Recreate Outback Steakhouse’s most famous appetizer in your kitchen with this Blooming Onion recipe. This impressive-looking dish features a large sweet onion specially cut to “bloom,” then coated in a seasoned beer batter and deep-fried to crispy perfection. Despite its restaurant-worthy presentation, this showstopping appetizer requires no special equipment and comes together with just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking time. Perfect for game days, parties, or whenever you crave that signature Outback flavor without leaving home, this recipe promises to be a surprisingly simple crowd-pleaser.
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Outback Steakhouse Blooming Onion
I think this is one of my first copycat recipes. I can remember the first time I tried this popular appetizer, the bloomin onion. An onion is sliced so that it opens up, some might even say it “blooms”.
The petals are battered, and the onion is deep-fried, and then this creation is served with a wonderful sauce. I know you will be blown away, just like I was the first time I tried this creation.
What Makes The Outback Steakhouse Blooming Onion So Good
You can impress anyone by serving this bloomin’ onion, whether for close family or a large party! Not only does this bloomin’ onion have a fascinating and mouthwatering look, but it tastes even better than it looks!
Of course, the onion flavor is prominent, but you can also taste hints of paprika, garlic, and cayenne. It is the perfect appetizer to awaken your taste buds! The bloom sauce with a touch of horseradish has the ideal flavor to pair with the onion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Once you make this blooming onion Outback Steakhouse recipe, you will wonder why it took so long to try.
Although it might seem intimidating because of its elegant presentation, it’s quite simple. With this recipe, you can indulge in one of your favorite Outback Steakhouse menu items without stepping outside your home!
Ingredients
Click on the recipe card to get the full instructions and quantities you need for this recipe.
For the Onion:
- Sweet onion – Provides the foundation with its mild, sweet flavor
- All-purpose flour – Creates the crispy exterior coating
- Cornstarch – Helps achieve a lighter, crispier texture
- Paprika – Adds color and mild pepper flavor
- Garlic powder – Contributes savory depth without burning during frying
- Cayenne pepper – Delivers subtle heat throughout the coating
- Black pepper – Adds complexity and enhances other spices
- Salt – Balances and enhances all flavors
- Minced garlic – Provides fresh garlic flavor in the batter
- Beer – Creates a light, airy texture and adds flavor depth
- Peanut or vegetable oil – Essential for deep frying to proper crispness
For Serving:
- Blooming Onion Sauce – The essential spicy, creamy dipping companion
Ingredient Notes
A large sweet onion will give the perfect flavor. Use a Vidalia or 1015 onion.
My preference for cooking oil is peanut oil, followed by vegetable oil. Any liquid oil will do, but peanut makes the onion crispier.
How to Prepare a Bloomin Onion
Preparing this onion isn’t too difficult. You’ll make a seasoned beer batter and flour mixture, cut and batter the onion, then deep fry it. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Whisk cornstarch, minced garlic, flour, paprika, and pepper until well blended.
- Add the beer and mix well until the batter is well combined.
- Combine flour with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and pepper in a separate bowl. Mix until well blended.
- Peel the onions and place the root side on the cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice the first 3/4 inches off the top of the onion. Then you will make 10 to 12 verticle cuts, but don’t go all of the way to the root.
- Separate the onion petals slightly, but do not do this too much or you will destroy the onion.
- Dip the onions into the bowl of flour and shake off the excess flour.
- Dip the onions into the batter and separate the petals to ensure they are thoroughly coated.
- Then dip the onion into the seasoned flour again.
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer until the oil temperature is 375 to 400°F. Place the onion in the fryer basket and deep-fry for 1½ minutes on one side. Flip the onion and fry for 1½ minutes, until golden brown.
- Lift the fried onion out of the hot oil with a wire skimmer or large slotted spoon and drain it on paper towels.
- Place the onion on a plate and serve it hot with Bloomin Onion Sauce.
Recipe Tips
You may want to make sure your cutting board has a damp cloth under it so it doesn’t move.
If desired, you can cut out the center of the fried blooming onion and put a small cup of dipping sauce in it.
