Copycat Hooters Fried Pickles

Most popular in the South, fried pickles are perfectly crunchy with just the right amount of tanginess. Made famous by Hooters restaurant, now you can enjoy your favorite fried pickles at home with our simple copycat recipe ready in just 30 minutes!

I mean look at that crisp coating.  Who could resist that?

My favorite fried pickles are found at that famous beach-themed, orange-short-wearing sports bar–Hooters! The bar actually originated in my home state of Florida so it makes perfect sense that they would create a fabulous recipe fit for a southern gal.

A southern favorite; fried pickles are crisp and tangy.  The consummate southern starter, the fried pickle begins as a slice is dipped in a seasoned buttermilk mixture, dredged in a tasty coating and deep fried in oil until perfectly golden brown.  They are traditionally served with a horseradish or spicy ranch sauce, but I say why mess with a good thing?  I eat mine as they are.

Have you ever tried fried pickles? Well they come as a surprise.  Chad was completely shocked at the delicious flavor.  He was so thrilled that he made another batch himself and then we devoured them.

Aside from being unbelievably tasty, these are a cinch to make.  Truth be told, my culinary-challenged husband actually prepared the ones in the photo above.  Yep.  They are that simple. Though in his defense he does make a mean French toast.

This 30-minute recipe is sure to please.  They are good for lunch, good for dinner, perfect for breakfast… Good to make just because pickles are on sale.  And always good to make just because the day of the week ends in Y….

With love from our kitchen table to yours.

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Check out some of our copycat recipes:   Click on the image or the link and it will open each one in a new tab.

Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Copycat Recipe is a sweetened roll with a thick cinnamon-sugar filling and a cream cheese frosting that you are likely to remember long after the cinnamon roll is gone!

Red Lobster Copycat Cheddar Bay Biscuits are light and flaky, garlicky cheddar drop biscuits glistening with butter and speckled with parsley.  Slightly crisp on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls are fabulous tender sweet rolls slathered in butter that are perfect enough to be a meal in itself. OK, so I am an admitted carbivore. But these are the most delicious dinner rolls. Perfectly sweet and tender.

Chipotle's Famous Barbacoa is the Mexican barbecue of my dreams.  Seared beef is slow cooked in a spectacular spicy adobo sauce and combination of flavors that create the perfect moist and tender Mexican shredded beef.  Prepared in the crockpot it’s simple and delicious!  

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Hooters Fried Pickles Copycat Recipe
SERVES 4  |  ACTIVE TIME 30 Min  |  TOTAL TIME 30 Min

1 (16-oz) jar dill pickle slices
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
4 dashes hot sauce
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cayenne pepper
Neutral cooking oil, (peanut, vegetable, canola, etc)

Preheat about 2-inches of oil in a large (8 quart) pot to 350°F. Prepare a tray with double paper towel stack. Set aside.

In a medium bowl combine buttermilk, egg, and hot sauce. Beat with a fork to combine. Drain pickle juice from pickle jar, add pickles to buttermilk mixture. Stir to combine.

In a separate bowl whisk together flour, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.

Add about a handful of pickles to flour mixture. Swirl pickles around and make sure they are well coated. Shake off excess flour and drop pickles in hot oil one at a time. Only put 7-8 pickles at a time so the temperature does not drop too much.

Fry pickles for 3-5 minutes until they are golden brown. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and drain on a tray lined with paper towels.

Serve and enjoy!

Cook's Note

Stir flour mixture between batches and pull out dough chunks to keep coating from getting chunky.

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Recipe developed by Donna Elick - The Slow Roasted Italian
Copyright ©2014 The Slow Roasted Italian – All rights reserved.

First published on Parade.com