Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (2024)

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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!

Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Deep Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make and Fun to Eat!
  • These Fried Pickles Are…
  • The Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How to Make Fried Pickles
  • Helpful Tips for the Crispiest Fried Pickles
  • What to Serve with Fried Pickles
  • Storing and Reheating the Leftovers
  • Get the Recipe
  • More Tasty Appetizers

    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!

    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.

    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (2)

    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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (3)

    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!

    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (4)
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (5)
    • 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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (6)
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (7)
    • 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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (8)
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (9)
    • 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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (10)
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (11)
    • 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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (12)

    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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (13)

    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.
    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (14)

    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.

    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (15)

    5 from 2 votes

    Print Pin Recipe

    Yield: 6 Servings

    Fried Pickles

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

    Prep Time15 minutes minutes

    Cook Time20 minutes minutes

    Total Time35 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 16-oz jar sliced pickles, drained
    • Vegetable oil, for frying
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 cup milk
    • 2 large eggs

    Instructions

    • Lay the pickles on a baking sheet with a paper towel, pat the tops dry with another paper towel and set aside.

    • In a deep skillet, preheat about 2 inches of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F on a thermometer. (I like to use a clip on pot thermometer to monitor the oil tempruatre while frying.)

    • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and baking powder.

    • In another mixing bowl, beat the milk and eggs until combined.

    • Dip 5-6 pickle slices in the dry ingredients then into the wet ingredients, then coat them a final time in the dry ingredients.

    • Fry the pickles in the hot oil for about 1-2 minutes, or until they are golden brown, flipping them over halfway.

    • Use a slotted spoon to remove the pickles from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

    • Repeat this process with the remaining pickles.

    • Serve with freshly chopped parsley and ranch, if desired.

    Notes

    • 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.
    • 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 may not turn out quite as crispy, but they’ll still be great. 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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1, Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 65mg, Sodium: 464mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g

    © Jessica – The Novice Chef

    Cuisine: American

    Category: Appetizers & Snacks

    Categories:

    • 30 Min or Less
    • 4th of July
    • Diet
    • Fall
    • Holidays
    • Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegetarian

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    Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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    Best Fried Pickles Recipe | Classic Fried Pickles Are Easy to Make! (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you keep batter from falling off fried pickles? ›

    Thoroughly drying the pickles is essential to the batter sticking properly, so don't skip that step. Simply remove the pickle slices from the jar, and drain them on a paper towel. Then, use another paper towel to pat each side of the pickles dry before dropping them into the buttermilk mixture.

    What is the secret to a crunchy pickle? ›

    Adding fresh grape leaves is my secret to crisp pickles. Add one or two leaves to your crock if making old-fashioned fermented pickles or 1 leaf per quart jar when processing .

    How do you keep fried pickles from getting soggy? ›

    If you've ever had the misfortune of getting fried pickles with soggy breading bathed in grease, you know that making the dish can be a real pickle. Cornstarch can help you avoid a fried pickle faux pas by drawing some of the excess water content from your pickle spears or chips.

    What is a substitute for buttermilk in fried pickles? ›

    If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can use my easy buttermilk substitute, which just requires milk (preferably whole milk) and either a splash of lemon juice or vinegar. Whole Pickles. You can start with pre-sliced dill pickle chips, but I prefer to cut my own from whole kosher dill pickles.

    Why does my batter come off when I fry? ›

    Meat is not properly dry

    If the meat is wet, it will make the flour soggy. In that case, breading will not stick properly and may fall off when deep frying. Therefore, you must take some paper towels and pat dry the meat on all sides.

    Why does my breading always fall off? ›

    It may be too watery. Dry the chicken first with paper towels. It helps to then coat it with a thin layer of flour, then in well-beaten egg whites which will help the coating stick. Then coat with breading and press on it lightly to help it stick.

    How to get homemade pickles crispy? ›

    The best way to keep your pickles crisp is by taking an extra moment to remove the blossom from the end of the cucumber. By adding this extra cut, you have a crisper pickle. Other ways to ensure a crisp pickle is by adding grape leaves to your jar. I tend to cut off both ends of the cucumber as I quickly process them.

    How do you're crisp fried pickles? ›

    Air fry the pickles for three to four minutes, but always be attentive as the size and thickness of your pickles and varying air fryer models can alter the ideal reheating time. After this period, gently shake the basket or use a pair of tongs to flip the pickles and continue frying for a similar duration.

    What are the ingredients in pickle crisp? ›

    Pickle Crisp is pure Calcium Chloride with nothing else added. Here's the usage directions. Note that they are clear that just is just a crisper, and that you should in no way think that Pickle Crisp aids in proper preservation of your food products: responsibility for that is still on your shoulders!

    Why aren't my fried pickles crispy? ›

    While you're prepping your pickles and batter, you need to get the oil hot, really hot. About 375 degrees Fahrenheit is great. This is an important step, because if your oil isn't hot enough your pickles won't fry in a way that achieves that perfect super crispy texture.

    Can you prep fried pickles ahead of time? ›

    You can prep the dredge ingredients 1-2 days in advance. You can dredge the pickles up to 30 minutes before frying and place them in the fridge to help the dredge set. You can fry them and keep them warm in the oven for about 15 minutes, but not longer as they will lose their crispiness.

    Can I use sour cream instead of buttermilk? ›

    Yes, you can substitute sour cream! Thin it with milk or water to get the right consistency. For each cup of buttermilk needed, use 3/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup liquid. Editor's Tip: Sour cream has a higher fat content, so this will result in richer-tasting foods.

    What can I soak chicken in if I don't have buttermilk? ›

    Plain Yogurt + Water

    This substitute for buttermilk is especially good for marinades (like in a buttermilk brine for fried chicken), but it works well for baking too. Whisk a bit of milk or water into plain unsweetened yogurt until you get a buttermilk-like consistency.

    What happens if you use milk instead of buttermilk? ›

    Again, these two ingredients aren't typically interchangeable, as milk is a much thinner product than buttermilk, and lacks the same acidity, both of which can impact the final recipe results, especially when baking.

    How to get breading to stick to fried pickles? ›

    Dry the pickles well.

    This is probably the most important step. Pickles live in liquid and they need to be very dry before frying if you want the breading to stick well.

    How do you get batter to stick to fish for frying? ›

    There are several ways to make batter stick to fish:
    1. Dry the fish thoroughly: Before battering the fish, make sure it is completely dry. ...
    2. Season the fish: Season the fish with salt and pepper before applying the batter. ...
    3. Use a light coating of flour: Coat the fish lightly with flour before dipping it in the batter.
    Mar 30, 2016

    How do you keep batter from sticking? ›

    Non-stick helps to ensure that the batter doesn't get stuck to the pan itself. Cast Iron pans retain the heat and give a more golden-brown colour. Regardless of what you use, ensure your pan has plenty of time to heat up and lubricate it with either oil or butter to prevent the pancake mixture from sticking.

    Why does the batter come off the fish? ›

    If the oil isn't at the correct temperature, your fish will absorb the oil while it's frying, causing some of the batter to drop off.

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