Crispy Onion Cheese Chips (Printable)

Golden onion and cheese bites air-fried for a crunchy, savory low-carb snack or appetizer.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium yellow onions, peeled

→ Cheese

02 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (approximately 3.5 oz)
03 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (approximately 3.5 oz)

→ Spices

04 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
05 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Optional Garnish

08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

# How To Make It:

01 - Slice onions very thinly using a mandoline or sharp knife, separating into individual rings.
02 - Pat onion slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
03 - In a mixing bowl, toss onion slices with garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt until evenly coated.
04 - Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or a silicone liner to prevent sticking.
05 - Arrange small piles of shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese on the liner, spacing about 2 inches apart.
06 - Top each cheese pile with several onion slices, pressing gently to ensure adhesion.
07 - Sprinkle any remaining shredded cheese over the onion stacks for additional crunch.
08 - Cook at 375°F for 8 to 12 minutes until cheese is golden and crispy and onions are browned.
09 - Allow chips to cool in the basket for 2 to 3 minutes to firm up, then carefully lift them out with a spatula.
10 - Optionally garnish with chopped fresh chives and serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They taste indulgent but keep your carbs laughably low, so you can eat more without the guilt spiral.
  • Once you figure out the timing, you're basically just arranging cheese piles and walking away—minimal effort, maximum payoff.
  • The contrast between the crispy cheese edges and tender caramelized onions feels fancy enough to impress people, but simple enough for a solo snack run.
02 -
  • Don't skip the drying step—I learned this the hard way when my first batch turned into onion steam instead of chips, and now I treat towel-drying like a sacred ritual.
  • The cheese piles need breathing room or they'll melt into one giant sheet instead of individual crispy discs; spacing matters more than you think.
  • Every air fryer runs hotter or cooler than the next, so start checking at eight minutes rather than setting a timer and hoping.
03 -
  • Red onions work beautifully here if you prefer something sweeter; they caramelize differently and add a subtle color contrast that catches the eye.
  • A tiny pinch of cayenne pepper mixed into the seasoning transforms these from snack to addictive, so add it only if you want people asking for the recipe with their mouth full.
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