Chili’s Awesome Blossom Petals: Irresistible Onion Appetizer (2023)

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Tantalizingly delicious and incredibly easy to make, Chili’s Awesome Blossom Petals are a must-have appetizer for any occasion. An ode to the popular blooming onion of Outback Steakhouse fame, this delectable dish brings together an amazing combination of flavors – sweet onions with just the right amount of spice.

Perfect as a starter or snack, these succulent petals are coated in flaky breading and served with an awesome blossom dipping sauce similar to ranch dressing.

Follow our step-by-step instructions on how to prepare Chili’s Awesome Blossom Petals at home and get ready for some serious snacking pleasure!

What Are Awesome Blossom Petals?

Awesome Blossom petals from Chili’s are crispy onion slices with a light, flaky breading that have a hint of seasoned salt. You’ll love sinking your teeth into these golden crispy blooms. Chili’s cleverly transformed their signature Awesome Blossom into easier-to-eat onion petals.

Take a bite and you’ll discover a delicious savoriness from the unique seasoning coating.

Handling onions can irritate eyes, so use sharp knives, chilled onions, and vent hoods. These game day-ready onion petals deliver seasoned coating excellence in every bite.

Enjoy the irresistible crunch of Chili’s inspired onion petals.

What Makes Chili’s Awesome Blossom Petals So Good?

Try Chili’s crispy onion petals. The flavors’ll blow your mind! The secret to Chili’s awesome blossom petals is crackly breading with perfectly balanced seasoning. They know exactly when to pull the petals from the 350°F oil for ideal crispness without going limp.

Chili’s chefs are masters at coating each petal with the ideal ratio of spices, including a hint of cayenne for a tongue-tingling kick.

You’ll taste why this copycat recipe is so popular – it’s the ideal blend of crispy, crunchy indulgence in each bite. With the right technique, you can achieve Chili’s level of crispy perfection and flavor at home.

Enjoy this tasty appetizer in your own kitchen and impress guests with your culinary skills. The awesome blossom’s craveable crunch and Southwest-inspired seasoning make this a standout snack.

Ingredients

These crispy onion petals are breaded with a tasty mix of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. The awesome blossom seasoning provides the signature flavor that makes you crave more. To achieve the perfect crunch, coat the onion petals in a mixture of flour, black pepper, and onion powder before frying.

For extra zing, add cayenne or chili powder to the breading. When handling the raw onions, use a sharp knife to minimize irritation to your eyes. Leaving the root end intact while prepping helps too. For the awesome blossom sauce, combine sour cream, ketchup, horseradish, and spices like cayenne.

The creamy, tangy dip complements the crispy onions beautifully. Modify the recipe by using different dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or buffalo sauce.

How to Make Onion Petals and Dipping Sauce

You’ll first want to slice the onion into individual petal shapes, coat them in a seasoned breading, then deep fry to a golden crisp. Each crunchy petal packs in 265 calories per serving, with 6 grams of fat and 45 grams of carbs, so they make a hearty appetizer when served with the creamy dipping sauce.

The onion petals provide a tasty combination of crispy exterior and mellow onion flavor. Their high calorie and carbohydrate content makes them a filling starter for a multi-course meal. When dipped in a creamy, cool sauce, the hot onion petals offer an appealing blend of textures.

Instructions

Breading the onion slices in spiced flour coats them for crispy frying. Dip the petals in buttermilk and dredge in the seasoned flour.

• Preheat the oil to 350°F.
• Dip the onion petals in buttermilk.
• Dredge in the seasoned flour.
• Fry in batches until golden brown.

Nutrition

Per serving, these crunchy onion petals pack quite the nutritional punch, containing over 250 calories and 6 grams of fat to delight your taste buds. Although high in calories, the awesome blossom petals provide a substantial amount of vitamin A from the onion, as well as fiber to support your health.

For a lighter option, you can bake instead of frying the petals to reduce the saturated fat while maintaining the signature flavor profile. With creative spices and seasonings, you can put your own spin on this Chili’s classic, customizing it to suit your taste preferences and nutritional needs.

