Best Crispy Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe + Video
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Air Fryer Fried Pickles have zesty flavor and crispy, crunchy breading. Use this recipe to make a healthier version of the famous Texas Roadhouse fried pickles! Breaded pickles have minimal cook time, and are made using simple ingredients!
This is a copycat recipe for my favorite Texas Roadhouse fried pickles, and they are simply irresistible. You’ll want to keep the whole batch to yourself!
Some people like to add a little bit of hot sauce to these crispy fried pickles, but the first time I made them, I just enjoyed the flavor of this great recipe without adding anything extra.
I think that these would be a great option with any kind of pickles, although dill pickles are my favorite.
Some people do fry up the whole pickle, but I’m a big fan of sliced air-fried pickles that I can pick up and pop in my mouth! Dill pickle slices are the perfect grab and eat size!
Once I made the first batch, I knew that I was hooked on this easy appetizer.
It’s just one of those tasty recipes that makes a super easy snack, but can also be a fun appetizer for happy hour or game day.
Get that air fryer basket ready because golden brown pickle perfection is about to happen! Let the hot air take over and make these easy air fryer pickles! Everyone will love them!
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Since air fried pickles are lightly breaded and use a fraction of the oil as deep-fried versions, you can enjoy them guilt-free as well.
Looking for more air fried appetizers? Try your hand at homemade pizza rolls or chicken wings.
I especially love tossing in my favorite frozen fries or onion rings. They come out even crispier than with the oven, and in half the time!
Wanna see a recipe I guarantee you’ve never seen before? Try my Kool Aid Pickles for a strange but addictive snack!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Dill pickle chips – For a sweeter flavor, you could use bread and butter pickles.
- All-purpose flour – To cut the carbs in this recipe, you could use coconut flour or almond flour instead. For extra crunch, try mixing in some Panko breadcrumbs!
- Spices – I like zesty and spicy flavors, so I use cayenne powder and Cajun seasoning.
The flavor of the air fried pickles isn’t terribly spicy, but you’re welcome to cut back on the amounts or omit the spices completely.
Tips for the Best Tasting Air Fried Pickles
- Dry them first. Drain the jar and lay out the slices on a paper towel to absorb the excess juice.
You’ll want them to be nice and dry so the flour mixture sticks to the surface. - Adjust the seasonings. The Cajun seasoning adds both salt and heat to these fried dill pickles, so leave it out if you’re sensitive to either.
- Don’t forget the oil! Avoid flour spots on your fried dill pickles by spraying both sides well with oil. This gets them nice and crispy too.
- Leave space for circulation. When food is crowded or stacked in the air fryer, it can become soggy wherever it overlaps.
Keep everything in a single layer with space in between individual slices. - Want them extra crispy? Simply increase the cooking time, checking every minute to two to ensure your air fryer pickles don’t burn.
Storage and Reheating
While best served fresh, air fryer fried pickles can be kept for 1 to 2 days in an airtight container.
Warm them back up at 325°F for a few minutes and don’t forget to spray the basket first!
Air Fryer Pickles FAQ
Because brands vary in flavor and thickness, it’s important to try a test batch first. See how they turn out, then adjust the seasoning mixtures and cooking time as needed.
I got the best results with Vlasic Ovals and Great Value (Walmart) hamburger dill chips, though the Walmart brand ones seem to have a better overall flavor.
Sure, fried pickle spears are delicious too! Depending on how many you are making, you may need to double the amount of flour and seasoning used.
Also, plan on increasing the cooking time since spears are larger and denser.
One of my favorite things to place pickles into before eating them is homemade ranch dressing. This works well for pickle chips or dill pickle spears, and it’s just easy and delicious to dip pickles right into.
The dip is just one of the ways that this will become one of your favorite appetizers – the first thing that you have to do is cook them!
Air frying proves to be the best way to get this fried pickles recipe nice and crispy without the need for deep frying.
Have fun with the dip choices for this pickle recipe – there are so many that you can choose from! Choose your favorite dipping sauce the next time that you cook these in your air-fryer basket. And if you want to add a little bit of heat, cayenne pepper on top is a great way to do so!
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy a plate of air fryer pickles as a game day snack, or serve them alongside your favorite sandwich or gourmet hamburger.
Since these have a little bit of spice to them, they pair really well with any of these creamy sauces:
- Buttermilk ranch
- Dill dip
- Southwest ranch
- Aioli
- Honey mustard dip
- Blue cheese dressing
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Best Crispy Air Fryer Fried Pickles Recipe + Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups hamburger dill chips, drained
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Olive oil cooking spray, without propellant
- dipping sauce of your choice
Instructions
- Place a paper towel on a plate and line with pickle chips. Place another paper towel on top to absorb the pickle juice. Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a small bowl, mix flour with cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, dried basil, paprika, and garlic powder. Set aside.
- Preheat the air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket generously with the olive oil cooking spray.
- Place the pickles in the flour mixture until thoroughly coated on both sides. Next, place pickles in the sprayed basket in a single layer(try to keep them from touching each other, and cook in batches). Spray olive oil all over the coated pickles.
- Set the air fryer 360°F for 12 minutes, stopping at 6 minutes to pull the basket out and carefully flip the pickles over with a fork or tongues. (Spray the pickles on the opposite side if there are any parts with flour) Continue to cook for the remaining time or until golden brown and desired crispness. Add additional time if desired. Work in batches until all pickles are air fried.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve with dipping sauce.
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2021, updated and republished January 2025
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I love fried pickles and these in the air fryer are AMAZING!!
My family loves fried pickles, and I wanted to find and easy way to make them. You can’t get any easier than an air fryer! These were amazing and I’ll definitely be making these again.
May be a silly question, but I only have SR flour in the kitchen right now, would it also work?
Made these as a side with some bbq pork sandwhiches and they turned out soooo good! I didn’t have olive oil spray so I just rubbed a decent amount of olive oil on pickles before dipping them in flour mix and then put them in air fryer and they turnt out just as good. Thank you for the delicious recipe. 🥰
these fried pickles were absolutely amazing, so easy to make! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hi Tyler!
We’re so glad you enjoyed.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn
Donna and Chad’s recipes never disappoint! These pickles were a hit at our party. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hi James!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn