading petals to coat fully. Shake off excess. Dip into egg wash, then dredge again in flour mixture. Press in to coat every layer well.
5️⃣ Fry or Bake:
Fry: Heat oil to 375°F (190°C) in a deep pot. Fry the onion (root side up first) for 6–8 minutes, flipping carefully halfway, until golden and crispy.
Bake: Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray coated onion with cooking spray, place on parchment-lined baking tray, and bake for 25–30 minutes until crispy.
6️⃣ Serve Hot with Sauce:
Serve immediately with chilled bloom sauce on the side!
🍯 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🧅 Crispy, seasoned petals and tender onion inside
- 🌶️ Zesty dipping sauce is bold, creamy, and craveable
- 🔥 Make it fried, baked, or air-fried — your choice
- 🎉 Perfect for parties, BBQs, game day, or just treating yourself
💡 Helpful Tips
- Use a sweet onion for the best flavor and easy blooming.
- Chill the onion for 30 minutes after coating for better crisp.
- Want to air-fry it? Cook at 375°F for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Serve on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and keep it crunchy.