This air fryer fried pickle recipe is super simple and easy to make in your air fryer. So pull out those pickle jars and get ready for a quick and easy snack that’s sure to become one of your new favorite foods!
The pickles are crispy outside and soft and tangy inside. The air fryer gives these a great crunch and taste, similar to fried pickles you’d get at your favorite restaurant. They taste amazing, especially dipped in ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
This recipe is the perfect snack for game day or a simple appetizer any night of the week. These air fryer fried pickles use a buttermilk batter to give them a classic Southern flavor, and the air fryer gets them crisp without lots of oil. So there is none of the mess and calories associated with deep-frying!
Looking for more air fryer appetizers? Try air fryer tortellini or air fryer cheeseburger egg rolls!
What Pickles Work Best for Air Frying?
Dill pickles are usually used for air fried pickles. But this air fryer pickle recipe will work the same for sweet pickles or spicy pickles. So feel free to experiment with the pickle type!
The most crucial consideration for air frying pickles is the thickness. If the pickle is thin, it won’t hold up well to the process. Ideally, the slices should be 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick.
But most dill pickle chips that you find at the grocery store are thinner. So my favorite thing to do is to buy whole pickles and slice them. You can slice them horizontally or lengthwise.
You can also air fry dill pickle spears or dill pickle chips if you can find thicker cut ones.
Remaining Ingredients
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
Buttermilk – Dipping these in buttermilk gives them their classic southern flavor, just like Buttermilk Fried Chicken.
Egg – The egg helps the coating stick and get crispy.
Flour – The flour forms a batter that coats the pickles
Panko bread crumbs – These are thicker and crisp better than standard bread crumbs.
Seasoning – I season these simply with just salt and black pepper to let the pickle flavor shine through. But other seasoning such as chili powder, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, or another spice mix can be added if you like.
Spray oil – A little bit of oil makes these a lot crispier. Don’t use a commercial cooking spray because the chemicals in the spray can damage a nonstick coating on the air fryer basket. Buy an inexpensive spray bottle and fill it with oil.
How to Make Air Fryer Fried Pickles
1. Slice
Take the pickles out of the jar and pat the pickles dry with a paper towel. Then slice them into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick slices. Slice them lengthwise, as in my pictures, or horizontally into pickle rounds. Either shape works the same in this recipe.
2. Add Breading
Prepare two bowls for breading the pickles. In the first bowl, combine the flour, egg, and buttermilk and stir until the mixture is smooth. In a separate bowl, combine panko bread crumbs with the seasoning.
Take each pickle slice and dip it into the bowl with the flour mixture. Then put the coated pickle in the panko until it is completely covered in breadcrumbs.
Set the pickle aside on a rack and coat some more. I recommend using only one hand for the breading process, so one stays clean because it does get messy!
3. Air Fry
Once you have enough coated pickle slices to fill the bottom of the air fryer, preheat the air fryer at 380 degrees F for 3 minutes. Preheating helps ensure crunchy, crispy pickles.
Spray the slices with a little bit of oil. Use oil in a spray bottle, not a commercial cooking spray. The commercial sprays contain chemicals that can damage the nonstick finish on an air fryer basket.
Spray the tops with oil, then put the coated pickles in the basket with the sprayed side down. Only add a single layer of slices. Spray the tops with a little more oil. Just coat them with a light spritz, don’t drench them in oil.
Air fry them at 380 F for 10 minutes, turning them over halfway through the cooking time. When they are done, they will be golden brown and crispy.
Find More Air Fryer Recipes!
Fried Pickle Serving Ideas
These air fryer pickles are a fantastic appetizer or snack for almost any occasion, from game day parties to birthday celebrations. Add your favorite dipping sauce and a few other crispy snacks like a blooming onion or homemade egg rolls, and enjoy.
My absolute favorite way to serve these is with grilled food like burgers. Serving fried pickles instead of French fries is a fun twist since hamburgers and pickles always go together well.
What Sauce Goes With Crispy Fried Pickles
A sauce for dunking is a requirement! Here are my favorite dipping sauce ideas:
- Hot sauce
- Ketchup
- Chick-fil-A sauce
- Ranch dip
- Blue cheese dressing
- Whipped feta dip
- Cheese sauce
- Spicy mayonnaise
- Fry sauce
How to Store
If you have leftover air fryer pickles, you can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 370 degrees F for 3 minutes.
FAQ
Cook frozen fried pickles in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F. Flip them halfway through the cooking time.
For reheating, put fried pickles in the air fryer at 370 degrees F for about 3 minutes.
Dill pickles are traditionally fried, but bread and butter pickles or sweet gherkins are also tasty.
Key Tips for This Recipe
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
Thicker slices are easier to handle.
When breading, try to use only one hand so one stays clean.
Preheat the air fryer for best results.
Don’t use a commercial cooking oil spray since it can damage the air fryer basket.
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Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large dill pickles
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup of Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- Oil spray *see notes
- 1 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped, optional
Instructions
- Drain the pickles and pat them dry with a paper towel to get rid of excess juice. Then slice pickles into 1/4 – 1/2 inch slices. You can slice them lengthwise or into rounds.4 large dill pickles
- Add the flour with the egg and buttermilk to a medium bowl, and mix until you obtain a smooth texture.¾ cup flour, 1 egg, ½ cup buttermilk
- Add the panko breadcrumb, salt, and pepper to another shallow bowl.¾ cup of Panko breadcrumbs, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- One by one, dip the dill pickle slices in the flour mixture.
- Then dip and press in the bread crumb mixture and cover completely. Set the dip pickles aside until you have enough to fill the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Preheat the air fryer at 380 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Spray the top of the coated pickle slices with a light spritz of oil. Don’t use a commercial cooking spray since it can damage the finish on the basket. Put the slice in the air fryer, with the sprayed side down. Then spray once again with oil on top.Oil spray *see notes
- Cook 380 ˚ F for 10 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve and sprinkle with fresh dill on top.1 tbsp fresh dill
Notes
- Thicker slices are easier to handle.
- When breading, try to use only one hand so one stays clean.
- Preheat the air fryer for best results.
- Don’t use a commercial cooking oil spray since it can damage the air fryer basket.
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Nutrition facts are estimates.