How to Cut Onions Without Weeping

When slicin’ onions, keep a sharp knife handy and chill the onion first to stop the weepin’.

Use a good chef’s knife for clean, even slices. Start with dry, chilled onions from the fridge. Keep onions firm on a cutting board, flat side down. Work at a steady pace, don’t saw back ‘n forth.

With the right tools and technique, you’ll be slicin’ up onions for awesome blossom petals chilis in no time, without a single tear. Put that vent hood away – you’ve got this! Those onion vapors don’t stand a chance against your knife skills.

Now get to choppin’ and enjoy the sweet aroma of fresh onions, not the sting of tears.

Love Chili’s? Try These Copycat Recipes!

You’d love recreating Chili’s flavors at home with copycat recipes. Having cooked every Chili’s specialty, I know their Awesome Blossom Petals pack a tangy crunch that’s tough to duplicate. But with the right prep, you can mimic their flaky onion petals and creamy dipping sauce.

Start by slicing a large onion into thin petal shapes — this makes frying them quick and even. Next, whip up an Awesome Blossom sauce by blending sour cream, ketchup, spices, and horseradish. For the coating, combine flour, salt, pepper, and spices like paprika. Dip onion petals in buttermilk, then the flour mix.

Fry in hot oil for perfectly crispy blossoms. Serve with that flavorful sauce for an at-home taste of Chili’s most craveworthy appetizers.

More Recipes for Game Day

For game day, whip up Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

1. Take a package of little smokies and wrap each one with half a strip of bacon. Make sure the bacon hugs the sausage tightly.
2. Place the wrapped smokies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
3. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until the bacon’s crispy.
4. Turn them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
5. Serve warm right out of the oven with an array of dipping sauces like barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, honey mustard or chili sauce.

Everybody will devour these flavorful, porky, bacon-wrapped gems. Keep the snacks coming by offering other favorites like homemade guacamole, chili con queso, chips, and salsa.

About Chili’s Restaurant

From these crave-worthy Awesome Blossom Petals Chili’s to Chili’s vibrant history, you’re now ready for a walk down flavorsome memory lane.

Established in 1975 in Dallas, Texas, Chili’s founders Larry and Loyd wanted to open a Hamburgers joint but fate had spicier plans – leading to America’s favorite Tex-Mex casual dining restaurant. Forty years later, Chili’s still keeps classic dishes from the signature Baby Back Ribs and Molten Lava Cake to melt-in-your-mouth Mighty Ice Cream Chunks while launching inventive new meal additions.

Test your Chili’s knowledge and see how many classic menu items you recall. Then try the famous Awesome Blossom Petals Chili’s or other copycat recipes in your own home kitchen. With a few easy onion slicing tips and only twenty minutes prep time, you’ll be biting into crispy, crunchy onion petals coated in a special seasoned breading.

The creamy Awesome Blossom sauce makes these blooming onion lookalikes irresistible.

Recipe Modifications

The awesome blossom petals from Chili’s make an easy appetizer to recreate at home.

1. Swap buttermilk for beer in the batter for extra crispiness and flavor.
2. Use panko breadcrumbs for an ultra-crunchy coating.
3. Fry in peanut oil instead of vegetable oil for a nuttier taste.
4. Experiment with the seasoning blend in the flour – add paprika, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper.
5. Serve with unique dipping sauces, like chipotle ranch, honey mustard, or blue cheese dressing.

With just a few tweaks to the original recipe, you can create your own signature version of this beloved appetizer. The possibilities for customizing crisp, craveworthy awesome blossom petals are endless.

How to Store Onions

While peeling and slicing the onion, you’re crying rivers yet must store the unused portion properly in a cool, dark place to prevent spoilage versus the fried crispy blossomed appetizer you’ll soon enjoy.

After preparing the awesome blossom petals, store the unused raw onion in an airtight container or plastic bag. First, refrigerate for 7-10 days. Second, freeze for 2-3 months. Third, leave at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.

When handling onions: slice just before using, chill beforehand, use a vent hood. With these tips, you can prevent tears and enjoy the full onion – deliciously caramelized into tasty appetizers like Chili’s crispy awesome blossom petals.