Fried Pickles Recipe

Our favorite Fried Pickles with perfectly crispy, and well-seasoned breading are quick and simple to make. Serve them with a bowl of ranch for dipping, and watch them disappear!

Deep Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat!

Fried pickles are a southern favorite, and everyone in this household is a big fan. This is a special appetizer that’s fun to eat, and always gets “oohs” and “aahs” whenever I serve them.

If you are thinking that deep frying pickles sounds too complicated, stay with me! I promise, making these fried pickles is super easy. Even if you have never fried anything before, you can do this! And the crispy, crunchy, salty reward is so worth it.

These Fried Pickles Are…

• Really Crispy: No soggy pickles here! This recipe makes a really crispy, crunchy treat. You won’t be able to stop eating them.
• Seasoned to Perfection: When you are deep frying food, it’s important to get the seasoned breading just right. You want it to be zesty and flavorful, and this recipe delivers.
• Simple to Make: Say goodbye to your fear of deep frying! This simple tutorial takes all the mystery out of deep frying your very own crunchy pickles.
• Perfect for Game Day (or Anytime!): Whether you’re creating the perfect table of snacks for the Super Bowl, or treating yourself to the extra special snacks, these pickles are sure to be devoured. You might want to make two batches!

(By the way, if you love dill pickles, be sure to check out this Dill Pickle Cheese Ball Recipe and my Dill Pickle Pasta Salad! Still not sold on deep frying? This Air Fryer Fried Pickles recipe might be just what you’re looking for.)

The Ingredients You’ll Need

So, what’s in this recipe for fried pickles? Glad you asked! Here is the list of mouthwatering ingredients. (Remember, you can scroll down to the bottom of this post to find a printable recipe card with full ingredient amounts and nutrition facts.)

• Pickles: Drain a jar of your favorite sliced pickles – any kind you like.
• Oil: Vegetable oil, or another neutral high-heat oil for frying.
• Flour: All-purpose flour.
• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. 
• Baking Powder: To make the pickles extra-crispy.
• Milk: Whole milk is my go-to, but low fat milk would also be fine.
• Eggs: A couple of large, whole eggs.

How to Make Fried Pickles

Making fried pickles is an easy way to get started with deep frying, if you’ve never done it before. You don’t have to worry about handling raw chicken or anything like that. You just bread the pickles and fry them until golden brown!

• Dry the Pickles. Lay the drained, sliced pickles out on a baking sheet lined with paper towels, and pat the tops dry with another paper towel. Set the baking sheet aside.
• Heat the Oil: Next, pour about 2 inches of oil into a deep skillet, and turn the heat to medium-high. Allow the oil to heat until it reaches 350°F on a thermometer.

• Make the Seasoned Flour. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and baking powder.
• Make the Egg Mixture. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the milk and eggs together.
• Bread a Few Pickles: Working in batches of five or six pickles at a time, dips Pickles into the flour mixture, the egg mixture, and then the flour again. 

• Fry the Pickles in the Hot Oil. Gently lower the pickles into the hot oil, and let them cook for 1 – 2 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Flip them over halfway through the cooking time so they brown evenly.
• Drain. Use a slotted spoon to lift the fried pickles out of the oil, and place them on a clean, paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

• Repeat. Continue breading, frying, and draining the remaining pickles until they are all done.
• Enjoy! Serve your homemade fried pickles with freshly chopped parsley and ranch, if desired.

Helpful Tips for the Crispiest Fried Pickles

If you are anything like me when I was frying pickles for the first time, you’ve got questions. Here are some helpful tips to get you on your way:

• Pickle Options: You don’t have to use any particular kind of pickles – as long as you dry them, almost any pickles will work. Dill chips are the most common, but you could use sandwich slices for really big fried pickles, or even pickle spears! Sweet pickles also work, although they’re much less common.
• Drying the Pickles: I can’t stress this enough – drying the pickles is essential to getting a really crispy crunch. If your pickles are still damp when you bread them, the breading will be a bit soggy and won’t stick very well.
• Heating the Oil: The other big thing to remember is to heat your oil to the right temperature, and keep it there. I highly recommend using a thermometer that clips onto your frying pan (I use this candy thermometer when frying. If your oil gets too hot, it can burn the pickles. If the oil is not hot enough, the pickles will take too long to fry and will become oily!
• Baked Pickles: Yes, you can make these in the oven, too! They will not turn out quite as crispy, but they’ll still be tasty. Just prepare them as instructed, but then lay them on a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet, and bake at 450°F for about 15 – 20 minutes, or until they’re golden-brown and crisped up.

What to Serve with Fried Pickles

Dipping sauce! Seriously, dipping crunchy fried pickles into your favorite sauce is half the fun. We love classic ranch, but you could do all kinds of sauces, including…

• Cilantro Lime Dressing: This Cilantro Lime Dressing recipe is a bit like ranch, but with a twist thanks to plenty of fresh green cilantro and mouth-puckering lime. It’s ultra-refreshing and perfect for dipping.
• Tzatziki: Another creamy contender, homemade Tzatziki Sauce is a Greek classic that is very light and simple, adding just the right richness to a platter of homemade fried pickles.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: This addictively delicious Sweet Chili Sauce is so good, you’ll want to eat it on everything. Try it with fried pickles to give them even more crazy-good flavor.
• Bang Bang Sauce: If you have ever had bang bang shrimp, you know how good Bang Bang Sauce is! It happens to also pair wonderfully with fried pickles!

Storing and Reheating the Leftovers

While this dish is best served fresh, storing the leftovers couldn’t be easier – the real challenge will be having any leftovers to begin with! If you do save some for later, make sure to follow these guidelines for storing and reheating.

• Storing: Keep the fried pickles in your refrigerator, preferably sealed in an airtight container or storage bag. I like to add a clean, dry paper towel in there to absorb any moisture and keep them from getting too soggy.
• Reheating: Reheating fried pickles is easiest in the air fryer. Just add them to the basket, and air-fry at 450°F until heated through. You can also do this in the oven.

How to Freeze Fried Pickles

If you want to make these and freeze some for another time, that is super-simple. Here’s how to do it.

• Make and Cool the Fried Pickles. First, make the recipe as directed, but instead of serving the pickles set them out to cool completely on a wire rack. Make sure to arrange them in a single layer. 
• Flash-Freeze. Once they’re cool, arrange the pickles on a clean plate or baking sheet, again keeping them in a single layer. Put them in your freezer until they’re frozen solid. 
• Package and Store. Transfer the frozen fried pickles to freezer bags, and keep in your freezer for up to three months.
• Reheat from Frozen. Reheat in an air fryer or conventional oven at 450°F until heated through. If you’re using an oven, I recommend reheating them on a wire rack over a baking sheet.

More Tasty Appetizers

• Easy Tostones (Fried Plantains)
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs
• Grape Jelly Meatballs
• Stovetop Spinach and Artichoke Dip
• Restaurant Style Salsa
• Pepperoni Pizza Bombs

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