Description
Delicious beef-stuffed onion rings with melted cheddar cheese, coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs and air-fried to perfection. A unique twist on both cheeseburgers and onion rings that’s sure to impress!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large onion
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into 8 squares
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1–1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- Cooking spray
- Spicy ketchup (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Air Fryer and Beef Mixture
- Preheat your air fryer to 335°F. In a small bowl, combine the ground beef, ketchup, mustard, and salt. Mix lightly but thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated, being careful not to overwork the meat mixture.
- Prepare the Onion Rings
- Cut the onion into 1/2-inch thick slices and separate them into rings. Select 8 similarly-sized onion rings (save the remaining onion rings for another use). Fill each of the 8 rings with half of the beef mixture, pressing it gently to create an even layer.
- Add Cheese and Complete Filling
- Place a square of cheddar cheese on top of each beef-filled onion ring. Then cover the cheese with the remaining beef mixture, ensuring the cheese is completely enclosed and the filling is level with the top and bottom of the onion ring.
- Bread the Onion Rings
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour mixed with garlic powder, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko bread crumbs. Dip each filled onion ring first in the flour mixture to coat both sides, shaking off any excess. Next, dip in the beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with panko bread crumbs, patting gently to help the coating adhere.
- Air Fry to Perfection
- Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, place the breaded onion rings in a single layer on the greased tray in your air fryer basket. Spritz the rings lightly with cooking spray for extra crispiness. Cook for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature of the beef reaches 160°F.
- Serve
- Remove the cheeseburger onion rings from the air fryer and allow them to cool slightly before serving. If desired, serve with spicy ketchup on the side for dipping.
Notes
- For best results, choose large, thick onion rings of similar size to ensure even cooking.
- You can customize the cheese by using pepper jack for a spicy kick or Swiss for a milder flavor.
- To make spicy ketchup, simply mix regular ketchup with a bit of hot sauce or sriracha to taste.
- The onion rings will be extremely hot inside when first removed from the air fryer, so allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving.
- For extra flavor, try adding 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika to the beef mixture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cheeseburger onion ring
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 75mg