If you feel cutting the blooming onion is too much, try cutting it into petals, strings, or onion rings.
What To Serve With The Outback Blooming Onion
Be sure to serve it with plenty of blooming onion sauce! For other sauce ideas, pair it with honey BBQ sauce, ranch, sriracha, honey mustard, ketchup, and more. The crispy onion tastes amazing with virtually any sauce.
To use it as part of a meal, you can always serve it with Outback Steakhouse Mac and Cheese or Outback Steakhouse Queensland Chicken and Shrimp Pasta. It tastes fantastic with pasta because the crispy onion offsets the tender noodles and creamy sauce.
How To Store The Outback Steakhouse Onion
Keep the bloomin’ in an airtight container to retain its freshness until you plan to reheat it. Although it will last 4-5 days, the sooner you use it, the better.
Storage and Reheating
- Store sauce separately in the refrigerator for up to a week
- While best enjoyed fresh, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Never microwave leftovers, as this will make them soggy
- Reheat in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes until crispy again
- For best results, place on a wire rack over a baking sheet when reheating
Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour divided use
- 2 tablespoons paprika divided use
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper divided use
- 12 ounces beer
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 Vidalia onions or other large sweet onions
- Bloomin’ Onion Sauce or Creamy Chili Sauce to serve
Instructions
- To make the batter, combine the cornstarch, minced garlic, and salt with 1 1/2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of paprika, and 2 teaspoons of ground black pepper. Mix well. Add the beer and mix to combine.
- To make the seasoned flour, combine the garlic powder and cayenne pepper with 2 cups of flour, 4 teaspoons of paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Mix well.
- Cut about 3/4 inch off the top of the onions and peel them. Cut each onion into 12 to 16 vertical wedges, but do not cut through the bottom root end. Remove about 1 inch of petals from the center of the onion. You may want to separate the onion petals slightly, but do not do this too much or you will destroy the onion.
- Dip the onions into the seasoned flour and shake off the excess. Dip the onions into the batter, separating the petals to ensure they are thoroughly coated. Then dip the onions into the seasoned flour again.
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 375°F to 400°F. Gently place the onions into the fryer basket and deep-fry for 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove the onions from the fryer and drain on paper towels.
- To serve, place the onion upright in a shallow bowl and remove the center core with a circular cutter or apple corer. Serve hot with Bloomin’ Onion Sauce or Creamy Chili Sauce.
Nutrition
Love Outback Steakhouse? Try these recipes
- Tiger Dill Sauce
- Salted Baked Potato
- Alice Spring Chicken
- Creamy Onion Soup
- Mac and Cheese with Penne
- Aussie Cheese Fries
- Walhalla Pasta
- Green Beans Steamed
- Caesar Salad Dressing
Tasty Onion Rings and Petals Recipes
Be sure to check out more copycat appetizers and game day food recipes.
The best tasting onion recipe I’ve ever tried.
Can’t have a steak without the Blooming Onion! I use this recipe with Outstanding Results Every time. A family fave. Ty for this great CopyCat recipe.
I used this recipe not only for onion rings (I didn’t have enough oil for the whole onion). They were fantastic. I used my leftover batter and breading to make fried pickles. Excellent! Next time I fry chicken, I am going to use this. Oh- and the sauce is good on everything (except maybe dessert).
Love these so much!!!!😊😋😋😋🥰
Just curious… Have you changed the recipe for the sauce? Mine is different. (I have the identical onion recipe tho). My recipes say “Source: Outback Steak House, Miami, FL. ” …can’t remember where I found it.
I like the cold water hint – thanks people!
I do not believe this recipe has been changed since originally posted.
Where’s my nutrition label man
We actually prepare our onions at the steakhouse the night before by soaking them in water over night. That’s key!
Hey April
Do you peel the onion and soak it in water? I’m getting my stuff together to make this. Thankyou
We can try to get close to their recipes. The main thing they do is all of the seasonings for everything is shipped in. They are locked up. There isn’t beer in this dish at all. There is a machine that is used to cut the onions. Then they have to be soaked in water ton get them to open.
There is in fact beer in this. I worked at outback for 6 years 🙂
No there is not its a milk and egg wash pre dip and a straight seasoning mix there are only 2 items with beer in them at outback the beer batter for coconut shrimp has budweiser in it and the chicken breading batter has fosters in it. I don’t get the incentive to lying or maybe your a know it all waitress?
What can I substitute the beer for?
I would try club soda.
What about an alcohol free beer like O’Doule’s ? If gluten is the issue instead of alcohol, there are now some gf friendly varieties available that would work. Without that beer-y flavor, the batter is just not right.
There is no substitute for beer!!
lager, ale, porter, stout etc.
Cascade, of course!!
I used 6 oz. of carbonated water (for the bubbles) and 6 oz. of apple cider vinegar (for the bitterness) and it worked out great! Added a subtle vinegary flavor to the batter that really complements the onion.
Is it all purpose flour or self rising?
There is no beer in the outback bloomin onion… the flour comes in a large box already seasoned and is a bright orange color.. soak onion in ice water squeeze excess out (don’t need to completely dry it) flour it lightly, dip in egg and milk wash, reflour and fry.. that’s it. No beer… only thing they use beer in is coconut shrimp
Tastes just like outback! If you have no taste buds…. Followed the recipe to a “T” without any problems, just tasted awful. Rather whoever wrote this had no taste buds, or has never had a bloomin onion at outback!
Anyone asking for the Creamy Chili Dip or Sauce:
Outback Steakhouse Dipping Sauce for the Bloomin Onion
Author: Spicycp
Recipe Type: Copycat Restaurant Recipes, CopyKat Recieps, Dips/Sauces
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4
You can make your own version of the Outback Steakhouse Dipping Sauce at hom.
Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons ketchup
2 tablespoons horseradish (little less)
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
dash ground pepper
dash cayenne pepper
InstructionsCombine all ingredients and mix well. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Here is the link to the dipping sauce.
This should be served with the dipping sauce for the bloomin onion.
The onion will come out better if, after slicing the petals, you float the onion upside down in ice water for fifteen minutes. The water must be as cold as possible. It will spread more easily, and lose fewer petals. This is how Outback gets it to bloom so nicely.
Thank you for your suggestion.
Is there anything i can substitute for the 12 oz. of beer?
You could try some club soda. I don’t know how well it would work, but it would be better than using plain water.
how do I make the creamy chili sauce?
For the creamy chilil sauce https://dicksstaffsoffer.us/outback-steakhouse-dipping-sauce-bloomin-onion/%3C/p%3E
I tried this last night, its not the same recipe and actually made me sick 🙁
I tried this last night, its not the same recipe and actually made me sick 🙁
Tried the Hooters fried pickles recipe the other night and it turned out great..I tried this recipe (Bloomin Onion) tonight and what a disaster..lol..The batter was so thick that I couldn’t get the onion into it without the onion breaking into pieces, plus after dipping it into the flour mixture, the batter wouldn’t stick to the onion. I ended up adding some bear to the batter to thin it out a bit but it didnt help. After dipping it into the flour mixture, it just wouldn’t stay on the onion..Any suggestions??
Tried the Hooters fried pickles recipe the other night and it turned out great..I tried this recipe (Bloomin Onion) tonight and what a disaster..lol..The batter was so thick that I couldn’t get the onion into it without the onion breaking into pieces, plus after dipping it into the flour mixture, the batter wouldn’t stick to the onion. I ended up adding some bear to the batter to thin it out a bit but it didnt help. After dipping it into the flour mixture, it just wouldn’t stay on the onion..Any suggestions??
In the future, I will try to shoot a video on this one, so the technique is more apparent.
Make sure the onion is dry, and coat it with starch first. Usually it’s easier if you also place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill down. Then do the batter dip after.
Once you did the batter, put it on a rack for a minute before you do a second coat of flour.
Thank you for the helpful tips.
when you added the bear to the batter… did he get upset?
and i also think a bear in the batter would be worthy of a spot on the evening news
so was it?
New to your site – like it so far!
Take care,
Shari Nottke