Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion

The Outback Steakhouse Blooming Onion is a treat the restaurant has been serving up since they opened. You can make this appetizer menu item just like they do, and you don’t need any fancy tools to prepare this Bloomin Onion.

A deep-fried homemade copycat outback steakhouse bloomin onion and blooming onion dipping sauce on a plate.

Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion

I think this one of one my first copycat recipes. I can remember the first time I tried this bloomin onion. An onion is sliced in a way 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.

Ingredients for an Outback Steakhouse Bloomin onion.

How to Prepare a Bloomin Onion

Preparing this onion isn’t too difficult, the ingredients are fairly simple. You are going to need large sweet onions. A Vidalia or even a 1015 onion will do. A large sweet onion will give you the perfect flavor.

You will also need some beer, flour, spices, and cooking oil. My preference for cooking oil is peanut oil followed by vegetable oil. Any liquid oil will do, but I think peanut makes the onion more crispy.

Cut raw onion and seasonings for homemade copycat Outback Steakhouse bloomin onion

To cut the onion, grab a sharp knife and you may want to make sure your cutting board is has a damp cloth under it so it doesn’t move. Peel the onion, place the root end on the cutting board. 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.

Then you can try to separate some of the petals, but not too much, you may break the onion. Dip the onion in flour, this will help make the batter stick. Dip in the batter, then it goes into the fryer.

If you feel cutting the blooming onion is too much, then try cutting it petals, or strings, or even onion rings. Be sure to serve it up with plenty of bloomin onion sauce.

Homemade copycat Steakhouse Bloomin onion on a white plate with dipping sauce.

Love Outback Steakhouse? Try these recipes

Tasty Onion Rings and Petals Recipes

Be sure to check out more copycat appetizers and game day food recipes.

Homemade copycat Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion on a white plate.

Outback Steakhouse Bloomin Onion

You can make some magic in your kitchen when you make this blooming onion at home.
4.96 from 23 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Outback Steakhouse Recipes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 600kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour divided use
  • 2 tablespoons paprika divided use
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons 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 for serving

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 pepper. Mix until well blended. Add the beer and mix well.
  • 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 pepper. Mix until well blended.
  • 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" 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 to 400°F. Gently place the onions in the fryer basket and deep-fry for 1 1/2 minutes on one side. Flip the onions and fry for an additional 1 1/2 minutes. 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

Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 125g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 633mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1580IU | Vitamin C: 16.3mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 6.8mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Teresa Ventimiglia

    5 stars
    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.

  2. Polly

    5 stars
    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).

  3. Pat

    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!

  4. Dennis

    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.

      • justin

        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?

    • Katt

      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.

    • Becky

      5 stars
      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.

  5. ldawg

    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

  6. MM91

    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!

  7. Guest

    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.

  8. kevinh1

    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.

  9. Brandi Rae

    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??

  10. Brandi Rae

    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??

    • jay

      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.

    • Guest

      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?

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